Vayechi: Chapter 64

"Out of the eater came forth food"

Synopsis

The rabbis explain the title verse to the young son of Rav Hamnuna Saba (the elder). Their interpretation reveals that Yesod consumes the abundance from the Sfirot of Zeir Anpin. Through the strength of the Strict Judgment of Zeir Anpin, the Upper Worlds, signifying the Written Law, Malchut, our physical world, receives an abundance of illumination from the left. The Oral Law, called "honey," is this illumination of the left within Malchut. The righteous, we're told, provide "food" for the world, without which Malchut would be unable to endure. After delivering the young boy to his mother, the companions relate their experiences to Rabbi Shimon. A discussion of the verse, "Gird your sword upon your thigh," ensues. One interpretation provided reveals that this alludes to the vengeance of the Holy Covenant that the avenging sword wreaks on he who impairs the imprinted sign of the Holy Covenant. He who desires to protect the Holy Covenant should prepare and arm himself against the Evil Inclination by drawing this sword upon his thigh before it. Another explanation instructs us that before setting out on a journey, one should prepare oneself through prayers and supplication, and gird oneself with righteousness.

Relevance

Here, judgments that are hanging over us are sweetened with supernal "honey." The Light and the blessings of the righteous blanket us with protection and help generate sustenance. We are inspired to seek the path of the Torah and, in turn, we gain the strength to triumph over our Evil Inclinations. Finally, this passage provides us with protection for all of our journeys by igniting sparks of righteousness within our soul.

Food

639. They recited about him the verse, "Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness" (Shoftim 14:14). The boy said to them: You have spoken THIS VERSE, now explain it. They said to him: The Holy One, blessed be He, appointed us a path of life, you speak!

639. קָרוֹ עֲלֵיהּ, מֵהָאוֹכֶל יָצָא מַאֲכָל וּמֵעַז יָצָא מָתוֹק וגו.' אֲמַר לוֹן הַהוּא יְנוּקָא, מִלָּה אָתָא לִידַיְיהוּ, פָּרִישׁוּ לָהּ. אֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא זַמִּין לָן אָרְחָא דְחַיֵּי, אֵימָא אַנְתְּ.

David Dew Earth Food Heaven Isaac Jacob Nukva Righteous Soul, The Zeir Anpin

640. He opened the discussion saying, "Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." There is another verse which shows that the eater is the righteous, which says, "The righteous eats to satisfy his soul" (Mishlei 13:25). The Righteous, YESOD, indeed eats and takes all THE ABUNDANCE FROM THE SFIROT OF ZEIR ANPIN. Why? "To satisfy his soul" and to satisfy that place called David's soul, NAMELY THE NUKVA. "Came forth food:" Were it not for the righteous, no food would be provided for the world, and the world, THE NUKVA, would not have been able to endure. "And out of the strong came forth sweetness." This is Isaac, who blessed Jacob "of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth" (Beresheet 27:28).

640. פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, מֵהָאוֹכֶל יָצָא מַאֲכָל וּמֵעַז יָצָא מָתוֹק. הַאי קְרָא, אַסְמַכְתָּא אִית לָן בֵּיהּ, מֵהָאוֹכֶל, דָּא צַדִּיק, דִּכְתִיב צַדִּיק אוֹכֵל לְשׂוֹבַע נַפְשׁוֹ, צַדִּיק אוֹכֵל וַדַּאי, וְנָטֵיל כֹּלָּא, אַמַּאי, לְשׂוֹבַע נַפְשׁוֹ, לְמֵיהַב שָׂבְעָא, לְהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּאִקְרֵי נַפְשׁוֹ דְּדָוִד. יָצָא מַאֲכָל, דְּאִלְמָלֵא הַהוּא צַדִּיק, לָא יִפּוֹק מְזוֹנָא לְעָלְמִין, וְלָא יָכֵיל עַלְמָא לְקָיְימָא. וּמֵעַז יָצָא מָתוֹק, דָּא יִצְחָק, דְּבָרֵיךְ לְיַעֲקֹב בְּטַל הַשָּׁמַיִם וּמִשְׁמַנֵּי הָאָרֶץ.

Honey Judgment Nukva Oral Law Strength Torah Zeir Anpin

641. TO EXPLAIN further, though all THE SFIROT ARE one, YET were it not for the strength of the strict Judgment OF THE LEFT OF ZEIR ANPIN, no honey would have come forth, WHICH IS THE ABUNDANCE OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT WITHIN THE NUKVA, RECEIVED FROM THE LEFT OF ZEIR ANPIN. What is this honey? It is the Oral Law, THE NUKVA, of which it says, "Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb" (Tehilim 19:11). ACCORDING TO THIS, "the strong" is the Written Torah, WHICH IS THUS CALLED as it is written, "Hashem gives strength to His people" (Tehilim 29:11), ZEIR ANPIN WILL GIVE STRENGTH. "Came forth sweetness:" The Oral Law, NAMELY THE NUKVA, IN WHICH IS THE SECRET OF HONEY.

