Zohar Bo Section 3 - The Crocodiles

Zohar Bo - Section 3 - The Crocodiles

It is recommended to study the section prior to reading the Synopsis.

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo Section 3

It is best to study the Zohar in the following manner:

1. Read out loud the Aramaic Verse. If you need to transliterate in order to read with the sounds of the lettersthe verse see below. If you use the transliteration tool than make sure you scan the Aramaic first and last.

2. Read the English Translation - if you desire to understand and realize that your understanding will limit the energy you receive. This is why it is important to scan the aramaic verse first.

3.Write out your understanding of the verse. Send it to yeshshem@hotmail.com in an email. Use the Parasha Name and verse number in the subject. By sending your understanding you give yeshshem.com permission to post this to web page and any other uses Yeshshem may see a beneficial use.

4. Now read chanoch's Commentary or additions to enhance and or modify your own personal understanding.

SYNOPSIS:

Rabbi Shimon speaks about "Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the great crocodile that couches in the midst of his streams." He explains that God brought Moses into the innermost rooms to see the secret of the great crocodile, from where many levels evolve and descend. As Moses was afraid, God had to wage war with the crocodile Himself. Rabbi Shimon turns to, "And Elohim created the great crocodiles (Heb. taninim) and every living soul that crawls the waters swarmed forth according to their kinds." He says that the crocodiles are the Leviathan and his spouse. God killed the female, leaving only the male otherwise the world could not have survived. "The streams" in the scripture are the nine rivers that he lies in, corresponding to the nine Sfirot. The crocodile comes into the river Keter whose waters are serene and quiet, which strengthens the river. Rabbi Shimon describes the rise and flow of the rivers, the emergence of the ten rivers including Keter, and the nine crocodiles, one in each river. There is a long description of the implications of the correspondence between the ten crocodiles and the ten acts of creation in Beresheet. The grasses beside the rivers are explained to be the light that sprouts from the sowing of the confined hidden light. Rabbi Shimon says that "And Elohim said, 'Let there be luminaries in the firmaments of the heavens'" refers to the Piercing Serpent that tempted Eve. Since this serpent is on dry land it always triumphs when it battles the crocodile that is in the water.

Pasook 36. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, הַשְׁתָּא אִית לְגַלָּאָה רָזִין, דְּאִינּוּן מִתְדַּבְּקִין לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, מַה כְּתִיב בֹּא אֶל פַּרְעֹה, לֵךְ אֶל פַּרְעֹה מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי בֹּא. אֶלָּא, דְּעָיֵיל לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אִדָּרִין בָּתַר אִדָּרִין, לְגַבֵּי תַּנִּינָא חֲדָא עִלָּאָה תַּקִּיפָא, דְּכַמָּה דַּרְגִּין מִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלֵין מִנֵּיהּ. וּמַאן אִיהוּ. רָזָא דְּהַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל.

Transliteration

Please use a Transliteration tool to read the Aramaic Verses. This enhances the energy transfer since it uses both sight of the Hebrew Letters and Sound as well. You may find a transliteration tool on the dailyzohar website or through an internet search for "Hebrew Transliteration".

Translation

Rabbi Shimon said, Now it is proper to reveal secrets that are attached above and below. It is written, "Come to Pharaoh," but it should have said 'Go to Pharaoh'. What is the meaning of "Come"? HE ANSWERS, He brought MOSES in to the innermost rooms, to a very powerful crocodile, from which many levels evolve and come down. And what was it? It was the secret of the great serpent.

chanoch's Commentary

Moshe needed to go the highest level of the Negative system. This is referred to as a great and powerful crocodile. The midrash says Moshe was afraid and HaShem is saying Come with me instead of Go to Pharaoh by yourself. This is the meaning of Bo El Paro.

Pasook 37. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וּמֹשֶׁה דָּחִיל מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא קָרִיב אֶלָּא לְגַבֵּי אִינּוּן יְאוֹרִין, וְאִינּוּן דַּרְגִּין דִּילֵיהּ, אֲבָל לְגַבֵּיהּ דָּחִיל וְלָא קָרִיב, בְּגִין דְּחָמָא לֵיהּ מִשְׁתָּרֵשׁ בְּשָׁרָשִׁין עִלָּאִין.

Transliteration

Translation

Moses was afraid and approached only the rivers that were at his grade. But he feared THE SERPENT itself, and did not approach because he saw that it was rooted in high sources.

chanoch's Commentary

Notice the change from the first pasuk - No 36. Crocodiles are related to serpents. To truly understand this we need information about the Crocodile since the word is being used as a noun in the language of branches. Wikipedia says the following: The Nile crocodile is an opportunistic apex predator and a very aggressive species of crocodile that is capable of taking almost any animal within its range. They are generalists, taking a variety of prey. Their diet consists mostly of different species of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. The Nile crocodile is an ambush predator that can wait for hours, days and even weeks for the suitable moment to attack. They are quite agile predators and wait for the opportunity for a prey item to come well within attack range. Even swift prey are not immune to attack. Like other crocodiles, Nile crocodiles have an extremely powerful bite that is unique amongst all animals and sharp conical teeth that sink into flesh allowing for a grip that is almost impossible to loosen. They can apply high levels of force for extended periods of time, a great advantage for holding down large prey underwater to drown. It is important to see what wikipedia says is the definition of "apex predator": An apex predator, also known as an alpha predator or apical predator, is a predator residing at the top of a food chain upon which no other creatures prey. With this information it is easy to understand why Moshe feared the Crocodile. In this pasuk no 37 the word Serpent may refer to Satan itself or it may be a mistranslation that refers to Crocodile.

Pasook 38. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּדָחִיל מֹשֶׁה, וּשְׁלִיחָן מְמָנָן אַחֲרָנִין לְעֵילָּא, לָא יַכְלִין לְקָרְבָא לְגַבֵּיהּ. אֲמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, הִנְנִי עָלֶיךָ פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם הַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל הָרוֹבֵץ בְּתוֹךְ יְאוֹרָיו. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאַגָּחָא בֵּיהּ קְרָבָא, וְלֹא אַחֲרָא. כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר, אֲנִי ה', וְאוּקְמוּהָ רָזָא דְּחָכְמְתָא דְּהַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל הָרוֹבֵץ בְּתוֹךְ יְאוֹרָיו לְאִינוּן מָארֵי מִדִּין, דְּיַדְעִין בְּרָזִין דְּמָארֵיהוֹן.

Transliteration

Translation

When the Holy One, blessed be He, saw that Moses was afraid and that other appointed messengers above could not approach him, the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the great crocodile that couches in the midst of his streams" (Yechezkel 29:3). The Holy One, blessed be He, had to wage war with him and no other. He said, "I am Hashem." WE INTERPRET THIS TO MEAN I AND NOT A MESSENGER. They explained the secret of the wisdom of, "the great crocodile that couches in the midst of his streams," to those scholars of jurisprudence, who recognize the secret of their Master.

chanoch's Commentary

In the last sentence in this pasuk the pronoun is "they". I do not know who is "they". If they is Rabbi Shimon and his students, then the last phrase is talking in terms of a hierarchy of Halacha - Laws. This confirms something i was taught by the Kabbalah Center. They teach that there is a hierarchy to Halacha and Halacha coming from the Zohar is higher than Halacha from other sources.

