Zohar Bechukotai Section 1 - Remember what Balak Devised

It is recommended that one study each Zohar section prior to reading the Synopsis. This allows one to follow their own free choice in understanding what the Zohar says. After this study it is then beneficial to read the Zohar Synopsis to get a possible different perception of the Zohar section which expands your consciousness.

Zohar Commentary from the Sulam (Ladder) by Rabbi Yehudah Ashlag on Parasha BECHUKOTAI

SYNOPSIS:

Rabbi Chiya opens by saying how happy are those whose Master reproves them out of His care for them. Rabbi Yosi says even though God told Yisrael to remember Him, when they cry out to him He does not pay attention to them. Rabbi Yehuda disagrees, and contends that if God had not remembered them, Yisrael would not have survived even a single day in exile. He says that when a man wants some action from God he must arouse it through a holy deed or speech below. Similarly, those who want to arouse actions from the Side of Defilement arouse their aspect through action and word of mouth. Rabbi Yehuda draws a distinction between divination and enchantment, and says that Yisrael's deeds are always done in holiness there is no divination or enchantment in them. God reminds Yisrael of the acts that He has done for them and the protection He gave them while they were attached to Him.

Pasook 1. on Zohar Commentary on Parasha Bechukotai

אִם בְּחֻקּוֹתַי תֵּלֵכוּ וְגוֹ'. ר' חִיָּיא פָּתַח, עַמִּי זְכָר נָא מַה יָּעַץ בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב וּמֶה עָנָה אוֹתוֹ בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר וְגוֹ'. עַמִּי זְכָר נָא, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָא דְּעַמָּא דָּא, דְּמָארֵיהוֹן אוֹכַח לוֹן הָכִי. עַמִּי זְכָר נָא, אע"ג דְּאַתּוּן סָטָאן מֵאוֹרְחָי, עַמִּי אַתּוּן, דְּלָא בָּעֵינָא לְמֶעְבַּד לְכוּ כְּעוֹבָדַיְיכוּ.

"If you walk in My statutes..." (Vayikra 26:3). Rabbi Chiya opened with the verse, "O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and how Bilaam, the son of Beor answered him..." (Michah 6:5). "O My people, remember"; happy is the portion of this people, that their Master reproves them so. "O My people, remember," though you have deviated from the way, you are My people, and I do not wish to repay you according to your deeds.

chanoch's Commentary

Did you ask the question why does the Zohar bring the idea of Balak and Bilaam during this Parasha of Bechukotai. It is because ...you really should know. Look at these two Verses that the Zohar brings. They appear opposite of each other. You can read these verses as "If you walk in my statutes your Master will reprove you. Of course that is not true so what do you think the Zohar is saying?

Pasook 2. of the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Bechukotai

ר' יִצְחָק אָמַר, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָא דְּעַמָּא, דְּמָארַיְיהוּ אָמַר לוֹן, עַמִּי מֶה עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ וּמָה הֶלְאֵיתִיךָ עֲנֵה בִּי. מַה יָּעַץ בָּלָק מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב. בְּכַמָּה מִלִּין וְעוֹבָדִין אָמַר לְשֵׁיצָאָה לְכוּ מֵעָלְמָא, וְכַמָּה חַרְשִׁין אִתְּעַר לָקֳבְלַיְיכוּ.

Rabbi Yitzchak said: Happy is the portion of the people whose Master says to them, "O My people, what have I done to you, and wherein have I wearied you? Testify against Me" (Ibid. 3). "What Balak king of Moab devised," THAT IS, how many things did he plan to do to destroy you, and how much wizardry has he incited against you.

chanoch adds: Where is this going? Are we supposed to testify that it is God's fault? Of course it is not God's Fault.

Pasook 3. of the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Bechukotai

א"ר יוֹסֵי, אָמַר לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, זְכוֹר נָא. וַוי דַּאֲנָן צַוְוחִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא, וְגָעֵינָן וּבָכֵינָן, זְכוֹר יְיָ' מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ. זְכוֹר יְיָ' לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם, וְלָא בָּעֵי לְאַשְׁגְּחָא עֲלָנָא, הוּא אָמַר לָן בְּבָעוּ זְכוֹר נָא, אֵין נָא אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן בָּעוּתָא, וַאֲנָן לָא אַשְׁגַּחְנָא בֵּיהּ, כְּגַוְונָא דָּא אֲנָן צַוְוחִין, זְכוֹר יְיָ' מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ, זְכוֹר יְיָ' לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם, זְכוֹר עֲדָתְךָ קָנִיתָ קֶּדֶם, זָכְרֵנִי יְיָ' בִּרְצוֹן עַמֶּךָ, וְלָא בָּעֵי לְאַשְׁגְּחָא עֲלָן.