641. תוּ, אע"ג דְּכֹלָּא חַד, אִלְמָלֵא תּוֹקְפָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, לָא נָפְקָא דְבַשׁ. מַאן דְּבַשׁ. דָּא תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה, דִּכְתִיב וּמְתוּקִים מִדְּבַשׁ וְנֹפֶת צוּפִים. מֵעַז: דָּא תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב, דִּכְתִיב ה' עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן. יָצָא מָתוֹק, דָּא תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה.

Brit (Covenant) Children Covenant (Brit) Punishment Torah

642. They went together for three days until they reached the village where the CHILD'S mother LIVED. When she saw them she prepared the house and they stayed there for three more days, blessed him and went. They related what happened to Rabbi Shimon. He said, Surely he inherited the Torah. Were it not for ancestral merits OF RABBI HAMNUNA SABA (THE ELDER), he would have been punished from above. But the Holy One, blessed be He, is with those who follow the Torah. They inherit it and their descendants after them forever, as it is written, "As for Me, this is My Covenant with them, says Hashem; My spirit that is upon you" (Yeshayah 59:21).

642. אֲזָלוּ כַּחֲדָא תְּלַת יוֹמִין, עַד דְּמָטוּ לְטוּרְסָא דְקִירָא דְּאִמֵּיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּחָמַאת לוֹן אַתְקָנֵית בֵּיתָא, וְיַתְבוּ תַּמָּן תְּלַת יוֹמִין אָחֳרָנִין. בֵּרְכוּהוּ, וַאֲזָלוּ, וְסִדְּרוּ מִלִּין קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן. אֲמַר, וַדַּאי יְרוּתַת אוֹרַיְיתָא אַחְסֵין, וְאִלְמָלֵא זְכוּתָא דַאֲבָהָן יִתְעַנַּשׁ מִלְּעֵילָא, אֲבָל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאִינוּן דְּאָזְלִין בָּתַר אוֹרַיְיתָא, אַחְסִינוּ לָהּ אִינוּן וּבְנַיְיהוּ לְעָלְמִין, הה"ד וַאֲנִי זֹאת בְּרִיתִי אוֹתָם אָמַר ה' רוּחִי אֲשֶׁר עָלֶיךָ וגו.'

Seas Ships Sword Thigh Torah War Zebulun

643. "Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; and he shall be a haven for ships, and his border (or: 'thigh')..." Rabbi Aba opened the discussion saying, "Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior: Your glory and your majesty" (Tehilim 45:4). HE ASKS, Is there glory and majesty in girding and wearing a weapon? Whoever studies the Torah and is engaged in war for the Torah, and arms himself with it, he is praiseworthy. This is glory and majesty. Why does it say, "Gird your sword...YOUR GLORY AND YOUR MAJESTY?"

643. זְבוּלוּן לְחוֹף יַמִּים יִשְׁכּוֹן וְהוּא לְחוֹף אֳנִיּוֹת וְיַרְכָתוֹ וגו.' ר' אַבָּא פְּתַח, חֲגוֹר חַרְבְּךָ עַל יָרֵךְ גִּבּוֹר הוֹדְךָ וַהֲדָרֶךָ. וְכִי דָּא הוֹד וְהָדָר, לְמֵיזַן זַיְינָא, וּלְאִזְדַּרְזָא בְּהַאי. מַאן דְּאִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאַגַּח קְרָבָא בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְזַרֵיז גַּרְמֵיהּ בָּהּ, דָּא הוּא שִׁבְחָא, דָּא הוּא הוֹד וְהָדָר, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ חֲגוֹר חַרְבְּךָ.

Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Sword

644. HE ANSWERS, Assuredly the meaning of this is that the Holy One, blessed be He, imprinted the sign of the Holy Covenant upon men to preserve it and not blemish the impress of the King. Whoever impairs it, the avenging sword rises before him and takes the vengeance of the Holy Covenant, which was imprinted upon him, yet he who impaired.