Pasook 39. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

פָּתַח ר"ש וְאָמַר, וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הַתַּנִּינִם הַגְּדוֹלִים וְאֵת כָּל נֶפֶשׁ הַחַיָּה הָרוֹמֶשֶׂת אֲשֶׁר שָׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם לְמִינֵיהֶם. הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ לֵיהּ. אֲבָל וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הַתַּנִּינִים הוּא רָזָא דָּא לִוְיָתָן וּבַת זוּגוֹ. תַּנִּינָם חָסֵר כְּתִיב, בְּגִין דְּקָטַל לְנוּקְבָּא, וְסַלְּקָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְצַדִּיקַיָּא. וְאוּקְמוּהָ.

Transliteration

Translation

Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion, saying: "And Elohim created the great crocodiles (Heb. taninim), and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind" (Beresheet 1:21). This passage was explained. Yet "And Elohim created the crocodiles," is a secret. It is the Leviathan and his spouse. "Taninim" is spelled without the Yud because the Holy One, blessed be He, killed the female and brought her up for the Righteous, as it was explained. THEREFORE, only the one great crocodile (tanin) remained. And know that the Leviathan is a kosher fish, as our sages say.

chanoch's Commentary

If you are familiar with the midrash regarding the Leviathan this pasuk is clear. Yet it is unclear to me as to why there would be 2 words in Hebrew for the Liviathan? Also why would HaShem create something only to destroy it as in the case of the female Liviathan? It is interesting to note that the shoresh for Tanin - crocodile is also the word for "jackel". Wikipedia says the following about the jackel: Jackals and coyotes (sometimes called the "American jackal"[1]) are opportunistic omnivores, predators of small- to medium-sized animals and proficient scavengers. Their long legs and curved canine teeth are adapted for hunting small mammals, birds, and reptiles, and their large feet and fused leg bones give them a physique well-suited for long-distance running, capable of maintaining speeds of 16 km/h (9.9 mph) for extended periods of time. Jackals are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.

Their most common social unit is a monogamous pair, which defends its territory from other pairs by vigorously chasing intruding rivals and marking landmarks around the territory with their urine and feces. The territory may be large enough to hold some young adults, which stay with their parents until they establish their own territories. Jackals may occasionally assemble in small packs, for example, to scavenge a carcass, but they normally hunt either alone or in pairs. What then are we to learn from this pasuk and the information about the Jackel?

If the crocodile is the Satan then the attributes of the Jackel and Crocodile are clearly clues to defend ourselves against the Satan while reminding us that Satan is doing his job as assigned to him by HaShem. One may ask a question that since HaShem is going to feed the female Tanin to the Tzadikim - does that mean that the Tzadikim will become the new Satan Chas v'Shalom for the next cycle of 7000 years? Although the idea of the next cycle being Tiferet means that there are two aspects as the underlying energy of that cycle, if it does become manifest, and thus our Tzadikim along with the eating of the Liviathan would represent this idea.

Pasook 40. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

הַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל, תֵּשַׁע יְאוֹרִין אִינּוּן, דְּאִיהוּ רָבִיץ בֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְחַד יְאוֹרָא אִיהוּ, דְּמֵימָיו שְׁכִיכִין, וּבְרֵכָאן דְּמֵימִין דְּגִנְתָּא, נַפְלִין בֵּיהּ תְּלַת זִמְנִין בְּשַׁתָּא. וְכַד תְּרֵין זִמְנִין, מִתְבָּרֵךְ הַהוּא יְאוֹרָא וְלֹא כ"כ, וְכַד חַד לָאו הָכִי.

Transliteration

Translation

The great crocodile IS THE MALE LEVIATHAN THAT REMAINED ALIVE. IT IS SAID ABOUT HIM, "THAT COUCHES IN THE MIDST OF HIS STREAMS." There are nine rivers that he lies in, CORRESPONDING TO NINE SFIROT: CHOCHMAH, BINAH, DA'AT, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD. And there is one river whose waters are quiet. THIS IS KETER. The blessings of the waters of the Garden, WHICH IS MALCHUT OF ATZILUT, pour into it three times a year. THIS IS THE SECRET OF THE THREE COLUMNS RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTRAL, OF WHICH IT IS SAID, "THREE TIMES A YEAR SHALL ALL YOUR MALES APPEAR" (DEVARIM 16:16). If they pour in twice, MEANING ONLY TWO COLUMNS, RIGHT AND LEFT, the river is blessed, but not as much BECAUSE THE CENTRAL COLUMN IS MISSING. If only one pours in, MEANING EITHER ONLY THE RIGHT OR ONLY THE LEFT, it is not blessed by it. The nine rivers, the lower nine Sfirot, receive from the river, which is Keter.

chanoch's Commentary

The information in this pasuk is very important. The majority of the students of Kabbalah will not understand this information and how to use it in their life. It is a good gauge to know where you are spiritually.

Pasook 41. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְהַאי תַּנִּינָא, עָאל בְּהַהוּא יְאוֹרָא, אִתְתָּקִיף וְאָזִיל וְשָׁאט עָאל גּוֹ יַמָּא, וּבָלַע נוּנִין לְכַמָּה זִינִין, וְשָׁלִיט, וְתָב לְהַהוּא יְאוֹרָא. אִלֵּין תִּשְׁעָה יְאוֹרִין אַזְלִין וְסַלְּקִין וְסַחֲרָנֵיהּ כַּמָּה אִלֵּין וַעֲשָׂבִין לְזִנַיְיהוּ, יְאוֹרָא קַדְמָאָה.

Transliteration

Translation

This crocodile comes into that river, WHICH IS KETER OF THE RIVERS, becomes strengthened by it, continues to swim and enters into the sea, WHICH IS MALCHUT OF ATZILUT, where it swallows many kinds of fish and rules. THESE ARE LEVELS IN THE SEA THAT ARE INFERIOR TO HIM; HE SWALLOWS THEM AND THEY BECOME PERFECTED IN HIM. He returns to that QUIET river, and these nine rivers continue to rise TO HIM, MEANING TO RECEIVE THEIR SUSTENANCE, BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE THEIR SUSTENANCE FROM the quiet river, which is their Keter. There are various kinds of trees and vegetation around THE RIVER. It is the first river AMONG THE RIVERS, NAMELY KETER.

chanoch's Commentary

To a student of Kabbalah familiar with the Tree of Life and the Worlds will find most of this pasuk clear as it is read. One aspect that is not clear is what is the meaning of various kinds of trees and vegetation?