Rabbi Yosi said: The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Yisrael, "Remember now." Woe to us that we cry, we sob and weep, "Remember, Hashem, what is come upon us" (Eichah 5:1). "Remember, Hashem, against the children of Edom" (Tehilim 137:7). Yet He does not want to pay attention to us, because when He said to us, "O...remember," in words of entreaty, we did not attend to Him. We therefore shout, with words like: "Remember, Hashem, what is come upon us," "Remember, Hashem, against the children of Edom," "Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old" (Tehilim 74:2). "Remember me, Hashem, when You show favor to Your people" (Tehilim 106:4). Yet He does not wish to pay attention to us.

chanoch's Commentary

The Kabbalah is always reminding us that we create the world that we live in. We are co creators with HaShem. That is what these verses are teaching us.

Pasook 4. on the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Bechukotai

רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר, וַדַּאי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַשְׁגַּח עֲלָן תָּדִיר, וְדָכִיר לָן, אִי לָאו דְּאִיהוּ אַשְׁגַּח בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְדָכִיר לוֹן, לָא יְקוּמוּן חַד יוֹמָא בְּגָלוּתָא, הה"ד וְאַף גַּם זֹאת בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אוֹיְבֵיהֶם וְגוֹ'. קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא עָבֵיד לָן כְּעוֹבָדָנָא.

Rabbi Yehuda said: Surely the Holy One, blessed be He, constantly pays attention to us and remembers us, for had He not attended to Yisrael and remembered us, they would not have survived in exile a single day. Hence it says, "And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies..." (Vayikra 26:44). For the Holy One, blessed be He, does not reward us in accordance with our deeds.

chanoch adds: This is the Mercy of HaShem. When you do negative things HaShem recreates the world without giving you what you have earned do to these negative actions. This is something we need to learn. When we receive the effect of our negative actions and it feels painful and uncomfortable it is actually less pain than we have earned. HaShem is Merciful. i hope you realize the truth of this statement. Remember express your appreciation for HaShem not rewarding you with the full effect of your negative actions. Also this applies to the effects of your good actions. HaShem's Mercy gives you a greater positive effect for your positive actions than you have earned. You also need to learn to appreciate this extra Love from HaShem.

Pasook 5. of the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Bechukotai

ת"ח, בָּלָק חַכִּים הֲוָה, וְרַב חַרְשִׁין בְּעוֹבָדֵי יְדוֹי, יַתִּיר מִן בִּלְעָם. וְהָכִי אוֹלִיפְנָא כָּל מַה דְּבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא בְּפוּלְחָנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בָּעֵי לְאִתְּעָרָא בְּעוֹבָדָא לְתַתָּא. דִּבְעוֹבָדָא דִּלְתַּתָּא, אִתְּעַר עוֹבָדָא לְעֵילָּא, וְעוֹבָדָא דָּא בָּעֵי בִּקְדוּשָּׁה, וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ. וּבַאֲתַר דְּלֵית עוֹבָדָא, אִית מִלָּה, וּבְמִלָּה דְּפוּמָא, תַּלְיָא עוֹבָדָא, לְאִתְּעָרָא לְעֵילָּא. כְּמָה דְּבָעֵינָן לְאִתְּעָרָא קְדוּשָּׁה עִלָּאָה, בְּעוֹבָדָא וּבְמִלָּה. הָכִי נָמֵי אִינּוּן דְּאַתְיָין מִסִּטְרָא דִּמְסָאֲבוּתָא, בַּעְיָין לְאִתְּעָרָא סִטְרָא דִּלְהוֹן, בְּעוֹבָדָא וּבְמִלָּה דְּפוּמָא.