644. אֶלָּא, וַדַאי עִקְּרָא דְמִלָּה, אָת קַיָּימָא קַדִּישָׁא, יְהַב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְרָשֵׁים לֵיהּ בִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא. בְּגִין דְּיִנְטְרוּן לֵיהּ, וְלָא יִפְגְּמוּן לֵיהּ בִּפְגִימוּ לְהַאי רְשִׁימָא דְמַלְכָּא, וּמַאן דְּפָגֵים לֵיהּ, הָא קָאֵים לְקִבְלֵיהּ חֶרֶב נֹקֶמֶת נְקַם בְּרִית, לְנַקְמָא נוּקְמָא דִּבְרִית קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִתְרְשִׁים בֵּיהּ, וְהוּא פָּגֵים לֵיהּ.

Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Evil Evil Inclination Sword Thigh

645. He who desires to keep this place, THE HOLY COVENANT, should prepare and arm himself, and when the Evil Inclination assails him, he should draw before it this sword which is upon the thigh, thus taking vengeance upon him who impairs that place CALLED THIGH. Hence, "Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior." He is mighty, WHO VANQUISHES THE EVIL INCLINATION, and is called mighty. This is "your glory and majesty."

645. וּמַאן דְּבָעֵי לְנַטְרָא הַאי אֲתַר, יִזְדַּרֵז וִיתַקֵּן גַּרְמֵיהּ, וִישַׁוֵּי לְקִבְלֵיהּ, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּיִצְרָא בִישָׁא יִתְקַף עֲלוֹי, לְהַאי חֶרֶב דְּקָיְימָא עַל יָרֵךְ, לְאִתְפָּרְעָא מִמַּאן דְּפָגֵים הַאי אֲתַר, וּכְדֵין חֲגוֹר חַרְבְּךָ עַל יָרֵךְ גִּבּוֹר, גִּבּוֹר אִיהוּ, גִּבּוֹר אִתְקְרֵי. וְעַל דָּא הוֹדְךָ וַהֲדָרֶךָ.

Prayer Sword Thigh

646. Another explanation for, "Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior:" Before setting out on a journey, one should prepare himself with a prayer to his Master, and gird himself with righteousness, NAMELY MALCHUT, which is the supernal sword, through prayers and supplication, as it is written, "Righteousness shall go before him, and walk in the way of his steps" (Tehilim 85:14).

646. ד"א חֲגוֹר חַרְבְּךָ עַל יָרֵךְ גִּבּוֹר. מַאן דְּנָפֵיק בְּאָרְחָא, יְתַקֵּן גַּרְמֵיהּ בִּצְלוֹתָא דְמָארֵיהּ, וְיִזְדַּרֵז בְּהַאי צֶדֶק, חֶרֶב עִלָּאָה, בִּצְלוֹתָא וּבָעוּתִין עַד לָא יִפּוֹק לְאָרְחָא, כְּדִכְתִיב צֶדֶק לְפָנָיו יְהַלֵּךְ וְיָשֵׂם לְדֶרֶךְ פְּעָמָיו.

Judah Judgment Matron Nukva Prayer Sword Twelve Twelve Tribes of Israel Zebulun

647. Come and see, Zebulun always went out on ways and paths, and engaged in wars, and armed himself with this supernal sword, WHICH IS THE NUKVA ON THE SIDE OF JUDGMENTS OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT, with prayers and supplication, before setting out on his way. He then overcame and conquered nations. You may say that this was assigned to Judah, who was ready with the sword to wage wars and prepare amendments, FOR HE IS OF THE ASPECT OF MALCHUT; why then Zebulun? HE ANSWERS, Come and behold, the twelve tribes were the adornments of the Matron, WHO IS MALCHUT. THUS ZEBULUN TOO IS OF THE ASPECT OF MALCHUT.

647. תָּא חֲזֵי, זְבוּלוּן נָפֵיק תְּדִירָא לִשְׁבִילִין, וְאָרְחִין, וְאַגַּח קְרָבִין, וְאִזְדַּרֵז בְּהַאי חֶרֶב עִלָּאָה, בִּצְלוֹתָא וּבָעוּתִין, עַד לָא נָפֵיק בְּאָרְחָא, וּכְדֵין נָצַח עַמִּין, וְאִתְתַּקַּף עֲלַיְיהוּ. וְאִי תֵימָא יְהוּדָה, הָא אִתְתַּקַּן בְּהַאי, לְאַגָּחָא קְרָבִין, וְתִקּוּנִין, בְּהַאי חֶרֶב, אַמַּאי זְבוּלוּן. אֶלָּא, תָּא חֲזֵי, הַנֵּי תְּרֵיסַר שִׁבְטִין, כֻּלְּהוּ תִּקּוּנָא דְמַטְרוֹנִיתָא הֲווֹ.

<
>