Pasook 42. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

נָפְקָא מִסִּטְרָא שְׂמָאלָא, בְּחַד צִנּוֹרָא דְּנָגִיד וְנָפִיק, תְּלַת טִפִּין, וְכָל טִפָּה וְטִפָּה אִתְפְּרַשׁ לִתְלַת טִפִּין, וְכָל טִפָּה וְטִפָּה אִתְעָבֵיד מִנֵּיהּ יְאוֹרָא חַד, וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן תִּשְׁעָה יְאוֹרִין, דְּמִתְתָּקְפִין וְאַזְלִין וְשָׁטָאן וְסָחֲרָן בְּכָל אִינּוּן רְקִיעִין.

Transliteration

Translation

AND NOW HE EXPLAINS THE SYSTEM OF THE EMERGENCE OF THE TEN RIVERS. Three drops emerge from the left side, from one conduit that is drawn and emerges, THAT IS, YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN. THEY ARE FROM THE THREE COLUMNS RIGHT, LEFT, AND CENTRALINCLUDED IN THE LEFT COLUMN. Every drop spreads into three drops AND THEY BECOME NINE DROPS. One river is formed from each separate drop. These are the nine rivers that grow strong and continue to flow and encircle all the firmaments.

chanoch's Commentary

Remember the rivers are related to the flow of Light. Does this help with your understanding?

Pasook 43. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

מִמַּה דְּאִשְׁתְּאַר מֵאִינּוּן טִפִּין כַּד סַיְימִין לְמֵיפַק, אִשְׁתְּאַר טִפָּה חֲדָא, דְּנָפְקָא בִּשְׁכִיכוּ, נָפַל בֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְאִתְעָבֵיד מִנֵּיהּ יְאוֹרָא חֲדָא. הַאי יְאוֹרָא אִיהוּ, הַהוּא דְּאַמָרָן דְּאַזְלָא בִּשְׁכִיכוּ.

Transliteration

Translation

After these drops finish coming out, of those that remain, NAMELY ALL THE ASPECTS OF KETER AND CHOCHMAH THAT ARE ABOVE BINAH THAT ARE NOT DRAWN THROUGH THE THREE COLUMNS, THERE remains one drop. It emerges silently and falls AMONG THE RIVERS. And from it, one river is formed. This is the river that we said flows silently, namely the quiet river mentioned above.

chanoch's Commentary

This is where the crocodile is strengthened as said above.

Pasook 44. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

הַאי יְאוֹרָא, כַּד הַהוּא נָהָר דְּנָגִיד וְנָפִיק, אַפִּיק טִפִּין אַחֲרָנִין דְּבִרְכָּאָן, מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא, מַה דְּאִשְׁתְּאַר מֵאִינּוּן טִפִּין, אִשְׁתְּאַר טִפָּה חֲדָא בִּשְׁכִיכוּ מֵאִינּוּן בִּרְכָּאן, וְנָפַל בְּהַהוּא יְאוֹרָא דְּאִיהוּ שָׁכִיךְ. וְהַאי אִיהוּ יְאוֹרָא דְּעָדִיף מִכֻּלְּהוּ.

Transliteration

Translation

The stream that comes out and flows, YESOD IN ZEIR ANPIN, pours out other drops of blessings from the right side, THAT IS, WHEN IT BESTOWS UPON MALCHUT FROM THE THREE COLUMNS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE RIGHT COLUMN. FROM WHATEVER WAS LEFT OF THESE DROPS AND DID NOT EMERGE WITH THEM AT THE TIME, NAMELY THOSE SFIROT ABOVE BINAH THAT ARE NOT DRAWN WITH THE THREE COLUMNS AS MENTIONED, there remains one drop from these blessings that EMERGES SILENTLY AND falls into that quiet river. Thus the quiet river also has the illumination of the right. This is the best river.

chanoch's Commentary

We are reminded of the spiritual law from this pasuk. Everything is included in the Keter since everything below the Keter must be included in the Keter in order to come from the levels below the keter.

Pasook 45. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

כַּד נָפְקִין וּמִתְפָּרְשָׁן אִינּוּן אַרְבַּע נַהֲרִין דְּנָפְקִין מִגִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן, הַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי פִּישׁוֹן, נָפִיל בְּהַהוּא יְאוֹרָא וְאִתְכְּלִיל בֵּיהּ. וע"ד מַלְכוּת בָּבֶל, אִתְכְּלִיל בְּהַאי. וּפִישׁוֹן אִיהוּ מַלְכוּת בָּבֶל. מִיְאוֹרָא דָּא אִתְּזָנוּ וְאִתְמַלְיָין כָּל אִינּוּן יְאוֹרִין אַחֲרָנִין.

Transliteration

Translation

When these four rivers that emerge from the Garden of Eden separate, that river called Pishon falls into the QUIET river and merges with it. Therefore, the Kingdom of Babylon is associated with this RIVER, for Pishon is the Kingdom of Babylon. Because Pishon is the first stream of the four rivers and Babylon is the first of the four empires, of which it is said, "You are the head of gold" (Daniel 2:38), and therefore Pishon is Babylon. From this QUIET river, all the other rivers are sustained and filled.

chanoch's Commentary

Pishon can be translated as "prong times . . ." This helps to connect the river pishon to Chochmah and also it connects to the idea of the quiet river through the idea that prong represents movement not quiet. It is an opposite.

Pasook 46. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

בְּכָל יְאוֹרָא וִיאוֹרָא, אַזְלָא וְשָׁאט חַד תַּנִּינָא, וְאִינּוּן תֵּשַׁע. וְכָל חַד וְחַד נָקִיב נוּקְבָּא בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ, כד"א, שִׁבַּרְתָּ רָאשֵׁי תַנִּינִים וְגוֹ'. וַאֲפִילּוּ הַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל הָכִי הוּא, בְּגִין דְּכֻלְּהוּ נַפְחִין רוּחִין לְגַבֵּי עֵילָּא וְלֹא לְתַתָּא.

Transliteration

Translation

In each river, one crocodile swims. Thus there are nine crocodiles. Each has a hole punctured in his head, as is written, "You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the water" (Tehilim 74:13). And even this great sea monster is so, because they all blow air upwards and not downwards.

chanoch's Commentary

We learn from this pasuk that the spiritual system is utilized by both the positive and negative aspects. We also confirm the negative system only receives it does not share.

Pasook 47. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

כְּתִיב בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים. וּכְתִיב וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הַתַּנִּינִים הַגְּדוֹלִים, בְּכָל עוֹבָדָא דְּאִינּוּן עֶשֶׂר אֲמִירָן, קַיְימִין לָקָבְלַיְיהוּ אִינּוּן עֶשֶׂר יְאוֹרִין. וְחַד תַּנִּינָא מִתְרַפְרְפָא בְּרוּחָא, לָקֳבֵל כָּל חַד וְחַד.

