181. "And the thing which he did displeased Hashem: So He slew him also" (Beresheet 38:10). Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion with the verse, "In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand" (Kohelet 11:6). Come and behold, it behooves man much to be careful lest he sin and to be heedful in his actions before the Holy One, blessed be He. For there are numerous messengers and chieftains in the world who roam about observing the deeds of man and bearing testimony of him, recording everything in a book.
182. Come and behold, of all the sins that defile a man in this world, that which defiles him the most in this world and in the World to Come is spilling his semen in vain. Letting it out in vain by the hand or leg brings impurity on man, as it is written, "For you are not an El that has pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You" (Tehilim 5:5).
183. He therefore does not come inside the curtain OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, or behold the presence of Atik Yomin, as is learned from the verses, "Nor shall evil dwell with You," and "And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Hashem" (Beresheet 38:7). BOTH VERSES INDICATE THAT HE DOES NOT BEHOLD THE FACE OF HASHEM. Hence, it is written, "Your hands are full of blood" (Yeshayah 1:15), WHICH REFERS TO LETTING SEMEN BY THE HAND, WHICH IS LIKENED TO SHEDDING BLOOD. Happy is the portion of the man who fears Hashem and is guarded from the evil path, and purifies himself to be occupied in the fear of his Master.
184. The verse, "In the morning sow your seed" (Kohelet 11:6), has already been explained. The morning is the time of man's strength and youth. He should then strive to beget children with the wife appropriate for him, according to the verse, "In the morning sow your seed."
185. Then it is his time TO BEGET CHILDREN, as it is written, "As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of one's youth" (Tehilim 127:4). Then he is able to teach them the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He, and to receive good reward for the World to Come, as it is written, "Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them, they shall not be put to shame, but they shall speak with their enemies in the gate" (Ibid. 5). "They shall not be put to shame" in the World of Truth when the Accusers bring accusations on them, for there is no better reward in that world then THE REWARD of he who teaches his child the fear of Hashem in the ways of the Torah.
186. Come and behold, it is written about Abraham, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Hashem, to do justice and judgment" (Beresheet 18:19). This merit stood him well in the World to Come against all Accusers.
187. It is therefore written, "In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand" (Kohelet 11:6). Even in old age, CALLED 'EVENING,' it is written, "Do not withhold your hand" from begetting children. Why? "For you know not which shall prosper, whether this of that," before Elohim, and which will defend them in the World of Truth.
188. Hence it is written, "Lo, children are the heritage of Hashem" (Tehilim 127:3). This is the 'bundle of LIFE' OF the soul, THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "YET THE SOUL OF MY LORD SHALL BE BOUND IN THE BOND OF LIFE" (I SHMUEL 25:29), CONSIDERED AS the World to Come and called 'heritage' BY THE SCRIPTURE. Who causes man to merit the heritage of Hashem? Children do. The children cause man to merit the heritage of Hashem! Therefore, happy is the man who has children to whom he may teach the ways of the Torah.