Zohar Chayei Sarah - Section 12 - Serpent of the Firmament

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah Section 12

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:

The stars of the Milky Way called here 'the serpent of the firmament' perform a special function in the lives of men, assisting both those who wish to be purified, and those who wish to defile themselves. Rabbi Yitzchak and Rabbi Yosi discuss the evil man, Bilaam, the sorcerer. From their discussion we learn that the primordial serpent is the source of all enchantment and magic. It is in sorcery that the seeds of defilement lie. Those who wish to cast spells draw to themselves the unholy spirit, just as anyone wishing to do good will draw the Light.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

The stars that glint in the heavens are portals through which spiritual influences enter this material existence. The structure of electricity helps us understand their role, Electrical current can light entire cities. The same current, however, can also cause great destruction. The manner in which we employ the energy, determines its positive or destructive quality, but the nature of the energy never changes. Man was given free will to choose how to draw spiritual energy "“ via the desire to receive for the self alone, or the desire to receive for the sake of sharing. This passage summons up forces that awaken us to the dual nature of our desires, impelling us to seek purification rather than defilement.

Pasook 71. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

וְתָא חֲזֵי, בְּאֶמְצָעוּת דִּרְקִיעָא, אִתְקַטַּר חַד אוֹרְחָא קַסְטְרִירָא. וְאִיהוּ חִוְיָא דִּרְקִיעָא, דְּכָל כֹּכָבִין דַּקִּיקִין, כָּלְהוֹ קְטִירִין בֵּיהּ, וְקָיְימֵי בֵּיהּ, תִּלֵּי תִּלִּין, וְאִינוּן מְמַנָּן בִּסְתִירוּ עוֹבָדֵי בְּנֵי עָלְמָא.

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

Come and behold, In the middle of the firmament is a glowing trail. This is the serpent of the firmament THAT ASTRONOMERS CALL THE MILKY WAY. All the small stars are attached to it in groups, THAT IS, THEY ARE GATHERED AND STAND IN IT LIKE COUNTLESS MOUNTAINS. They are in charge of the secret deeds of the inhabitants of the world.

chanoch's Commentary

groups are the signs of the Zodiac. There are currently 13 groups and sidereal astrology has the current physical groups.

Pasook 72. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

כְּגַוְונָא דָא, כַּמָּה חֲבִילֵי טְהִירִין, נָפְקֵי לְעַלְמָא, מֵהַאי חִוְיָא עִלָּאָה קַדְמָאָה, דְּאִתְפַּתָּא בֵּיהּ אָדָם, וְכָלְהוֹ מְמַנָּן בִּסְתִירוּ עוֹבָדֵי עַלְמָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאִתְדַּכָּאָה, מְסַיְיעִין לֵיהּ מִלְּעֵילָא, וְסִיּוּעָא דְּמָארֵיהּ סַחֲרָא לֵיהּ, וְאִסְתַּמַּר וְאִקְרֵי קָדוֹשׁ.

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

Similarly, there are bunches of lights of Klipot that come into the world from the supernal primordial serpent that seduced Adam. They are appointed to learn the secret deeds of the world. Therefore when a man wishes to be purified, he receives help from above, and the help of his Master encircles and protects him. He is then called 'holy'.

chanoch's Commentary

In order to be purified one needs protection from the lights of the klipot.

Pasook 73. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא, כַּמָּה חֲבִילִין טְהִירִין אִזְדַּמְּנוּ לֵיהּ וְכֻלְהוּ שַׁרְיָין בֵּיהּ, וּמְסַחֲרִין לֵיהּ, וּמְסָאֲבִין לֵיהּ, וְאִקְרֵי טָמֵא, וְכֻלְּהוּ אָזְלֵי, וּמַכְרְזֵי קַמֵּי, טָמֵא טָמֵא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וְטָמֵא טָמֵא יִקְרָא. וְכֻלְּהוּ קְטִירִין בְּהַהוּא חִיוְיָא קַדְמָאָה, וּסְתִירִין בְּכַמָּה עוֹבָדֵי עָלְמָא.