Transliteration

Translation

It is written, "In the beginning Elohim created" (Beresheet 1:1), and also: "And Elohim created the great crocodiles" (Ibid. 21). IN BOTH CASES IT IS WRITTEN, "CREATED." THIS TEACH US that for every action of the ten sayings IN THE WORKS OF CREATION, there are ten rivers, and one crocodile blows wind against each of them. THIS MEANS THAT ONE CROCODILE for each of the ten rivers blows wind against the act corresponding to him of the ten sayings of Creation.

chanoch's Commentary

We learn here that the 10 times Elohim is said in Chapter 1 of Beraisheet corresponds to the Esser Debrot. In addition to these 10 acts of creation there is an eleventh which is the creation of the negative system.

Pasook 48. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְעַל דָּא, חַד לְשַׁבְעִין שְׁנִין מִזְדַעְזָע עָלְמָא, בְּגִין דְּהַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל כַּד הוּא סָלִיק סְנַפִּירוֹי וְאִזְדַּעְזַע, כְּדֵין כֻּלְּהוּ מִזְדַּעְזְעָן בְּאִינּוּן יְאוֹרִין, וְכָל עָלְמָא מִזְדַּעְזְעָא, וְאַרְעָא מִתְחַלְחֱלֶת, וְכֻלְּהוּ כְּלִילָן בְּהַאי תַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל.

Transliteration

Translation

Therefore, the world shakes once in seventy years, since everything in the river shakes WHEN this great crocodile raises his fins and shakes. The whole world shudders and the earth trembles, for they are all included in this great crocodile.

chanoch's Commentary

Know that the raising of the fins and shaking is done with approval of HaShem.

Pasook 49. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תוֹהוּ וְגוֹ', אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, עוֹבָדָא דִּבְרֵאשִׁית, חַבְרַיָּא לָעָאן בֵּיהּ, וְיַדְעִין בֵּיהּ, אֲבָל זְעִירִין אִינּוּן, דְּיַדְעִין לְרַמְּזָא עוֹבָדָא דִּבְרֵאשִׁית, בְּרָזָא דְּתַנִּין הַגָּדוֹל. וע"ד תָּנֵינָן, דְּכָל עָלְמָא לָא מִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלָא אֶלָּא עַל סְנַפִּירוֹי דְּדָא.

Transliteration

Translation

"And the earth was without form" (Ibid. 2). Rabbi Shimon said, The friends are familiar and are occupied with the works of Creation. But few know the works of Creation as alluding to the great crocodile. We learned that the whole world evolves AND COMES from the fin OF THE GREAT CROCODILE. THEREFORE, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW HE is alluded to throughout the works of Creation.

chanoch's Commentary

Our Sages say that one must be throughly familiar with the works of creation prior to starting to learn about the creation of the negative system. Both my comment and this pasuk are consistent with each other.

Pasook 50. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

ת"ח וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְגוֹ', תָּנֵינָן הָיְתָה, וְאוֹקִימְנָא. בְּגִין דִּבְּהַאי יְאוֹרָא קַדְמָאָה דְּקַאמְרָן, כַּד הַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל עָאל בֵּיהּ, כְּדֵין אִתְמַלְיָיא, וְשָׁאטֵי וְדָעִיךְ נִיצוֹצִין דְּאִתְלְקָטוּ בְּאִינּוּן עָלְמִין דְּאִתְחֲרָבוּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא.

Transliteration

Translation

Come and behold, IT IS WRITTEN, "And the earth was without form and void..." We learned that it "was" EARLIER; NAMELY, IT WAS FORMLESS BEFORE THE CORRECTION BEGAN, and it has been explained. When the great crocodile enters that first river, NAMELY THE QUIET RIVER, it becomes full. It swims and extinguishes the sparks that were gathered in from the worlds that were destroyed earlier.

chanoch's Commentary

Light is never destroyed. The sparks are put back into the appropriate Light. That is the meaning of destruction at the level of Keter, in my opinion.

Pasook 51. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

אִינּוּן תַּנִּינִין אַחֲרָנִין דְּקַאמְרָן, הֲווֹ וְלָא הֲווֹ, אֲמַאי. בְּגִין דְּאִתְחֲלָשׁ חֵילַיְיהוּ דְּלָא יְטַשְׁטְשׁוּן עָלְמָא, בַּר לְשַׁבְעִין שְׁנִין, חַד זִמְנָא, וְאִינּוּן אִתְתְּקָפוּ בְּחֵילָא דְּהַהוּא תַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל, וְהַאי אִיהוּ בִּלְחוֹדוֹי לְאִתַּתְקְפָא. וְאִלְמָלֵא נוּקְבֵיהּ קַיֶּימֶת לְגַבֵּיהּ, לָא יָכִיל עָלְמָא לְמִסְבַּל לוֹן.

Transliteration

Translation

Those other crocodiles that we mentioned were and were not, FOR THEIR ILLUMINATION WAS NOT REVEALED IN THEM, SO IT IS AS THOUGH THEY DID NOT EXIST. THIS IS SO, because their strength was weakened so they would not destroy the world, except once every seventy years, when they grow strong with the power of that great crocodile, which alone grows strong. If his female had been alive with him, the world would not have survived them.

chanoch's Commentary

Is the Zohar referring to the midrash of regarding the Leviathan using the word crocadile? I do not think so.

Pasook 52. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

עַד לָא קָטַל קב"ה לְנוּקְבָּא, הָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ. תֹהוּ הָיְתָה. וּלְבָתַר דְּקָטַל לָהּ, הֲוָה בֹּהוּ, שָׁרָאת לְאִתְקַיְּימָא. וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל. עַד לָא הֲוַת נְהִירָא עוֹבָדָא דְּעָבֵד.

Transliteration

Translation

Until the Holy One, blessed be He, killed the female OF THE LEVIATHAN, the earth was without form. It was formless and THE EARTH was void after He slew her, WHICH MEANS THE EARTH started to be sustained, "And darkness was ON THE FACE OF THE DEEP" (Beresheet 1:2). It still had not illuminated DUE TO THE ACTION THAT HE PERFORMED.

chanoch's Commentary

The Zohar is telling us a big secret in this pasuk. The process went from tohu - formless to bohu - darkness by the killing of the female Leviathan.

Pasook 53. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

מֶה עָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, מָחַץ רֵישֵׁיהּ דִּדְכוּרָא לְעֵילָּא, וְאִתְכַּפְיָא, בְּגִין דְּהָא תְּהוֹמָא לְתַתָּא, לָא הֲוָה נָהִיר. מ"ט לָא הֲוָה נָהִיר, בְּגִין דְּהַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל, הֲוָה נָשִׁיב רוּחָא עַל תְּהוֹמָא, וְאַחְשִׁיךְ לֵיהּ, וְלָא מְרַפְרְפָא לְתַתָּא.

Transliteration

Translation

What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He crushed the head of the male OF THE GREAT CROCODILES. AND THE CROCODILE was subdued because the deep below did not illuminate. HE ASKS, What is the reason that it did not illuminate? HE ANSWERS, Because this great crocodile blew wind over the deep, darkened it, and it did not hover below.

chanoch's Commentary

The pasuk is esoteric. i brought a commentary from the daily zohar website that helps to explain it.

