"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf"

Synopsis

The first explanation for why Benjamin is called a wolf tells us that this was engraved upon the throne. The second explanation interprets it as a reference to the altar upon which he offered the flesh of sacrifice daily. The third explanation indicates that through sacrifices, Benjamin appeased the accusers, called "wolf," in order that they would accuse Yisrael. The discussion then reveals the meaning of the verse, "In the morning he shall devour the prey." We are told that in the morning, the offering causes pleasure. At this time only, Ad, of the supernal throne of Binah, consumes the sacrifice. We next learn that the smoke of the sacrifice rises and unites Zeir Anpin and the Female Principle. Wine is also poured below, thereby bringing joy to the wine above. The awakening below should be performed with fine flour in oil in order to effect the union. The first sacrifices of the day are offered entirely to God, Who then confers blessings on the supernal armies. This unites Zeir Anpin and Malchut and connects the Upper and the Lower Worlds. Indeed, we are told, it is forbidden for a man to greet anyone in the morning before blessing God.

Relevance

The underlying meaning behind any sacrifice to The Creator concerns the sacrifice of our own immoral qualities that dwell deep within our nature. By meditating to uproot our negative traits, and acknowledging our jealousies, ego, and selfishness, the Light issuing through the words of these verses burns away our Evil Inclination, thus facilitating our spiritual evolution.

Beasts Benjamin Living Creatures Nukva Solomon Throne Wolves

787. Rabbi Elazar opened the discussion with the following verse, "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf" (Beresheet 49:27). HE ASKS, Why is Benjamin called a wolf? HE ANSWERS, Because he was so engraved upon the throne, THE NUKVA, IN THE SHAPE OF A WOLF. For all the great and small living creatures are imprinted UPON THE THRONE, as it is written "both small and great beasts" (Tehilim 104:25). The throne made by Solomon was also engraved in the same manner, after the pattern of the THRONE above.

787. פְּתַח ר' אֶלְעָזָר קְרָא אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, בִּנְיָמִין זְאֵב יִטְרָף וגו.' בִּנְיָמִין זְאֵב יִטְרָף, זְאֵב אַמַּאי. אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְהָכֵי אִתְרְשֵׁים בְּכָרְסְיָיא, דְּהָא כָּל חֵיוָון רַבְרְבִין זְעִירִין רְשִׁימִין תַּמָּן, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב חַיּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת עִם גְּדוֹלוֹת. וְכָרְסְיָיא דַּעֲבַד שְׁלֹמֹה, הָכֵי אִתְרְשֵׁים, כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא.

Altar Angels Benjamin Flesh Sacrifice Wolves

788. Another explanation for "a ravenous wolf" is that the altar was in Benjamin's portion, and the altar is a wolf. If you say that Benjamin is a wolf, it is not so, the altar on his territory was the wolf, since it consumed flesh every day; NAMELY THE SACRIFICES OFFERED UPON IT. Benjamin used to feed it WITH SACRIFICES, because it was in his territory. It was as if he nourished and fed that wolf. "RAVENOUS" MEANS FEEDING, THE VERSE MAY READ 'BENJAMIN SHALL FEED THE WOLF,' THE ALTAR. Another explanation for "a ravenous wolf" is that 'he shall feed the wolf.' Who is the wolf? ANGELS sworn to enmity who are ready to accuse Yisrael from above. They are all appeased by the sacrifices, aroused the awakening above. THUS BENJAMIN, IN WHOSE TERRITORY THE ALTAR LIES, FEEDS THE ACCUSERS CALLED WOLF, SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BRING ACCUSATION UPON YISRAEL.

788. תוּ זְאֵב יִטְרָף, דְהָא מִזְבֵּחַ בְּחוּלָקֵיהּ הֲוָה. וּמִזְבֵּחַ אִיהוּ זְאֵב. דְּאִי תֵימָא בִּנְיָמִין אִיהוּ זְאֵב, לָאו הָכֵי, אֶלָּא מִזְבֵּחַ דַּהֲוָה בְּחוּלָקֵיהּ, הוּא זְאֵב, דַּהֲוָה אָכֵיל בִּשְׂרָא כָל יוֹמָא וּבִנְיָמִין הֲוָה זָן לֵיהּ, בְּגִין דְּהָא בְּחוּלָקֵיהּ הֲוָה, כִּבְיָכוֹל אִיהוּ מְפַרְנֵס וְזָן לְהַאי זְאֵב. תוּ זְאֵב יִטְרָף, זְאֵב יָזוֹן. וּמַאן אִיהוּ, אִילֵּין מָארֵי דְּבָבוֹ, דְּאִינוּן קָיְימֵי לְעֵילָא לְקַטְרְגָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְהֲנוּ וְאִתְתַּקְנָן מִקָּרְבָּנָא, וּמִתְעָרֵי אִתְעֲרוּתָא לְעֵילָא.

