Vayechi: Chapter 9

"Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you"

Synopsis

Rabbi Aba first explains that shame will not overcome Jacob, since he will keep his promise to his children, [Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you,] because to fail would be to invoke shame upon himself. The quotation is a blessing from God, meant to further ensure that Jacob will keep his promise. Rabbi Aba then ends by indicating that at the time of war against Amalek, only The Creator would go to fight.

Relevance

In truth, a man lacks the full power to overthrow the Satan, doubts and internal demons that dwell within him. Nonetheless, when a man willingly overcomes his doubt - known by the code word Amalek, The Creator will fight for him throughout his life, thus assuring a man's victory over the dark side and providing him with a life of fulfillment. This is precisely what occurs herein, as we peruse the letters of this passage with the consciousness and intent to eradicate our doubts and demons and allow The Creator to fight on our behalf.

Face Jacob

70. "...And said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you'" (Beresheet 48:4). Rabbi Aba opened the discussion speaking in relation to the verse, "Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now grow pale" (Yeshayah 29:22). A man who promises good for another man will be ashamed not to keep his promise. How much more so is A PROMISE come to man from above. If He brings not the goodness to his children that he said he would, He will be ashamed.

70. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי הִנְּנִי מַפְרְךָ וְהִרְבֵּיתִיךָ. רִבִּי אַבָּא פָּתַח וַאֲמַר, הַאי קְרָא לֹא עַתָּה יֵבוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב וְלֹא עַתָּה פָּנָיו יֶחֱוָרוּ. וְכִי אֵינִישׁ דַּאֲמַר טַב לְב"נ כַּוָּותֵיהּ. אִי לָא יַשְׁלִים מַה דַּאֲמַר, אַפּוֹהִי מִתְבַּיְישָׁן, עאכ"ו מִן עִלָּאֵי לְב"נ, דְּאִי לָא מַיְיתֵי כָּל טַב דַּאֲמַר עַל בְּנוֹהִי, אַנְפּוֹהִי מִתְבַּיְישָׁן.

Blessing Earth Face Hands Heaven Jacob Messiah, The

71. The Holy One, blessed be He, said TO JACOB, "'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you" by this blessing given to Me FROM BINAH. And I will give this land to your children.' Yet HIS CHILDREN are not in the land of Yisrael, nor is THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, with them. THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY SHAMEFUL THAT HE PROMISES YET DOES NOT KEEP IT. But when the Messiah's end will come AND HIS PROMISE will be fulfilled, the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Jacob shall not now be ashamed." Now the face of supernal Jacob will not be put to shame, because of what he said "and will give THIS LAND TO YOUR SEED AFTER YOU" (Beresheet 48:4). For until now, he had naught in his hand to give them, and he was ashamed. Now his promise was kept before the Master of heaven and earth.

71. אֲמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לֵיהּ, אֲנָא יִשְׂרָאֵל עִלָּאָה, דַּאֲנָא מַפְשִׁינָךְ וְאַסְגִּינָךְ. הַאי בִּרְכָתָא דְּיָהֵיב לִי, וְאֶתֵּן יַת אַרְעָא הָדָא לִבְרֵיכוֹן, לָא הֲוָה בְּאַרְעָא, לָא הֲוָה עִמְּהוֹן. כַּד יֵיתֵי קִיצָא דִמְשִׁיחָא וְיִשְׁתְּלֵים, אֲמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לֹא עַתָּה יֵבוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב, כְּעַן אַנְפוֹי דְיַעֲקֹב דִּלְעֵילָא, לָא מִתְבַּיְישָׁן מִדַּאֲמַר לְהוֹן וְנָתַתִּי, אֲרֵי עַד כְּעַן לָא הֲווֹ בִּידֵיהּ, וַהֲווֹ אַנְפּוֹהִי מִתְבַּיְישָׁן, כְּעַן דִּילֵיהּ מִסְתַּיֵּיעַ מִן קָדָם מָארֵי שְׁמַיָא וְאַרְעָא.

Amalek Hands Strength War

72. As we said, the war against Amalek will be by strength of hand alone when the end will come, for it is a day for battle, as is written, "Then shall Hashem go out, and fight against those nations, AS WHEN HE FOUGHT IN THE DAY OF BATTLE," He Himself shall go out, and none other.

72. כְּמָה דְאַמְרִינָן, אֲגָחְנָא דַּעֲמָלֵק, כַּד יִשְׁתְּלֵים קִיצָא, לָא יְהֵא אֶלָּא בִּתְקוֹף יְדָא, כְּמָה דַּהֲוֵית בְּיוֹם קְרָב, וְיָצָא ה' וְנִלְחַם בַּגּוֹיִם הָהֵם, דִּידֵיהּ וְלָא אָחֳרָא.

<
>