Commentary by Daily Zohar for Pasukim 51 - 53

Rabbi Ashlag explains that the Great Tanim as male and female were the forces at the beginning of Creation when (Genesis 1:2) ‘and the earth WAS…’ as we explained in the previous study. The state of ‘Tohu’, ‘unformed’ was when both male and female existed. After God ‘killed’ the female to reduce this synergy force of both. Then he ‘cracked’ the head of the male, the earth state became ‘Bohu’, ‘and void’.The Light of the female enabled the first Tzimtzum (forming empty space for the creation of the world and the Tree of Life). Limiting the energy of the male by cracking his head is the aspect of the second Tzimtzum that lead to the process of time and combining the Right and the Left, Mercy with Judgment.As we explained before, the Great Tanim swims into the first river (keter), and fills itself with the light of Chokmah. He goes down the levels and takes the sparks of light from each level he passes through and gets stronger. When he arrives to Malchut, the force of Chokmah is expressed and the entire world trembles and everyone in fear. The Zohar adds that if the female were to be with the male at this point the world wouldn’t be able to tolerate their combined force and get destroyed. The cycle of 70 is naturally important in our universe because the process of life is related to the seven sefirot.We are getting very close to finish a special cycle of 70 years. Israel became a state in 1948 and on the declaration of independence, they call the Jews from all over the world to come to their homeland. That started the ‘gathering’ of the jews from from the world that was the aspect of gathering the sparks of light from the Klipot. The great Tanim of Israel is picking strength since then. On the fifth of Iyar, 5778, which is in about 15 months, israel will be 70 years old. It is a very significant event. From this study we can expect to see the Light of Chokma revealed in Israel. That would be a great miracle.My friend, Jeff Meiliken, sent me a very interesting comment about to the name Taninm, ‘תנינם’, which is the name of both male and female forces.

TNYNM ‘תנינם’ is 1110 or 10 x Aleph, taking us to the primordial Aleph in the 10 sefirot. There were 2 matching primordial Alephs funneling the light of chochma into the Sea of Binah. G-d destroyed the lower (relatively speaking) one. As a hint to the study, the first place within the digits of Pi (aspect of the Sea) where 424 (Mashiach Ben David) is found is the 1110th digit of Pi

Pasook 54. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְעָבַר רוּחָא אַחֲרָא דִּלְעֵילָּא, וְנָשַׁב וּבָטַשׁ בְּהַהוּא רוּחָא, וְשָׁכִיךְ לֵיהּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם. וְהַיְינוּ דְּתָנֵינָן, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּטַשׁ רוּחָא בְּרוּחָא, וּבָרָא עָלְמָא.

Transliteration

Translation

Then another wind from above crossed, blew and struck that wind and placated it, FOR IT NEUTRALIZED IT. That is what is written, "And a wind from Elohim moved over the surface of the water" (Beresheet 1:2). So we learned that the Holy One, blessed be He, struck one wind with another and created the world.

chanoch's Commentary

The Hebrew for wind is ruach which has the meaning of soul. The two winds are fire and water, in my opinion.

Pasook 55. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי אוֹר, נָהִיר נְהִירוּ דִּלְעֵילָּא, וּבָטַשׁ עַל גַּבֵּי רוּחָא דְּנָשִׁיב, וְאִסְתַּלָּק מֵעַל תְּהוֹמָא, וְלָא חָפָא לֵיהּ. כֵּיוָן דִּתְהוֹמָא אִתְנְהִיר, וְאִיהוּ אִסְתַּלָּק, כְּדֵין הֲוָה נְהִירוּ.

Transliteration

Translation

"And Elohim said, 'Let there be light.' And there was light" (Ibid. 3), because the Supernal Light illuminated and struck on the blowing wind and it was removed from over the deep and did not cover it. As soon as the deep was lit up and the wind left, it became light, as is written, "And there was light."

chanoch's Commentary

If you are aware of the code words this esoteric verse becomes clear as written. Deep is the world of bohu, also known as the world of Nekudim. Learn well the truth that there is a lot of action that relates to the two verses Let there be light and there was light.

Pasook 56. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

דָּא נָהִיר עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, וּמַיָּא הֲווֹ נַפְקֵי מִגּוֹ אֲפוּתֵיהּ, וְרוּחָא נָשִׁיב לְעֵילָּא. וְנָהִיר מִנְּהִירוּ דָּא, עַד דַּהֲוָה נָחִית נְהוֹרֵיהּ, מְנַצְנְצָא לְשַׁבְעִין וּתְרֵין נְהוֹרִין דְּשִׁמְשָׁא, כֵּיוָן דְּאִינּוּן נְהוֹרִין אִתְרְשִׁימוּ בְּגוֹ שִׁמְשָׁא לְתַתָּא, הֲווֹ חַיָּיבַיָּא דְּעָלְמָא יַדְעִין בְּהוּ, וַהֲווֹ פַּלְחִין לְשִׁמְשָׁא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתַּכַּל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּאִינּוּן חַיָּיבַיָּא, סָלִיק נְהוֹרֵיהּ וְגָנִיז לֵיהּ אֲמַאי גָּנִיז לֵיהּ. בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא תַּנִּין, הֲוָה סָלִיק וְנָחִית, וּבָטַשׁ בְּאִינוּן יְאוֹרִין, עַד דְּגָנַז לֵיהּ וְלָא אִתְגַּלְיָא.

Transliteration

Translation

This light shone over the head OF THE GREAT CROCODILE. Water flowed from its nostrils TO SUSTAIN THE OTHER LEVELS, and wind blew up. AND HE EXPLAINS WHY THE WATER FLOWED OUT, AND WIND BLEW ABOVE, SAYING THAT THIS IS BECAUSE BEFOREHAND, this COMPLETE luminary illuminated until the light descended FROM BINAH and sparkled to the 72 lights of the Sun, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN. Since these lights were impressed in the sun below, wicked people in the world knew of them and worshipped the sun, MEANING THEY WORSHIPPED TO DRAW THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE DOWNWARDS. When the Holy One, blessed be He, observed that these wicked WANTED TO DRAW THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE DOWNWARDS, He raised the Light and concealed it. Why did He conceal it BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE WICKED? For this crocodile was ascending and descending, AND ALSO DREW THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE DOWNWARDS BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE WICKED, and struck these rivers, until He hid the Light and it was no longer visible.

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's Comments this pasuk becomes more clear. Yet it is still not completely clear in my opinion. Some people have had the experience, during meditation, to see a white or clear light. This was possible to be seen within the sun as it is described in the pasuk. This was true during the first few hundred years of the Creatrion of mankind. This is my opinion.

Pasook 57. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

The Aramaic is missing

Transliteration

Translation

And He sowed that seed through one Righteous, WHICH IS YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, who is the Gardener of the Garden. The seed sown in the Garden, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is the storing and concealing of this Light MEANING THAT CONCEALMENT DOES NOT CONNOTE ABSENCE, BUT RATHER THE OPPOSITE. IT IS THE ASPECT OF THE SEED PLANTED FOR THE UPCOMING BLESSING, AS THE CONCEALMENT ITSELF WILL BECOME LIGHT AGAIN, LIKE A PLANT THAT COMES FORTH FROM A SEED.

chanoch's Commentary

With contemplation this pasuk becomes clear as written.