Abraham Morning Offering Zeir Anpin

789. "In the morning he shall devour the prey (Heb. ad), and at night he shall divide the spoil" (Beresheet 49:27). HE ASKS, What is the meaning of: "In the morning he shall devour the prey?" HE REPLIES, In the morning, when Abraham, CHESED, stirs in the world, and it is time of goodwill, the offering causes stirring and pleasure. It rises to 'Ad,' the place of which it says "and you shall return to (Heb. ad) Hashem your Elohim" (Devarim 30:2), WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, FROM THE CHEST UPWARD.

789. בַּבֹּקֶר יֹאכַל עַד וְלָעֶרֶב יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל. מַאי בַבֹּקֶר יֹאכַל עַד. אֶלָּא בְּצַפְרָא, דְּאַבְרָהָם אִתְעַר בְּעַלְמָא, וְשַׁעְתָּא דְּרַעֲוָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח, קָרְבָּנָא עָבֵיד אִתְעֲרוּתָא וְנַיְיחָא וְסַלְקָא עַד ע"ד, הַהוּא אֲתַר, דִּכְתִיב וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ.

Abraham Morning Sacrifice Throne Zeir Anpin

790. תוּ בַּבֹּקֶר, מַאי בַּבֹּקֶר, דָּא אַבְרָהָם כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן, דִּכְתִיב וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר, בְּזִמְנָא דְרַעֲוָא אִשְׁתַּכַּח, בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא לָא הֲוָה אָכֵיל קָרְבָּנָא אָחֳרָא, וּמַאן הֲוָה אָכֵיל, הַהוּא אֲתַר דְּאִקְרֵי ע"ד, וְאִיהוּ כָּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה, דְּאִיהוּ עֲדֵי עַד, כְּדִכְתִיב עֲדֵי עַד וגו.'

Chassadim Grades Morning Nukva Sacrifice Zeir Anpin

791. Ad eats in the morning, NAMELY WHEN CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN HAS THE ASCENDANCY. Ad is above THE CHEST OF ZEIR ANPIN, A PLACE WHICH IS ALL CHASSADIM, as it is written, "Trust in Hashem forever (Heb. adey-ad)" (Yeshayah 26:4). FROM THIS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT AD IS A VERY HIGH PLACE. In the morning, WHEN CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN REIGNS, there is a sacrifice unto Hashem, WHEN THE NUKVA CALLED SACRIFICE IS UNITED WITH HASHEM; THEREFORE "he shall devour ad (or: 'ad shall devour')," THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN AND RIGHT, WHICH IS CHESED, SHALL, and no other GRADE.

Candles Chassadim Levites Love Nukva Praise Priests Sacrifice Smoke Water Wine Zeir Anpin

792. HE EXPLAINS THE UNION WHICH IS BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH THE SACRIFICE, SAYING the smoke OF THE SACRIFICE rises, THE AWAKENING FROM BELOW, love is aroused above and connects BETWEEN ZEIR ANPIN AND THE NUKVA, and they stand facing each other. The candle, THE NUKVA, is kindled and shines from the awakening below, MEANING, IT RECEIVES ABUNDANCE FROM ZEIR ANPIN. The priest is stirred and the Levites praise with joy. The wine, OF THE LEFT SIDE AND GVURAH, is mingled with water, WHICH IS RIGHT AND CHESED. The wine illuminates and brings joy, FOR WHEN GVUROT ARE CLOTHED IN CHASSADIM, THEY ARE CALLED 'GLADDENING WINE.' Therefore good wine should be poured from below, so as to gladden the other wine above. All then are aroused to connect the left with the right.

