Vayechi
Dan Tribes

695. "Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Yisrael" (Beresheet 49:16). Rabbi Chiya said, This verse should have been, 'Dan shall judge the tribes of Yisrael' or 'Dan shall judge the tribes of Yisrael as one.' What is the meaning of "Dan shall judge his people" followed by "as one of the tribes of Yisrael?"

695. דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֹ כְּאַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. רִבִּי חִיָּיא אֲמַר, הַאי קְרָא הָכֵי אִית לֵיה לְמֵימַר, דָּן יָדִין לְשִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אוֹ דָּן יָדִין לְשִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּאֶחָד, מַהוּ דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֹ. וּלְבָתַר כְּאַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.

Ark Camp Dan Ephraim Judah Levites Reuben Thigh Tzidon West Zebulun

696. HE ANSWERS, Dan, whom it says was "rearward of all the camps" (Bemidbar 10:25), is the left thigh, NAMELY HOD, and went last. HE EXPLAINS, Come and see, when Judah and Reuben march, the Levites and the ark unfurl their standard and then the standard of Ephraim marches to the west. The right thigh marches according to order, BY WHICH THE RIGHT THIGH GOES BEFORE THE LEFT THIGH, DAN. THEREFORE DAN IS THE LAST TO MOVE. You may say that Zebulun is the one who goes in and out, as it says of him, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out" (Devarim 33:18), FOR HE PERTAINS TO THE THIGH, AS EXPRESSLY STATED, "And his border (also: 'thigh') shall be at Tzidon" (Beresheet 49:13). ZEBULUN THEN SHOULD BE THE THIGH AND NOT EPHRAIM. HE ANSWERS, Judah comprises all of them.

696. אֶלָּא דָּן, הוּא דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ, מְאַסֵּף לְכָל הַמַּחֲנוֹת, דְּהוּא יַרְכָא שְׂמָאלָא, וְאָזֵיל לְבַתְרַיְיתָא. תָּא חֲזֵי כֵּיוָן דִּיהוּדָה וּרְאוּבֵן נָטְלִין, לֵיוָאֵי וַאֲרוֹנָא פָּרְשִׂין דִּגְלִין, וְנָטֵיל דִּגְלָא דְאֶפְרַיִם דְּאִיהוּ לְמַעֲרָב, יַרְכָא יְמִינָא נָטֵיל, בְּקַפְסִירֵי קִסְטָא. וְאִי תֵימָא, זְבוּלֻן דְּאִיהוּ עָאל, וְנָפֵיק, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ, שְׂמַח זְבוּלֻן בְּצֵאתֶךָ, וּכְתִיב וְיַרְכָתוֹ וגו.' אֶלָּא וַדַּאי, יְהוּדָה אִתְכְּלֵיל מִכֹּלָּא.

Body Judah Nukva Strength Thigh Twelve Zeir Anpin

697. HE EXPLAINS THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE FOUR STANDARDS, SAYING, come and behold: the upper Malchut, THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN, comprises everything, ALL THE TWELVE BODY SEGMENTS, and Judah is the lower Malchut. As the upper Malchut comprises everything, so does the lower Malchut (kingdom), Judah, comprise the whole body and the thigh; NAMELY TIFERET AND THE TWELVE JOINTS IN THE ARMS AND LEGS, in order to grow in strength.

697. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַלְכוּ דִּלְעֵילָא אִתְכְּלֵיל מִכֹּלָּא, וִיהוּדָה אִיהוּ מַלְכוּ תַּתָּאָה. כְּמָה דְמַלְכוּ עִלָּאָה אִתְכְּלֵיל מִכֹּלָּא, הָכֵי נָמֵי מַלְכוּ תַּתָּאָה, אִתְכְּלֵיל מִכֹּלָּא, מִגּוּפָא מִיַּרְכָא, בְּגִין לְאִתְגַּבְּרָא בְּתוֹקְפֵיהּ.

Body Fire Hands Judah Nukva Thigh Torah Zeir Anpin

698. It is written, "From His right hand went a fiery law for them" (Devarim 33:2), which means that the Torah was given from the side of Gvurah, WHICH IS FIRE. BUT Gvurah was included within the right, CHESED, in the body, TIFERET, and the thigh, NETZACH AND HOD, and all THE SFIROT. The first corps OF THE STANDARDS is Judah's, which is Malchut from the side of Gvurah, BUT included within the right in the body and in the thigh, and all THE SFIROT, like Malchut above, THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN, comprises all THE SFIROT.