Pasook 58. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

כַּד הַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל, חָמֵי דְּצָמַח בְּגִנְתָּא זְרוּעָא דְּאוֹר דָּא, כְּדֵין אִתְּעַר לְסִטְרָא אָחֲרָא, לְהַהוּא נָהָר דְּאִקְרֵי גִּיחוֹן. וְאִתְפְּלָגוּ מֵימוֹי דְּהַאי גִּיחוֹן, חַד שְׁבִילָא דִּילֵיהּ, אִיהוּ אָזִיל גּוֹ הַהוּא זְרוּעָא דְּאַצְמְחָא גּוֹ גִּנְתָּא, וְאַנְהִיר בֵּיהּ בִּרְבוּ דִּזְרוּעָא דָּא, וְאִקְרֵי גִּיחוֹן.

Transliteration

Translation

When this great crocodile saw that the seed of this Light grew in the garden, WHICH IS MALCHUT, he awakened to provide for the second side, the SECOND river OF THE FOUR RIVERS called Gichon. And then the waters of the River Gichon were divided BY one path OF THE CROCODILE, FOR THE REASON THAT WILL BE EXPLAINED FURTHER AHEAD. THE CROCODILE goes to the seed that has sprouted AND HAS BECOME LIGHT in the Garden, WHICH IS MALCHUT, AND RECEIVES IT and illuminates upon THE RIVER with THE LIGHT OF the greatness of this seed, and it is called 'Gichon'.

chanoch's Commentary

It is important to note that the gematria of Gichon is 77. Some note the word goat has the same gematria. Other words with this gematria is mazel which has a connection to "flow" and "drip". An important thing to keep in mind from this pasuk is the idea of the division of the river gichon as mentioned.

Pasook 59. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וּמִגּוֹ הַהוּא רְבוּ דִּזְרוּעָא דָּא, אִסְתְּלַק לִרְבוּ דְּשְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא, כַּד אִסְתְּלַק לְמַלְכוּ, דִּכְתִּיב וְהוֹרַדְתֶּם אוֹתוֹ אֶל גִּיחוֹן, וּכְתִיב וּמָשַׁח אוֹתוֹ שָׁם. שָׁם, וְלֹא בַּאֲתַר אַחֲרָא, בְּגִין דַּהֲוָה יָדַע דָּוִד מַלְכָּא דָּא, וּמֵימוֹי אַחֲרָנִין אִסְתָּלָקוּ לְמַלְכוּ אַחֲרָא, וְדָא אִיהוּ מַלְכָּא דְּאִיהוּ תַּקִּיפָא.

Transliteration

Translation

And from that greatness of this seed, King Solomon rose to greatness when he rose to kingship, as written, "And bring him down to Gichonanoint him there" (I Melachim 1:33-34). Bring him "there" and not to a different place, because King David knew that other waters rise to a different kingdom, and THIS MALCHUT FROM GICHON is a stronger kingdom.

chanoch's Commentary

Gichon the second river, as discussed, connects to gevurah and its strength.

Pasook 60. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְהַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל, אִתְּעַר לֵיהּ, וְאִסְתַּלָּק סְנַפִּירוֹי דְּהַאי תַּנִּין, בְּהַהוּא נָהָר, לְאִתַּתְקְפָא בֵּיהּ. וְכָל אִינּוּן שְׁאַר יְאוֹרִין כֻּלְּהוּ, סַלְּקִין וְנַחְתִּין בְּתֻּקְפָּא דְּהַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל, וְתָאַב וְעָאל לְהַהוּא יְאוֹרָא שְׁכִיכָא, וְאִשְׁתְּכַךְ בֵּיהּ.

Transliteration

Translation

This great crocodile became aroused toward it, THE RIVER GICHON, TO SUSTAIN IT. The fins of this crocodile, WHICH ARE HIS MALCHUT, were elevated in that river, GICHON, and grew stronger in it. And all the other rivers ascended and descended by means of the great crocodile. AFTER SHINING ON THE RIVER GICHON, he again entered that quiet river and became quiet in it.

chanoch's Commentary

Do you remember which is the quiet river?

Pasook 61. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וּכְדֵין, כַּד הַהוּא אוֹר אִתְגְּנִיז לְעִיוּלָא לֵיהּ הַהוּא גָּנָּנָא דְּקַאמְרָן, כְּדֵין נָפַק חֹשֶׁךְ קַדְמָאָה, וּבָטַשׁ עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, בְּהַהוּא נוּקְבָּא דְּאִתְמַתְּחָא בֵּיהּ, וְאִתְפְּרַשׁ חַד חוּטָא, בֵּין הַהוּא נְהִירוּ דְּאוֹר דָּא דְּאִתְגְּנִיז, וּבֵין הַהוּא חֲשׁוֹכָא דְּחֹשֶׁךְ דָּא, דִּכְתִּיב, וַיַּבְדֵּל אֱלֹהִים בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ.

Transliteration

Translation

When that Light was concealed above the Gardener, the original darkness, FROM BEFORE THE LIGHT EMERGED, came out and hit the head of the crocodile on the hole that was made there. A thread was spread between that illumination THAT REMAINED from this Light that was concealed and the dimness of this darkness, as is written, "And Elohim divided the Light from the Darkness" (Beresheet 1:4).

chanoch's Commentary

Here is a hint that even when things are separated they still have aspects of each other. There is a hint to the light within darkness and the dark within light.

Pasook 62. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

הַאי תַּנִּין, תָּב בְּהַהוּא פְּרִישׁוּ דְּהַאי חוּטָא דְּאַפְרִישׁ, וְאַפְרִישׁ לְאִינוּן יְאוֹרִין, גּוֹ חֲשׁוֹכָא, וְאִתְפְּרָשׁוּ נוּנִין לְזִנַיְיהוּ אִלֵּין מֵאִלֵּין, בְּהַהוּא פְּרִישׁוּ.

Transliteration

Translation

This crocodile, through the division the thread made, again divided ALSO in these rivers above the darkness. The fish separated from each other according to their kinds by that division THAT WAS MADE IN THE RIVERS.

chanoch's Commentary

The verse is clear as writen yet can not be understood without knowledge of the meaning of the code words in the pasuk.

Pasook 63. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְכַד אִתְפְּרָשׁוּ מַיִין עִלָּאִין קַדִּישִׁין. כָּל אִינּוּן יְאוֹרִין אִתְפְּרָשׁוּ, וְעָאלוּ לְגוֹ הַהוּא יְאוֹרָא שְׁכִיכָא דְּאִתְבְּרִיר מִכֻּלְּהוּ, וְנָפִיק וְעָאלִין בֵּיהּ תְּלַת זִמְנִין בְּיוֹמָא.