792. תְּנָנָא סָלֵיק, וְאִתְעֲרוּתָא דִּרְחִימוּ קָשֵׁיר, וְאִתְעַר לְעֵילָא וְקָיְימָא דָא לָקֳבֵל דָּא, וְנוּרָא דָלֵיק, וְאַנְהֵיר בְּהַאי אִתְעֲרוּתָא דִלְתַתָּא. וְכַהֲנָא אִתְעַר, וְלֵיוָאֵי מְשַׁבְּחָן, וְאַחְזְיָין חֵידוּ, וּכְדֵין חַמְרָא אִתְנְסַךְ, לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא בְּמַיָא, וְחַמְרָא נָהֵיר וְאַחֲזֵי חֵידוּ, בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ, חַמְרָא טַב לְתַתָּא, לְאַחֲזָאָה חֵידוּ, לְחַמְרָא אָחֳרָא דִלְעֵילָא, וְכֹלָּא אִתְעַר, לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא שְׂמָאלָא בִּימִינָא.

Astrology Body Bread Crowns Moon Nukva Oil Righteous Sun Zeir Anpin

793. The bread of fine flour, which is Malchut, THE NUKVA, was roused by the stirring BELOW. THE NUKVA IS CALLED 'BREAD,' ACCORDING TO THE SECRET MEANING OF THE VERSE, "SAVE THE BREAD WHICH HE DID EAT" (BERESHEET 39:6). She is taken by left and right, and attached to the body, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN CALLED BODY. Then supernal oil is poured FROM ZEIR ANPIN and She receives it through the Righteous, YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN. Therefore, awakening below should be performed with fine flour in oil. All is attached together, and there is delight and pleasure in the union, and the crowns, THE SFIROT OF THE NUKVA, receive that delight and pleasure of the union. ZEIR ANPIN AND THE NUKVA are attached to each other; the moon, THE NUKVA, shines and joins the sun, and all settled delightedly.

793. וְלֶחֶם דְּאִיהוּ סֹלֶת, מַלְכוּתָא דְאִתְעַר אִתְעֲרוּתָא, נַקְטִין לָהּ שְׂמָאלָא בִּימִינָא, וּמְקַשְׁרֵי לָהּ בְּגוּפָא, וּכְדֵין נָגֵיד מִשְׁחָא עִלָּאָה, וְלָקְטָא לֵיהּ, עַל יְדָא דְצַדִּי"ק. וְע"ד בָּעֵי לְמֶעְבַּד אִתְעֲרוּתָא דְסֹלֶת בְּמִשְׁחָא, וְאִתְקַשַּׁר כֹּלָּא כַּחֲדָא, וּכְדֵין עִדּוּנָא וְנָיְיחִין דְּיִחוּדָא חַד, וְלָקְטִין עִדּוּנָא וְנַיְיחָא דְיִחוּדָא, כָּל אִינוּן כִּתְרִין, וְאִתְקַשַּׁר דָּא בְּדָא, וְאִתְנָהֵיר סִיהֲרָא, וְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא בְּשִׁמְשָׁא, וְיָתֵיב כֹּלָּא בְּעִדּוּנָא.

Chassadim Holy Name Morning Nukva Sacrifice Zeir Anpin

794. This is the sacrifice unto Hashem, WHEN THE NUKVA IS BROUGHT UNTO HASHEM and to no one else. Therefore "in the morning he shall devour the prey (Heb. ad);" AD SHALL EAT IN THE MORNING, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN CALLED 'AD,' and none other. THE VERSE TEACHES US that first Ad, ZEIR ANPIN, shall eat and be delighted in his union in the morning, WHEN CHASSADIM RULE, for the Holy Name should be the first to be blessed. Then will the others be blessed, AS IT SAYS, "AND AT NIGHT HE SHALL DIVIDE THE SPOIL" (BERESHEET 49:27), AS WILL BE EXPLAINED.

794. וּכְדֵין קָרְבַּן לַיי,' וְלָא לְאָחֳרָא, וְעַל דָּא, בַּבֹּקֶר יֹאכַל עַד, וְלָא לְאָחֳרָא, יֹאכַל עַד, וְיִתְעֲדָן וְיִתְקַשַּׁר בְּקִשּׁוּרֵיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא. אֵימָתַי, בַּבֹּקֶר. דְּבָעֵי לְאִתְבָּרְכָא שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא בְקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר יִתְבָּרְכוּן אָחֳרָנִין.

Blessing Morning Sacrifice Zeir Anpin

795. This is why it is forbidden for a man to greet his neighbor in the morning before blessing the Holy One, blessed be He, who should be blessed first, as "in the morning he shall devour ad" (or: 'ad shall devour') , WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. The others shall be blessed later; NAMELY "at night he shall divide the spoil" for the first sacrifices are offered entirely to the Holy One, blessed be He, and the stirring BELOW rises thither. Once he is blessed, he links by knots all the other supernal armies and confers blessings, each according to his worth. The worlds are sweetened and the upper and lower are blessed.