Come and behold: Balak was wise, and the greatest sorcerer in his deeds; even more so than Bilaam. I have learned that when a man wishes for something from the works of the Holy One, blessed be He, it behooves him to arouse it through a deed below, since through the lower deed the upper deed is aroused. The deed below should be done in Holiness, as already explained. Where there is no deed, there is speech, and it depends upon word of mouth to provoke the deed above. As supernal Holiness should be aroused by action and speech, so should all those from the Side of Defilement arouse their aspect through action and word of mouth.

chanoch's Commentary

The spiritual system works in the following way: Human beings do an action which can also be words. This activates the flow of energy that then manifests in the physical world exactly what was / is required. Now when this is done in Holiness it will manifest Holiness and when the action is impure the manifestation is impure. Now that you know the system use it well.

Pasook 6. of the Zohar Commentary on Parasha Bechukotai

ואע"ג דְּבִלְעָם חַרְשָׁא הֲוָה רַב מִכָּל חַרְשִׁין דְּעָלְמָא, חַרְשָׁא עִלָּאָה מִנֵּיהּ הֲוָה בָּלָק. בְּקֶסֶם הֲוָה בָּלָק רַב מִכָּל חַכִּימִין. וּבִלְעָם בְּנַחַשׁ. קֶסֶם וְנַחַשׁ תְּרֵין דַּרְגִּין אִינּוּן, קֶסֶם תַּלְיָא בְּעוֹבָדָא. נַחַשׁ לָא תַּלְיָא בְּעוֹבָדָא אֶלָּא בְּאִסְתַּכְּלוּתָא, וּבְמִלָּה דְּפוּמָא. וּכְדֵין מִתְעָרִין עָלַיְיהוּ רוּחָא מִסְאֲבָא, לְאִתְלַבְּשָׁא בְּהוּ, וְעָבֵיד מַה דְּעָבֵיד.

Though Bilaam was the greatest of all the sorcerers in the world, Balak was a greater sorcerer than he, for Balak was the greatest in divination, while Bilaam WAS GREAT in enchantment. Divination and enchantment are two grades; divination is supported by deeds, while enchantment is supported by sight and speech. The Spirit of Defilement is then roused upon them to be clothed by them, and it does what it does.

chanoch's Commentary

The spiritual system works on consciousness and consciousness alone. A child is taught to do the Mitzvah first so that he creates the body of the Angelic being that is his / her / our Creation. When he realizes the power of consciousness the Mitzvah is then completed with the proper consciousness and that becomes the additional Creation for that Mitzvah. The spiritual system is set up that the way one wants to go is the way that the spiritual system supports your physical efforts. If one wants to be defiled the spiritual system will support this. This is how Bilaam became a Prophet. He was Kadosh and reached a level of a Prophet. Then Bilaam choose to go the way of the negative system and he was supported in that direction. Be careful. The current attitude that everything is good as long as i do not hurt someone. This is a step in choosing the negative system when one thinks he is doing positive actions.

Pasook 7. of the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Bechukotai

וְיִשְׂרָאֵל קַדִּישִׁין לָאו הָכֵי, אֶלָּא כֻּלְּהוּ קַדִּישִׁין, וְכָל עוֹבָדַיְיהוּ לְאִתְּעָרָא עָלַיְיהוּ רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא. כד"א, עַד יֵעָרֶה עָלֵינוּ רוּחַ מִמָּרוֹם. וְעַ"ד כְּתִיב, כִּי לֹא נַחַשׁ בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא קֶסֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּהָא אִינּוּן בְּסִטְרָא דִּקְדוּשָּׁה עִלָּאָה אֲחִידָן. וְעוֹבָדַיְיהוּ בִּקְדוּשָּׁה אָתוּ, וּקְדוּשָּׁה מִתְעָרֵי עָלַיְיהוּ וּמִתְלַבְּשָׁן בָּהּ.

It is not so for holy Yisrael, for they are all holy, and all their deeds are done to bring a Holy Spirit upon them, as it is written: "until a spirit be poured upon us from on high" (Yeshayah 32:15). It is therefore written: "Surely there is no enchantment in Jacob, nor is there any divination in Yisrael" (Bemidbar 23:23). For Yisrael are attached to the side of supernal Holiness. Their deeds are done in Holiness; Holiness is brought upon them, and they are clothed with.

chanoch's Commentary

This Holyness applies when one follows the Mitzvot. Go against the Mitzvot which is the spiritual system and that system will support you becoming what you want to do. When Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegal chose Murder Incorporated the system they followed was good and Holy since both were Jews. The actions that they did were designed to elevate the sparks of light that they needed to elevate. Yet they will need to cleanse many mistakes that they did during their next incarnations. It is better in my opinion to choose the path that brings you closer to HaShem in a shorter manner.