698. כְּתִיב מִימִינ"וֹ אֵ"שׁ דָּ"ת לָמוֹ, אוֹרַיְיתָא מִסִּטְרָא דִגְבוּרָה אִתְיְיהֵיב, וּגְבוּרָה אִתְכְּלֵיל בִּימִינָא, וּבְגוּפָא, וְיַרְכָא, וּבְכֹלָּא. הָכֵי נָמֵי סִדְרָא קַדְמָאָה, יְהוּדָה אִיהוּ, מַלְכוּ דְּאָתֵי מִסְּטַר גְּבוּרָה, וְאִתְכְּלֵיל בִּימִינָא, בְּגוּפָא, וּבְיַרְכָא, בְּכֹלָּא אִתְכְּלֵיל. כְּמָה דְמַלְכוּ דִלְעֵילָא, אִתְכְּלֵיל מִכֹּלָּא.

David Hands Judah Reuben South Strength Water

699. The second corps of the standards is Reuben's, who was on the south side, which is right, CHESED. But the strength of the right, OF REUBEN, was taken by Judah, since the kingship was removed from Reuben, for "unstable as water, you shall not excel" (Beresheet 49:4). So Judah took it and was reinforced with the power of the right, which was Reuben's. It is also said of David, WHO IS COME FROM JUDAH, "Hashem says to my master, 'Sit at My right hand'" (Tehilim 110:1), because left is included in the right and has become strengthened. And so is written, "The right hand of Hashem does valiantly" (Tehilim 118:16). SINCE JUDAH TOOK ALL REUBEN'S POWER OF THE RIGHT, HE WAS THE FIRST TO MARCH. Judah and Reuben were the two arms, REUBEN THE RIGHT AND JUDAH THE LEFT ARM.

699. סִדְּרָא תִּנְיָינָא רְאוּבֵן, דְּאִיהוּ לִסְטַר דָּרוֹם, וְדָרוֹם אִיהוּ יְמִינָא, וְכָל חֵילָא דִּימִינָא, יְהוּדָה נָטֵיל לֵיהּ, בְּגִין דִּרְאוּבֵן אִתְעֲבֵיר מִנֵּיהּ מַלְכוּ, כְּד"א פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל תּוֹתַר, וְנָטֵיל לֵיהּ יְהוּדָה, וְאִתְגַּבַּר בְּתוֹקְפָא דִּימִינָא, דַּהֲוָה מֵרְאוּבֵן, וְכֵן כְּתִיב בְּדָוִד, נְאֻם יי' לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי. בְּגִין דִּשְּׂמָאלָא אִתְכְּלֵיל בִּימִינָא, וְאִתְתַּקַּף בְּחֵילֵיהּ, הה"ד, יְמִין יי' עוֹשָׂה חָיִל וגו.' יְהוּדָה וּרְאוּבֵן תְּרֵין דְּרוֹעִין הֲווֹ.

Camp Dan Ephraim Thigh

700. The third corps OF THE STANDARDS is that of Ephraim, who is the right thigh, NETZACH, which always goes before the left. Dan, who is the left thigh, HOD, goes last and is therefore "the rearward of all the camps" and marches last.

700. סִדְּרָא תְּלִיתָאָה, אֶפְרַיִם, דְּאִיהוּ יַרְכָא יְמִינָא, וְנָטְלָא קַמֵּי שְׂמָאלָא תָּדִיר, וְדָן דְּאִיהוּ יַרְכָא שְׂמָאלָא, נָטֵיל לְבַתְרַיְיתָא, וְעַל דָּא הוּא הַמְאַסֵּף לְכָל הַמַּחֲנוֹת לְצִבְאוֹתָם, וְאָזֵיל לְבַתְרַיְיתָא.

Birthright Hands Judah Reuben

701. Judah had a portion in the two arms, CHESED AND GVURAH, since Reuben, who is the right arm, lost his birthright, priesthood and the kingship. It therefore says of Judah, "Let his hands be sufficient for him; and be you a help to him from his enemies" (Devarim 33:7), WHICH REFERS TO THE TWO HANDS, CHESED AND GVURAH.

701. יְהוּדָה נָטֵיל חֵילָא בִּתְרֵין דְּרוֹעִין, בְּגִין דִּרְאוּבֵן דְּאִיהוּ יְמִינָא, אִתְאֲבֵיד מִנֵּיהּ בְּכֵירוּתָא כְּהוּנָּתָא וּמַלְכוּתָא, וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב בִּיהוּדָה, יָדָיו רָב לוֹ וְעֵזֶר מִצָּרָיו תִּהְיֶה.