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

If a man wishes to be defiled, several groups of lights of Klipot are waiting for him. They all hover about and around him. They defile him, so he is called unholy. They go before him and proclaim, Unholy, unholy, as it is written, "And shall cry, 'Unclean, unclean'" (Vayikra 17:45). They are all connected to the primordial serpent and are hidden in the deeds of the people of the world.

chanoch's Commentary

This is clear as written.

Pasook 74. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

ר' יִצְחָק וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, הֲווֹ אָזְלֵי מִטְּבֶרְיָא לְלוֹד. אֲמַר ר' יִצְחָק, תְּוַוהֲנָא עַל הַהוּא רָשָׁע דְּבִלְעָם, דְּכָל עוֹבָדוֹי דְּהַהוּא רָשָׁע, הֲווֹ מִסִּטְרָא דִּמְסָאֲבָא. וְהָכָא אוֹלִיפְנָא רָזָא חָדָא, דְּכָל זִינֵי נְחָשַׁיָּא דְּעַלְמָא, כֻּלְּהוֹן מִתְקַטְּרָן וְנָפְקִין, מֵהַהוּא נָחָשׁ קַדְמוֹנִי, דְּאִיהוּ רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא מְזוּהֲמָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, כָּל חָרֳשִׁין דְּעַלְמָא, אִקְרוּן עַל שְׁמָא דָא, נְחָשִׁים, וְכֻלְּהוּ מֵהַאי סִטְרָא נָפְקֵי. וּמַאן דְּאִתְמְשַׁךְ בְּהַאי הָא אִסְתָּאַב.

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 Yitzchak and Rabbi Yosi were walking from Tiberias to Lod. Rabbi Yitzchak said, I wonder about the evil man Bilaam. All he did was from the side of defilement. Here we learn a secret, which is that all kinds of sorcery and witchcraft of the world are connected and derive from the primordial serpent, which is the impure spirit of defilement. Therefore all enchantment (Heb. nechashim) is named after the primordial serpent (Heb. nachash). They all derive from that side, and anyone who is drawn to that MAGIC is defiled.

chanoch's Commentary

What is enchantment? Here is a definition of enchantment from an internet dictionary -a feeling of great pleasure; delight. - "the enchantment of the mountains" - synonyms: magic, witchcraft, sorcery, wizardry, necromancy; 2. the state of being under a spell; magic. - "a world of mystery and enchantment"

Pasook 75. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

וְלָא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דְּבָעֵי לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא, בְּגִין לְאַמְשָׁכָא עֲלֵיהּ הַהוּא סִטְרָא דְּרוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא. דְּהָא תָּנִינָן, כְּגַוְונָא דְּאִתְעַר בַּר נָשׁ, הָכֵי נָמֵי אַמְשֵׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ מִלְּעֵילָא, אִי אִיהוּ אִתְעַר בְּסִטְרָא דִּקְדוּשָּׁה, אַמְשֵׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ קְדוּשָּׁה מִלְּעֵילָא וְאִתְקַדַּשׁ. וְאִי אִיהוּ אִתְעַר, בְּסִטְרָא דִּמְסָאֲבָא, הָכֵי אַמְשֵׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, וְאִסְתָּאַב. דְּהָא אִתְּמָר, עַל מַה דְּתָנִינָן, אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא, מְסָאֲבִין לֵיהּ.

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

Moreover, one should be impure to cast a spell. One has to draw upon oneself that side of the unholy spirit. As man is aroused from below, he draws upon himself from above. If he is aroused below on the side of holiness, he draws upon himself the supernal holiness and is sanctified. If he is aroused below on the side of defilement, he draws upon himself the spirit of defilement and becomes unholy. Upon this, they said that whoever wishes to be defiled is defiled.

chanoch's Commentary

Unholy is impure. The pasuk is clear as it is written.

Pasook 76. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

בְּגִין כָּךְ הַהוּא רָשָׁע דְּבִלְעָם, בְּגִין לְאַמְשָׁכָא עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, מֵהַהוּא נָחָשׁ עִלָּאָה, הֲוָה אִסְתָּאַב בְּכָל לֵילְיָא בַּאֲתָנֵיהּ, וַהֲוָה עָבֵיד עִמַּהּ עוֹבָדֵי אִישׁוּת, בְּגִין לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא, וּלְאַמְשָׁכָא עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, וּכְדֵין עֲבֵיד חֳרָשׁוֹי וְעוֹבָדוֹי.

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

For that purpose, the wicked Bilaam defiled himself nightly by mating with his ass in order to draw upon himself the unholy spirit from the supernal serpent, thereby drawing on himself the spirit of unholiness. Then he cast his spells and enchantments.

chanoch's Commentary

mating with an animal draws a huge spirit of defilement. There is a hierarchy of impurity just as there is a hierarchy for kedusha.

Pasook 77. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

וְשֵׁירוּתָא דְּעוֹבָדוֹי הֲוֵי, נָטֵיל נָחָשׁ, מֵאִינוּן חִוְיָין, וְקָטִיר לֵיהּ קַמֵּיהּ, וּבְזַע רֵישֵׁיהּ, וְאַפֵּיק לִישָׁנֵיהּ וּנְטֵיל עִשְׂבִּין יְדִיעָן, וְאוֹקֵיד כֹּלָּא, וַעֲבֵיד מִנֵּיהּ קְטַרְתָּא חָדָא, לְבָתַר נְטֵיל רֵישָׁא דְהַהוּא חִוְיָא, וּבְזַע לֵיהּ לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרִין, וַעֲבֵיד מִנֵּיהּ קְטַרְתָּא אָחֳרָא.

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

First he took one of the serpents, tied it in front of him, split his head, and removed its tongue. Then he took certain herbs and burned them to incense. He took the serpent's head, cut it into four pieces, and made from it another incense offering.

chanoch's Commentary

Why do you think the Zohar is explaining the ritual used by Bilaam? Because we need to know what to avoid. Or perhaps there are certain conditions that we need to know this ritual. Or this ritual might work in a positive way if one does not draw impurity to oneself.

Pasook 78. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

וַעֲבֵיד עִגּוּלָא חַד, וַהֲוָה אֲמַר מִלִּין, וַעֲבֵיד עוֹבָדִין אָחֳרָנִין, עַד דְּאַמְשֵׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחִין מְסָאֲבִין, וְאוֹדִיעִין לֵיהּ, מַה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ, וַעֲבֵיד בְּהוֹ עוֹבָדוֹי, כְּפוּם מַה דְּאִינוּן יָדְעֵי, מִסִּטְרָא דְהַהוּא חִוְיָא דִּרְקִיעָא. מִתַּמָּן אִתְמַשַּׁךְ בְּעוֹבָדוֹי וַחֲרָשׁוֹי, עַד דְּאַמְשֵׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ, מֵהַהוּא נָחָשׁ קַדְמָאָה.

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

He drew a circle round himself, uttered words, and performed other deeds until he drew to himself the spirits of defilement, who told him what he needed to know. He acted according to their information, which they knew from the side of that serpent in the firmament.

chanoch's Commentary

The ritual descriptions continue in this pasuk.

Pasook 79. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

וּמֵהָכָא הֲוָה יָדַע, יְדִיעָן, וָחֳרָשִׁין, וְקוֹסְמִין. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב וְלֹא הָלַךְ כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם לִקְרַאת נְחָשִׁים, נְחָשִׁים וַדַּאי, וְעִקְּרָא וְשָׁרְשָׁא בִּמְסָאֲבוּתָא אִיהוּ, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר, וּלְבָתַר שֵׁירוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא, לָאו אִיהוּ אֶלָּא בְּנָחָשׁ.

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

This is how he acquired his knowledge, enchantments, and spells. For that reason, it is written, "He went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments" (Bemidbar 24:1), which alludes to real snakes. As has already been explained, the essence and origin of defilement begins with the serpent.

chanoch's Commentary

Why do we need to have this reinforcement that the serpent is part or the essence of the negative system?