Pasook 8. of the Zohar Commentary on the Parasha Bechukotai

ות"ח, בְּקֶסֶם הֲוָה בָּלָק רַב מִכָּל חַכִּימִין, וּבִלְעָם בְּנַחַשׁ. וְעַ"ד בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבָעָא בָּלָק לְאִתְחַבְּרָא עִמֵּיהּ, מַה כְּתִּיב וַיֵּלְכוּ זִקְנֵי מוֹאָב וְזִקְנֵי מִדְיָן וּקְסָמִים בְּיָדָם. ת"ח, בְּמִלָּה דְּפוּמָא הֲוָה בִּלְעָם רַב מִכָּל חַרְשִׁין דְּעָלְמָא, וּבְאִסְתַּכְּלוּתָא דְּהַהוּא נַחַשׁ, הֲוָה יָדַע לְכַוְּונָא שַׁעֲתָא. וְעַ"ד בָּעָא בָּלָק לְאַשְׁלְמָא מִלָּה קֶסֶם וְנַחַשׁ.

Come and behold: Balak was the greatest sage in divination, and Bilaam in enchantment. Therefore, when Balak wished to join him, it is written: "And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand" (Bemidbar 22:7). Come and behold: according to word of mouth, Bilaam was the greatest sorcerer in the world, and by applying to enchantment he knew how to fix the time OF CURSING. HIS CURSES THEREFORE PREVAILED. Consequently, Balak wished to complete it with divination and enchantment, AND HENCE JOINED HIM.

chanoch's Commentary

In every day there is a moment where HaShem is angry. If one knows that moment then a curse will manifest. In every day there is a moment where HaShem supports a Blessing that is an effect without a cause. Where no bread of shame attaches to the Blessing. Hebrew Astrology teaches how to know when those moments happen in our physical world. The spiritual system works only one way. Divination Enchantment are just using the Tools that HaShem created for us with the consciousness of oneself alone. Make sure you do not do this. Change your consciousness to be sharing before you do any action.

Pasook 9. on the Zohar Commentary for Parasha Bechukotai

אָ"ל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, רָשָׁע, הָא קְדָמוּךָ בָּנַי. עוֹבָדָא אִית בְּגַוַויְיהוּ, דְּכָל סִטְרִין בִּישִׁין וְּזִינִין בִּישִׁין וְחַרְשִׁין דְּעָלְמָא לָא יַכְלִין לְקָרְבָא בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, דְּכֻלְּהוּ עַרְקִין מִקַּמֵּיהּ. וּמַאי אִיהוּ. אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, וּמָאנֵי קוּדְשָׁא, וְשִׁמּוּשֵׁי מַקְדְּשָׁא, וּקְטֹרֶת בּוּסְמִין, דְּקָא מְבַטֵּל כָּל רִתְחָא וְרוּגְזָא דְּעָלְמָא, דִּלְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, וְעִלָּוָון וְקָרְבְּנִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא, וּתְרֵי מִזְבְּחוֹת, לְמֶעְבַּד עוֹבָדָא מִזְבְּחוֹת, וְשֻׁלְחָן וְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים, וְאֶת הַכִּיּוֹר וְאֶת כַּנּוֹ, וְכַמָּה שִׁמּוּשִׁין לְעוֹבָדָא, לְמִלָּה דְּפוּמָא, הָאָרֹן וּתְרֵי לוּחַיָּיא דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאַהֲרֹן לְכַפְּרָא עַל עַמָּא בִּצְלוֹתָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא. כֵּיוָן דְּאַשְׁגַּח הַהוּא רָשָׁע בְּהַאי, אָמַר כִּי לֹא נַחַשׁ בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא קֶסֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. מ"ט. יְיָ' אֱלֹֹהָיו עִמּוֹ וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ.