Transliteration

Translation

When the holy supernal waters were divided, all the rivers were divided and rose into the quiet river, which is the clearest. They go in and out of it three times daily.

chanoch's Commentary

When ever the 3 prayers take place in the physical worlds by Jewish Minyamim the rivers are caused to move into the quiet river.

Pasook 64. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְכָל אִינּוּן נוּנִין דִּמְגַדְּלָן גּוֹ אִינּוּן יְאוֹרִין, פְּרִישָׁן אִלֵּין מֵאִלֵּין, וְאִקְרוּן לֵילוֹת, וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן רָאשִׁין לְכָל אִינּוּן נוּנִין דְּנָפְקִין לְבַר, וְאִלֵּין שַׁלְטִין עַל כֻּלְּהוּ. וְאִלֵּין אִקְרוּן בְּכוֹרֵי מִצְרַיִם, וּמֵהָכָא אִתְבַּדָר לְבַר בּוּכְרִין, וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְּזָנוּ מִשַּׁקְיוּ דְּאִינּוּן יְאוֹרִין. וְהַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל, שַׁלְטָא עַל כֻּלְּהוּ.

Transliteration

Translation

And all these fish, WHICH ARE GRADES AND SOULS that grow in these rivers, were separated one from another, and are called 'nights', BECAUSE THE GRADES OF THE LEFT ARE CALLED 'NIGHT'. The ones were chief to all the others that emerged outside, and the others INSIDE ruled over everything. These were called 'the Firstborn of Egypt', which have spread from here outside of the firstborn. All these were sustained from the watering of these rivers, and this great crocodile rules all of them.

chanoch's Commentary

This is a metaphorical description of the negative system.

Pasook 65. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְכֹלָּא בִּפְרִישׁוּ דְּמַיִין עִלָּאִין, דִּכְתִּיב וַיְהִי מַבְדִּיל בֵּין מַיִם לָמָיִם, וְאִתְרְשִׁימוּ מַיִין קַדִּישִׁין עִלָּאִין, וְאִתְפְּרָשׁוּ לְעֵילָּא, וּמַיִין תַּתָּאִין, אִתְפְּרָשׁוּ כֻּלְּהוּ אִלֵּין מֵאִלֵּין, קַדִּישִׁין וּדְלָא קַדִּישִׁין, וע"ד אִקְרוּן מַלְאָכִין עִלָּאִין פְּרִישָׁן, בְּגִין דְּאִתְפְּרָשׁוּ אִלֵּין מֵאִלֵּין לְזִנַיְיהוּ.

Transliteration

Translation

All this came about by the division of the upper water FROM THE LOWER, as is written, "And let it divide water from water" (Beresheet 1:6). The holy upper waters were marked and separated to be above, and the lower waters were all separated from those TO BE BELOW. The holy ones WERE DIVIDED from the unholy. Therefore, the upper angels are called 'separate', because the ones were divided from the others according to their kinds.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written.

Pasook 66. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים תַדְשֵׁא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא עֵשֶׂב מַזְרִיעַ זֶרַע, רָזָא דָּא, כַּד הַאי הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל, הֲוָה נָשִׁיב רוּחָא בְּהַהוּא נוּקְבָּא, וּמְרַפְרְפָא לְגַבֵּי עֵילָּא, כָּל אִינּוּן עֲשָׂבִין הֲוָה מְהַפֵּךְ לוֹן לִיבִישׁוּ, עַד דְּרוּחָא אַחֲרָא נָשִׁיב בְּהַהוּא רוּחָא, וְשָׁכִיךְ לֵיהּ לְתַתָּא, וַעֲשָׂבִין צָמְחוּ כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין. וְשַׁלְטִין וּמְשַׁבְּחָן וְאוֹדָן קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Transliteration

Translation

"And Elohim said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass, herb yielding seed'" (Beresheet 1:11). THE EARTH IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT, AND GRASSES ARE THE LIGHT THAT SPROUTS FROM SOWING OF THE TREASURED LIGHT. This is the secret: when the great crocodile would blow wind through the hole IN HIS HEAD that blew upwards, he would dry all these grasses until another wind would blow against that wind of the crocodile and would quiet him below. And the grasses grew as before, and ruled and praised and offered thanks before the Holy One, blessed be He.

chanoch's Commentary

Drying the grasses diminish the lights. The verse is clear as written.

Pasook 67. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

מִסְּטַר שְׂמָאלָא, וּלְגוֹ יְאוֹרָא שְׁכִיכָא, נָפְקִין בְּעִירִין לְזִנַיְיהוּ, וְאַזְלִין לְמִקְרַב לְגַבֵּי דְּאִינּוּן עֲשָׂבִין וְלָא יַכְלִין, וְתָבִין לְּאַתְרַיְיהוּ. כָּל אִלֵּין יְאוֹרִין אַזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין, עִם הַהוּא תַּנִּינָא דְּשַׁלְטֵי בְּהוּ, וְסַחֲרִין לְאִינוּן עֲשָׂבִין, וְלָא יַכְלִין. בַּר לְזִמְנִין, דְּרוּחָא עִלָּאָה לָא נָשִׁיב, וְאִיהוּ מְרַפְרְפָא רוּחָא בְּהַהוּא נוּקְבָּא דִּלְעֵילָּא, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא, כְּדֵין שָׁלִיט הַהוּא רוּחָא עַל אִינּוּן עֲשָׂבִין.

Transliteration

Translation

From the left side and from within the quiet river, emerge animals according to their species. They attempt to approach these grasses but cannot. They then return to their place. All these rivers swim with that crocodile, which dominates them, and surround these grasses but cannot BENEFIT FROM THEM, except sometimes, when the supernal wind does not blow and THE CROCODILE exhales wind through that hole IN HIS HEAD. That wind then rules over the grasses THAT IS, IT DRIES THEM.

chanoch's Commentary

The Crocodile can not benefit from light since that light is too intense for the vessels to receive.

Pasook 68. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וִיאוֹרָא שְׁכִיכָא תָּב לְאַתְרֵיהּ, וְסַלְּקָא וְנַחְתָּא. וּבְגִין דְּמֵימוֹי שְׁכִיכִין, אָזִיל בִּשְׁכִיכוּ, וְהַאי הַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל סַלְּקָא לְגַבֵּי אִינּוּן יְאוֹרִין, וַעֲשָׂבִין כֻּלְּהוּ מְגַדְּלָן סַחֲרָנֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא יְאוֹרָא שְׁכִיכָא וְאִלֵּין מְגַדְּלִין בְּכָל עִיבָר, כְּדֵין סַלְּקָא הַהוּא תַּנִּינָא וְאִתְרַבֵּי בֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְתָב לְכָל אִינּוּן יְאוֹרִין.

Transliteration

Translation

He has another opportunity to approach the grasses, WHEN the quiet river returns FROM MALCHUT to its place, rising and falling. Since its waters are quiet, it flows quietly. The great crocodile rises to these rivers and is not there in the quietriver. All the grasses grow around that quiet river, growing on all sides. Then that Crocodile goes up TO THE GRASSES and grows among them, AND AFTERWARDS returns to all these rivers.

chanoch's Commentary

The negative system gets recharged at specific times and places. Another thought is that grasses represent string and the modern string theory as well.

