"Unstable as water, you shall not excel"

Synopsis

Rabbi Chiya interprets the title verse, explaining that it signifies Reuben was blessed. However, the kingship, priesthood, and birthright to which he was entitled were taken from him. This verse also reveals, we learn, that Reuben would dwell outside of the land of Yisrael. We are then told that Reuben is aligned with both Chesed and Gvurah. Rabbi Shimon next tells the rabbis that Reuben's sons are in exile, dispersed among the four corners of the world. One day, we hear, they will wage two wars in the land of Yisrael, and they will try to seize the kingship from the tThe Messiah when he rises up to conquer the nations.

Relevance

Here we ignite a particular frequency of spiritual energy that helps to hasten the arrival of the the Messiah in a merciful manner, for us personally, and for our neighbors who inhabit our global village.

Birthright Firstborn Jacob Joseph Judah Reuben Strength Water

544. Reuben was Jacob's firstborn. Rabbi Chiya said, He was entitled to everything, KINGSHIP, BIRTHRIGHT AND PRIESTHOOD, but it was all taken from him. Kingship was given to Judah, the birthright to Joseph and the priesthood to Levi. This is the meaning of the words, "Unstable as water, you shall not excel (lit. 'leave')" (Beresheet 49:4); NAMELY you shall not be left with them. In saying "my might and the beginning of my strength" (Ibid. 3), he blessed him and remembered him to the Holy One, blessed be He.

544. רְאוּבֵן בּוּכְרָא דְיַעֲקֹב הֲוָה, אֲמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, לֵיהּ הֲוָה אִתְחֲזֵי כֹּלָּא, וְאִתְעֲבַר מִינָהּ כֹּלָּא, וְאִתְיְהֵיב מַלְכוּ לִיהוּדָה, בְּכֵירוּתָא לְיוֹסֵף, כְּהוּנָּתָא לְלֵוִי, הה"ד פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל תּוֹתַר: לָא תִשְׁתָּאַר בְּהוֹ. וּמַה דַּאֲמַר כֹּחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי, הָכָא בָּרְכֵיהּ וּפַקְדֵּיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Firstborn Jacob Reuben Soul, The

545. לִרְחִימָא דְמַלְכָּא, יוֹמָא חַד אַעֲבַר בְּרֵיהּ בְּשׁוּקָא, אֲמַר לְמַלְכָּא, דָּא הוּא בְּרִי, וַדַּאי רְחִימָא דְנַפְשָׁאי, שָׁמַע מַלְכָּא, וְיָדַע דְּהָא שָׁאֵיל עַל בְּרֵיהּ. כָּךְ יַעֲקֹב, אֲמַר רְאוּבֵן בְּכוֹרִי אַתָּה כֹּחִי וגו,' הָכָא פַקְדֵּיהּ לְמַלְכָּא.

Angels Court East Gabriel (Angel) Judah Michael (Angel) Nukva Purification Reuben Water West

546. "Unstable as water, you shall not excel." Here he stated his fate, that he would not remain in the land of Yisrael but dwell outside it, NAMELY EAST OF THE JORDAN. Correspondingly, the officer in charge, on the side of the tabernacle above, THE NUKVA, in charge under Michael, IS ALSO REJECTED OUTSIDE THE TABERNACLE. Some say THAT THE TRUSTEE THAT WAS REJECTED FROM THE TABERNACLE ABOVE WAS under Gabriel. AND THOUGH REUBEN IS CHESED, Michael is the first OF THE ANGELS on the side of Chesed, and Gabriel is THE FIRST on the left side, Gvurah, REUBEN IS NEVERTHELESS ALSO OF THE SIDE OF GVURAH, WHICH WE LEARN FROM THE VERSE, "But Judah still rules (also: 'descends') with El" (Hoshea 12:1), THE DESCENT WHICH INDICATES THAT HE IS OF the side of Gvurah and called court of justice. Reuben's inheritance was adjacent to his. JUDAH'S PORTION WAS WEST OF THE JORDAN AND REUBEN'S WAS EAST OF THE JORDAN. THIS SHOWS THAT REUBEN, TOO, IS OF THE SIDE OF GVURAH. And though kingship (Malchut), THE SECRET OF LOWER GVURAH, WAS TAKEN FROM REUBEN AND belongs to Judah, HE IS NEVERTHELESS NOT WHOLLY CLEANSED OF GVURAH, SINCE THE INHERITANCE OF Reuben is adjacent to his, WHICH IS AN INDICATION OF GVURAH.

546. פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל תּוֹתַר, הָכָא אֲמַר מַה דְּאִעֲרַע לֵיהּ, דְּלָא אִשְׁתָּאַר בְּאַרְעָא, וְשָׁדֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר מֵאַרְעָא. לָקֳבֵל דָּא, חַד מְמַנָּא מִסִּטְרָא דְּמִשְׁכְּנָא לְעֵילָא, דִּי מְמַנָּא תְּחוֹת יָדָא דְמִיכָאֵל, וְאָמְרֵי לָהּ תְּחוֹת יְדָא דְגַבְרִי"אֵל. וּמִיכָאֵל הוּא רֵישָׁא בְּכָל אֲתַר מִסִּטְרָא דְחֶסֶ"ד, וְגַבְרִיאֵל מִסִּטְרָא דִשְׂמָאלָא דִגְבוּרָ"ה. וִיהוּדָה עֹד רָד עִם אֵל, סְטַר גְּבוּרָה, בֵּי דִינָא אִקְרֵי, וְסָמִיךְ לֵיהּ רְאוּבֵן, אע"ג דְּמַלְכוּ הֲוָה דִיהוּדָה, רְאוּבֵן סָמוּךְ לְקִבְלֵיהּ הֲוָה.

Assyrians Egypt Exile Gad Reuben Strength Suffering

547. אר"ש, זְמִינִין אִינוּן בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן, לַאֲגָחָא תְּרֵין קְרָבִין בְּגוֹ אַרְעָא. תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב כֹּחִי, בְּגָלוּתָא דְמִצְרַיִם. וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי, דְּאִינוּן הֲווֹ קַדְמָאִין לְגַבֵּי אֲחוּהוֹן לִקְרָבָא. יֶתֶר שְׂאֵת, לְגָלוּתָא דְאַשּׁוּר, דְּמִתַּמָּן גָלוּ בְּנֵי גָד וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן קַדְמָאי מִכֻּלְּהוּ, וְסָבְלֵי כַּמָּה בִּישִׁין, וְכַמָּה עִנּוּיִין סָבְלוּ, וְלָא תָבוּ עַד כְּעָן.

Fear Holy Land Jerusalem Messiah, The Reuben War Water

548. "And the excellency of power" refers to the time when the Messiah will rise in the world and they will go forth and make war in the world and win, and conquer the nations. The inhabitants of the world will fear them and tremble before them. THE SONS OF REUBEN will plan to seize the kingship yet shall not retain it, hence the words, "Unstable as water, you shall not excel." Why will they not retain mastery even in one place in the world? Because "you went up to your father's bed" (Beresheet 49:4), for they are going to wage war within the Holy Land. "Your father's bed" is Jerusalem. THEY WILL STRIVE TO TAKE IT FROM THE MESSIAH.

548. וְיֶתֶר עָז לְזִמְנָא דְמַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא יִתְעַר בְּעַלְמָא, אִינוּן יִפְקוּן וְיִגְחוּן קְרָבִין בְּעַלְמָא, וִינַצְחוּן, וְיִתַּקְפוּן עַל עַמְמַיָא, וּבְנֵי עַלְמָא יִדְחֲלוּן מִנַּיְיהוּ וְיִרְתְּתוּן קַמַּיְיהוּ, וְיַחְשִׁיבוּ לְאִתְגַּבְּרָא בְּמַלְכוּתָא, וְלָא יִשְׁתָּאֲרוּן בֵּיהּ, הה"ד פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל תּוֹתַר, מ"ט לָא יִשְׁתָּאֲרוּן בֵּיהּ, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּסִטְרָא חַד דְּעַלְמָא, בְּגִין כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ, דִּזְמִינִין לַאֲעָלָא וּלְאַגָּחָא קְרָבִין בְּגוֹ אַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ דַּיְיקָא, זוֹ יְרוּשָׁלֵם.

Corners Exile Reuben Strength War

549. Come and see, the sons of Reuben dispersed into exile in the four corners of the world, in correspondence with all of Yisrael, who were exiled four times into the four corners of the world. Hence it says, "My might," which is the first exile; "and the beginning of my strength," the second; "the excellency of dignity" the third and "the excellency of power" the fourth. Likewise, they will wage war in the four corners of the world, thus ruling over everything. They will conquer many peoples and rule over them.

549. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עַלְמָא, אִתְבַּדְּרוּ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן בְּגָלוּתָא, לְקִבְלֵיהוֹן דְּכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּאִתְגָּלוּ בְּגָלוּתָא אַרְבַּע זִמְנִין, בְּאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עַלְמָא, הה"ד, כֹּחִי חַד, וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי תְּרֵי, יֶתֶר שְׂאֵת תְּלַת, וְיֶתֶר עָז אַרְבָּעָה. כְּגַוְונָא דָא זְמִינִין אִינוּן לַאֲגָחָא קְרָבָא בְּאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עַלְמָא, וּלְמִשְׁלַט בְּקִרְבַּיְיהוּ עַל כֹּלָּא, וִינַצְחוּן עֲמָמִין סַגִּיאִין, וְיִשְׁלְטוּן עֲלַיְיהוּ.

Birthright Jacob Leah Rachel Reuben Thought Water

550. "Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed." Here is an allusion to the first thought Jacob had when issuing the first seed, which was about Rachel. Were the thought attached to the first seed in its place, LEAH, REUBEN WOULD RETAIN ALL, THE KINGSHIP, THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE BIRTHRIGHT, but "unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed" namely you came up through other thoughts, and "then you did defile it..." (Ibid.).

550. פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל תּוֹתַר כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ, הָכָא אִתְרְמִיז עַל הִרְהוּרָא קַדְמָאָה דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב. בְּהַאי טִפָּה קַדְמָאָה בְּרָחֵל, דְּאִלְמָלֵא הִרְהוּרָא דְהַהִיא טִפָּה הֲוָה בְּאַתְרָהּ, אִשְׁתָּאַר רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹלָּא, אֲבָל פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל תּוֹתַר כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ, עָלִיתָ, בְּהִרְהוּרָא אָחֳרָא, אָז חִלַּלְתָּ וגו.'

Birthright Blessing Deeds Firstborn Holy Land Jerusalem Land of Yisrael Messiah, The Reuben Strength War Water Yisrael Saba Zeir Anpin

551. Another explanation for "unstable as water, you shall not excel:" When the sons of Reuben will wage war in the world and conquer many nations, they will not remain rulers. HENCE IT IS WRITTEN, "YOU SHALL NOT EXCEL." What is the reason for this? "Because you went up to your father's bed (lit. 'beds')," why not just put, "beds?" as they are destined to wage war in the Holy Land, precisely mentioned in the words "your father's bed," which refer to Jerusalem. HE ASKS, WHY DOES SCRIPTURE SAY "beds," instead of 'bed?' HE ANSWERS, "Your father" is Yisrael Saba, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, AND THEREFORE IT SAYS "beds" instead of 'bed,' since Jerusalem was twice destroyed, and WILL BE BUILT a third time at the time of King Messiah. Hence the plural. Here, the blessing is revealed IN THE VERSE, "YOU ARE MY FIRSTBORN, MY MIGHT AND THE BEGINNING OF MY STRENGTH." And also what happened at that time THAT THE BIRTHRIGHT, KINGSHIP AND PRIESTHOOD WERE TAKEN FROM HIM, AS SAID "UNSTABLE AS WATER, YOU SHALL NOT EXCEL," that which will be when Yisrael shall come to the land of Yisrael, THAT HE WILL HAVE NO PORTION IN IT BUT ACROSS THE JORDAN. And Reuben's deeds at the time of the Messiah, NAMELY THAT HE WILL WAGE WARS AGAINST MANY PEOPLES AND IN JERUSALEM.

551. דָּבָר אַחֵר, פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל תּוֹתַר, דְּהָא כַּד יִגְחוּן קְרָבָא בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן בְּעַלְמָא, וִינַצְחוּן עֲמָמִין סַגִּיאִין, לָא יִשְׁתָּאֲרוּן בְּמַלְכוּתָא, מ"ט, כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי, דִּזְמִינִין לַאֲגָחָא קְרָבָא בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא דַיְיקָא, דִּכְתִיב כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ דָּא יְרוּשָׁלַיִם. מִשְׁכְּבֵי, מִשְׁכַּב מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא, אָבִיךָ דָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל סָבָא, מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ וְלָא מִשְׁכַּב, בְּגִין דְּהָא בִּתְרֵי זִמְנֵי אִתְבְּנֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם, וּתְלִיתָאָה לְזִמְנָא דְמַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא. וְעַל דָּא מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ. וְהָכָא אִתְגַּלְּיָיא בְּרָכָה, וּמַאי דַּהֲוָה בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, וּמַא דַּהֲוָה כַּד עָאלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְאַרְעָא, וּמַה דִּיְהֵא בְּזִמְנָא דְמַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא בְּעוֹבָדָא דִרְאוּבֵן.