The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: 'Evil man, My children preceded you. They have something among themselves for which no Evil Sides, no wicked species, nor any magic in the world can approach them; all flee them. What is this? It is the Tent of Meeting, with its vessels of Holiness and articles of service of the Temple: incense of spices that annuls any wrath and fury in the world both above and below, the daily offerings and the burnt offerings, two altars upon which to perform the service of the altar, a table and its shewbread, the laver and its pedestal. There are also its articles of service RELATED TO speech: the ark, the two tablets of the Torah and Aaron who daily atones for the people in prayer.' When that wicked man saw this, he said: "Surely there is no enchantment in Jacob, nor is there any divination in Yisrael." Why? BECAUSE "Hashem his Elohim is with him, and the trumpet blast of a king is in him" (Bemidbar 23: 21)

chanoch's Commentary

When HaShem created the universes He had Mankind in Mind. Therefore He Created free will and He Created the concept of one side opposite the other side. He also Created the idea of an upper Sanhedrin and a lower Sanhedrin. The lower Sanhedrin is populated by the highest souls among the Children of Israel. The upper Sanhedrin is populated by the Angelic Ministers. HaShem lowered himself to be an Angelic Minister called Elokim for the Nation of the Children of Israel. This is what Bemidbar 23:21 refers. HaShem is the Elokim for the Children of Israel. Start to learn how the spiritual system works and how the words of the Torah are code words. Learn to understand the Language of Branches from the Torah.

Pasook 10. from the Zohar Commentary of the Parasha Bechukotai

וְעַ"ד עַמִּי זְכָר נָא, בְּבָעוּ מִנַּיְיכוּ, הֲווֹ דְּכִירִין הַהוּא זִמְנָא דְּאִתְחַבָּרוּ בָּלָק וּבִלְעָם לְשֵׁיצָאָה לְכוּ, וְלָא יָכִילוּ, דַּאֲנָא אֲחִידְנָא בְּכוּ, כְּאַבָּא דְּאָחִיד בִּבְרֵיהּ, וְלָא שָׁבִיק לֵיהּ בִּידָא דְּאָחֳרָא. מִן הַשִּׁטִּים וְעַד הַגִּלְגָל, מַאי דָּא לָקֳבֵיל דָּא. אֶלָּא אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּבָעוּ מִנַּיְיכוּ, הֲווֹ דְּכִירִין כָּל זִמְנָא דַּהֲוֵיתּוּן אֲחִידָן בִּי, וְלָא יָכִיל הַהוּא רָשָׁע בְּחַרְשׁוֹי וְקִסְמוֹי לְשַׁלְּטָאָה עָלַיְיכוּ. כֵּיוָן דִּשְׁבַקְתּוּן יְדַיְיכוּ לְאַחֲדָא בִּי, וַהֲוֵיתוּן בְּשִׁטִּים, מַה כְּתִיב. וַיֹּאכַל הָעָם וַיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם. בַּגִּלְגָּל, כד"א בַּגִּלְגָּל שְׁוָרִים זִבֵּחוּ, וּכְדֵין שְׁלִיטוּ בְּכוּ שַׂנְאֵיכוֹן. וְכָל דָּא אֲמַאי. לְמַעַן דַּעַת צִדְקוֹת יְיָ' כָּל אִינּוּן צְדָקוֹת, דְּעָבֵדְנָא לְכוּ, בְּזִמְנָא דְּאַתּוּן אֲחִידָן בִּי, וְלָא שָׁבִיקְנָא מִלָּה דְּעָלְמָא לְשַׁלְּטָאָה בְּכוּ, וְרוּגְזָא דִּלְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, וְּזִינִין בִּישִׁין, לָא יַכְלִין לְקָרְבָא בְּכוּ.

THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, therefore SAID: "O My people, remember"; pray be mindful of the time when Balak and Bilaam united to destroy you, but could not because I held you as a father holds his child and does not leave his child in the hands of another. "From Shittim to Gilgal" (Michah 6:5). What is THE RELATION between them? HE ANSWERS: The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Yisrael: 'Please remember that as long as you were attached to Me, that evil man did not prevail against you with his magic and wizardry. Once you loosened your hands from holding to Me, and were at Shittim, as it is written: "and the people ate, and bowed down to their Elohim" (Bemidbar 25:2), and at Gilgal, as it is written, "in Gilgal they have sacrificed bullocks" (Hoshea 12:12). Then your enemies overpowered you. What is the reason for all that? "That you may know the righteous acts of Hashem" (Michah 6:5), NAMELY, all the righteous deeds I did for you when you were attached to Me. I let nothing in the world have power over you, and the wrath above and below and the wicked things were not able to come near you.'

chanoch's Commentary

Shittim can be translated as "Sea of rebels". Gilgal can be translated as referring to reincarnation. The whole message of these curses and Blessings in Bechukotai are dealing with the effect of people "rebelling" against the statutes (Bechukotai) of HaShem. The effect of this rebellion - not keeping the statutes is to be reincarnated.