Astrology David Form Judah Lion Moon Ox Solomon Supernal Forms Throne

702. Come and behold, it is written, "The King made a great throne of ivory" (I Melachim 10:18). The throne of Solomon was constructed after the supernal pattern, and all the supernal forms, NAMELY THE LION, THE OX, AND SO ON, were upon it. THUS THE LOWER MALCHUT, SOLOMON, WHO IS A DESCENDANT OF JUDAH, INCLUDES ALL THE SFIROT LIKE THE UPPER MALCHUT. Of this says the verse, "Then Solomon sat on the throne of Hashem as king" (I Divrei Hayamim 29:23). The word king without attributes POSSIBLY DOES NOT REFER TO SOLOMON, BUT ALLUDES TO THE SUPERNAL MALCHUT. THE LESSON OF THE VERSE IS THAT "SOLOMON SAT ON THE THRONE OF HASHEM" LIKE A KING, THE SUPERNAL MALCHUT, AND LIKE IT COMPRISED ALL THE SFIROT. "Then Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was firmly established" (I Melachim 2:12). "HIS KINGDOM" REFERS TO THE SUPERNAL MALCHUT, WHICH MEANS THAT the moon, THE SUPERNAL KINGDOM, was full. HERE TOO, "AS KING" ALLUDES TO THE SUPERNAL MALCHUT.

702. תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב וַיַּעַשׂ הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה כִּסֵּא שֵׁן גָּדוֹל. כָּרְסְיָיא דִשְׁלֹמֹה, עֲבַד לֵיהּ כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא, וְכָל דְּיוֹקְנִין דִּלְעֵילָא עֲבַד הָכָא. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, וַיֵּשֶׁב שְׁלֹמֹה עַל כִּסֵּא ה' לְמֶלֶךְ, מֶלֶךְ מִלָּה סְתִימָא הוּא. וְכֵן וּשְׁלֹמֹה יָשַׁב עַל כִּסֵּא דָּוִד אָבִיו וַתִּכּוֹן מַלְכוּתוֹ מְאֹד, דְּקָיְימָא סִיהֲרָא בְּאַשְׁלָמוּתָא.

Dan Samson Tribes

703. "Dan shall judge his people" first, and then "the tribes of Yisrael." THE WORD "as one" MEANS like the lone one in the world, MEANING, HE JUDGED ON HIS OWN LIKE THE ONLY ONE OF THE WORLD. This applies to Samson, who singlehandedly executed justice in the world, sentenced and killed by himself and needed no help.

703. דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֹ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּאַחַד: כְּיִחוּדוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם כְּמָה דַּהֲוָה בְּשִׁמְשׁוֹן, דְּאִיהוּ יְחִידָאי עָבֵיד דִּינָא בְּעַלְמָא, וְדָאִין וְקָטֵיל כַּחֲדָא, וְלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ סֶמֶךְ.

Camp Dan Grades Holiness (Kedushah) Hosts Kedushah (Holiness) Punishment Samson Serpent Sin Wine

704. "Dan shall judge his people" (Beresheet 49:16). Rabbi Yitzchak said, Dan is a serpent which lurks in ways and paths. It may be said that this is true for Samson alone. NOT SO (MEANS IT ISN'T TRUE), but this is also (MEANS IT IS TRUE)true above. It is the little serpent in "the rearward of all the camps" AT THE END OF THE GRADES OF HOLINESS. It lurks in the ways and paths, and from it issue armies and hosts OF FIENDS, which lurk in wait for people, TO PUNISH THEM for the sins they cast behind their backs, MEANING, WHICH THEY DID NOT NOTICE, AND THEN SAY THEY DO NOT COMMIT. Rabbi Chiya said, This was the primordial serpent above before it was tempered by the gladdening wine.

704. דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֹ. ר' יִצְחָק אֲמַר, דָּן, הַיְינוּ חִוְיָא, כָּמִין עַל אוֹרְחִין וּשְׁבִילִין. וְאִי תֵימָא דְּעַל שִׁמְשׁוֹן בִּלְחוֹדוֹי הוּא. אוֹף הָכֵי נָמֵי לְעֵילָא, דָּא הוּא נָחָשׁ זוּטָא מְאַסֵּף לְכָל הַמַּחֲנוֹת, וְכָמִין לְאוֹרְחִין וּשְׁבִילִין. לְבָתַר, חֵילִין וּמַשִּׁירְיָין מֵהָכָא נָפְקֵי, אִינוּן דְּכָמָאן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, עַל חוֹבִין, דְרָאמִין לְהוֹ לַאֲחוֹרָא, בָּתַר כִּתְפַיְּיהוּ. אֲמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, נָחָשׁ הַקַּדְמוֹנִי לְעֵילָא, עַד דְּלָא יִתְבַּסַּם בְּחַמְרָא דְחֵידוּ.