Pasook 69. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי מְאֹרֹת בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם, דָּא אִיהוּ נָחָשׁ בָּרִיחַ. אֲמַאי בָּרִיחַ. בְּגִין דְּסָגִיר לִתְרֵין סִטְרִין, וְלָא נָפִיק לְעָלְמִין אֶלָּא חַד זִמְנָא לְיוֹבְלָא.

Transliteration

Translation

"And Elohim said, 'Let there be luminaries in the firmament of heaven'" (Beresheet 1:16). This refers to the Piercing Serpent (Heb. bariach). Why IS IT CALLED Bariach (also: 'bolt')? This is because it locks in both sides, WHICH ARE THE TWO COLUMNS, RIGHT AND LEFT, AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE THIRD COLUMN THAT RECONCILES THEM TO EXPAND. It does not go out to HARM the world except once in a Jubilee.

chanoch's Commentary

One time during each 50 year period the central column is narrowed so that it limits its teachings and its connections.

Pasook 70. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וּבְסִפְרֵי קַדְמָאֵי, דָּא נָחָשׁ עֲקַלָּתוֹן, דְּאִיהוּ בְּעַקִּימוּ תָּדִיר, וְאַיְיתֵי לְוָוטִין עַל עָלְמָא, כַּד הַאי קָם, אִתְּבַר תּוּקְפֵּיהּ דְּהַהוּא תַּנִּינָא, וְלָא יָכִיל לְמֵיקָם, עַד דְּאָבִיד גִּשְׁמֵיהּ. בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כָּפִיף לֵיהּ גּוֹ יַמָּא, כַּד עָאל לְגַבֵּיהּ. וְאִיהוּ דָּרַךְ עַל תֻּקְפֵּיהּ דְּיַמָּא. וְתֻקְפֵּיהּ דְּיַמָּא דָּא, אִיהוּ תַּנִּינָא, כד"א וְדוֹרֵךְ עַל בָּמֳתֵי יָם.

Transliteration

Translation

In ancient books, THEY SAID ABOUT THE VERSE, "LET THERE BE LUMINARIES," THAT it refers to the Piercing Serpent that always goes crookedly and brought curses on the world, BECAUSE HE ENTICED EVE WITH THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. When this one rose, the strength of the GREAT crocodile was broken so that he could not rise, so much so that he lost his body. Because the Holy One, blessed be He, folds him into the sea when he comes to Him, treading upon the strength of the sea. The strength of the sea is the GREAT crocodile, as is written, "And He treads upon the waves of the sea" (Iyov 9:8).

chanoch's Commentary

The creation of the sun moon and stars limit the expansion of the great crocodile

Pasook 71. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְכַד הַאי נָחָשׁ קָם, כְּדֵין מַה כְּתִיב, וְהָרַג אֶת הַתַּנִּין אֲשֶׁר בַּיָּם, דָּא אִיהוּ הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל. וע"ד כְּתִיב, הִנְנִי עָלֶיךָ. וְדָא נָחָשׁ, אִיהוּ מְאֹרֹת, בִּלְוָוטִין לְכֹלָּא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ תַּקִּיפָא עָלֵיהּ, בְּתֻקְפֵּיהּ דְּהַהוּא נָהָר רַבְרְבָא, דְּאִקְרֵי חִדֶּקֶל, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא.

Transliteration

Translation

When this serpent rises it is written, "And He shall slay the crocodile that is in the sea" (Yeshayah 27:1), which is the great crocodile. Therefore, it is written, "Behold I am against you... THE GREAT CROCODILE THAT COUCHES IN THE MIDST OF HIS STREAMS" (Yechezkel 29:3). And this snake is 'luminaries (Heb. me'orot)' without Vav, WHICH DENOTES AN EXPRESSION OF CURSE, AS IS WRITTEN, "THE CURSE (HEB. ME'ERAT) OF HASHEM IS IN THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED" (MISHLEI 3:33), for he brings curses to everyone. And He overpowers THE CROCODILE with the power of the great river, which is called Chidekel. This has already been explained.

chanoch's Commentary

i do not remember the explanation. does anyone?

Pasook 72. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

הַהוּא נָחָשׁ אִיהִי בְּיַבֶּשְׁתָּא כַּד נָפְקִין דָּא בְּדָא, דָּא דִּבְיַבֶּשְׁתָּא אִתְתְּקַף תָּדִיר, בְּגִין דְּכָל אוֹרְחוֹי וְתֹקְפוֹי בְּיַבֶּשְׁתָּא אִיהוּ, וְאָכִיל אַרְעָא וְעַפְרָא תָּדִיר, כד"א וְעָפָר תֹּאכַל כָּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ. דָּא גַּדִּיל בְּעַפְרָא, וְדָא גַּדִּיל בְּמַיָּא. נָחָשׁ דְּאִתְגַּדִּיל בְּמַיָּא, לָאו תַּקִּיפָא כְּהַאי דְּאִתְגַּדִּיל בְּיַבֶּשְׁתָּא, וע"ד כְּתִיב מְאֹרֹת חָסֵר.

Transliteration

Translation

That snake is on dry land. When they go to battle each other, the one on dry land always triumphs, because all his ways and his power are on dry land, WHERE MALCHUT IS WHICH CONTAINS ALL THE JUDGMENTS. And he always eats dirt and dust, as it is written, "And dust shall you eat all the days of your life" (Beresheet 3:14). The one grows in the dust and the other grows in water. The snake that grows in the water is not as strong as the one that grows on dry land. Therefore, it is written ABOUT THE SNAKE, me'orot with a defective spelling without a Vav, because his power is strong enough to kill everything.

chanoch's Commentary

A student of Kabbalah will understand this pasuk as written due to the clarity of the code words.

Pasook 73. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo

וְדָא אִזְדָּמַן לְגַבֵּי הַהוּא דְּמַיָּא. ואע"ג דְּאִזְדְּמַן לְגַבֵּיהּ, לָא אֲגַח לְגַבֵּיהּ, אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, דְּקָטִיל לֵיהּ מִגּוֹ יַמָּא, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא בְּגִין גַּסּוּת רוּחָא דְּבֵיהּ, כד"א אֲשֶׁר אָמַר לִי יְאֹרִי וְגוֹ'.

Transliteration

Translation

And this SNAKE comes across that CROCODILE, which is in the water. Although he meets him, he does not fight with him; the Holy One, blessed be He, alone kills him in the sea. As we explained it, because of the haughtiness in him, it is written, "My river is my own, and I have made it for myself" (Yechezkel 29:3).

chanoch's Commentary

Killing is more difficult while in water since water is Chesed. That is why the snake does not fight with the Crocodile at first.

Zohar Bo Section 3 - The Crocodiles

Zohar Bo - Section 3 - The Crocodiles

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Bo Section 3

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