795. וְעַל דָּא, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לְב"נ לְבָרְכָא לְחַבְרֵיהּ בְּצַפְרָא, עַד דִּיבָרֵךְ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּאִיהוּ בָּעֵי לְאִתְבָּרְכָא בְּרֵישָׁא, וְהַיְינוּ בַּבֹּקֶר יֹאכַל עַד. וּלְבָתַר יִתְבָּרְכוּן אָחֳרָנִין, וְלָעֶרֶב יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל. דְּהָא קָרְבָּנוֹת דַּהֲוָה בְּרֵישָׁא, כֹּלָּא אִתְקְרַב לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְאִתְעֲרוּתָא סַלְקָא תַּמָּן. וּבְגִין דְּהָא הוּא אִתְבָּרַךְ, הֲוָה מְקַשַּׁר קִשְׁרִין לְכָל שְׁאָר חֵילִין עִלָּאִין, וּמַפְלִיג לוֹן בִּרְכָאן, לְכָל חַד וְחַד כִּדְקָא חָזֵי וְיָאוֹת לֵיהּ, וּמִתְבַּסְּמָן עָלְמִין, וְאִתְבָּרְכָאן עִלָאִין וְתַתָּאִין.

Blessing Grades Holy Name Milk Sacrifice Wine

796. This is the secret of the verse, "I have drunk my wine with my milk" first. Then, dividing amongst them all, he says, "Eat, O dear ones, and drink; drink deep, O loving companions" (Shir Hashirim 5:1), thus conferring blessings upon them all and allotting each with his fitting share. Therefore, "at night he shall divide the spoil" for the Holy Name is blessed first and then imparts blessings amongst all the worlds. Do not say that the sacrifice is offered them nor to any other force, but all is offered to the Holy One, blessed be He, who bestows blessings and divides them to all the worlds. Therefore it is a sacrifice to Hashem, and to no other GRADE.

796. וְהַיְינוּ רָזָא דִכְתִיב, אָכַלְתִּי יַעֲרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי וגו,' בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, לְבָתַר פָּלֵיג לְכֻלְּהוּ, וַאֲמַר אִכְלוּ רֵעִים שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דוֹדִים. אָרֵיק בִּרְכָאן לְכֻלְּהוּ, וּמַפְלִיג לוֹן, לְכָל חַד וְחַד כִּדְקָא חָזֵי לֵיהּ, וְעַל דָּא וְלָעֶרֶב יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל. דְּהָא שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וְהַשְׁתָּא פָּלֵיג בִּרְכָאן לְכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין. דְּלָא תֵימָא דְקָרְבָּנָא מִתְקָרֵיב לוֹן, וְלָא לְשׁוּם חֵילָא אָחֳרָא, אֶלָּא כֹּלָּא מִתְקַרֵב לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְהוּא אָרֵיק בִּרְכָאן, וּמַפְלֵיג בִּרְכָאן לְכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין, וּבְגִין כָּךְ קָרְבַּן לַיי,' וְלָא לְאָחֳרָא.

Blessing Grades Nukva Offering Sacrifice Zeir Anpin

797. Rabbi Shimon said, You have spoken well, my son. There is another awakening brought about by the sacrifice, that draws and incites blessings so that all the worlds shall be blessed. But first there is the sacrifice unto Hashem, TO BRING THE NUKVA TO THE GRADE OF ZEIR ANPIN, and to no other. Now THAT THE UNION WITH ZEIR ANPIN IS PERFORMED, "shall you bring your offering" (Vayikra 1:2), NAMELY so that the worlds will be connected together and the upper and lower shall be blessed.

797. אֲמַר ר"ש, בְּרִי, שַׁפִּיר קָא אֲמַרְתְּ. תוּ אִתְעֲרוּתָא אָחֳרָא דְקָרְבָּנָא, כֹּלָּא בְּגִין לְאַמְשָׁכָא בִּרְכָאן, וּלְאַתְעָרָא בִּרְכָאן, דְּיִתְבָּרְכוּן כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמִין. בְּקַדְמֵיתָא קָרְבָּן לַיי,' וְלָא לְאָחֳרָא, הַשְׁתָּא תַּקְרִיבוּ אֶת קָרְבַּנְכֶם, דְּיִתְקַשְּׁרוּן כֻּלְּהוּ עָלְמִין כַּחֲדָא, וְיִתְחַבְּרָן וְיִתְבָּרְכוּן עִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי.