Zohar Chayei Sarah - Section 14 Cave of Machpelah Part 1

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah Section 14

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 Yehuda tells us how it was that Abraham recognized the significance of the cave of Machpelah, and that he deserved to be buried there. We learn that an ordinary man sees Adam at the moment of death. Yet Abraham saw him, along with a vision of the Garden of Eden, and still lived. This was because Abraham had been in Eden during his own lifetime, and thus looked upon something he was already merited to see when he was alive. He acquires the cave through spiritual wisdom, not through any form of self-centered desire.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

Our egocentric desires compel us to covet possessions that provide temporary satisfaction. But there is a downside, chaos and darkness appear when the thrill has ended. The soul, however, is in search of permanent fulfillment, and people who achieve that fulfillment are willing and able to forsake short-term, ego-based pleasures. Abraham exemplifies this principle in the story of the cave of Machpelah. By remaining true to a spiritual path, Abraham sought out the cave through his wisdom, not his ego, and therefore merited the greatest possible fulfillment, the Light of the Garden of Eden. The mystical words of the Zohar allow us to glimpse shards of Light gleaming in the Garden. During our lives, this Light helps us to fulfill the needs of our soul, instead of foolishly catering to our ego.

Pasook 88. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אֲמַר, אַבְרָהָם יָדַע, בְּהַהִיא מְעַרְתָּא סִימָנָא, וְלִבֵּיהּ וּרְעוּתֵיהּ תַּמָּן הֲוָה, בְּגִין דְּמִקַדְּמַת דְּנָא עָאל לְתַמָּן, וְחָמָא לְאָדָם וְחַוָּה, טְמִירִין תַּמָּן. וּמְנָא הֲוָה יָדַע, דְּאִינוּן הֲווֹ. אֶלָּא חָמָא דְּיוֹקְנֵיהּ, וְאִסְתַּכַּל וְאִתְפַּתַּח לֵיהּ, חַד פִּתְחָא דְּגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן תַּמָּן, וְהַהוּא דְּיוֹקְנָא דְּאָדָם, הֲוָה קָאֵים לְגַבֵּיהּ.

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 Yehuda said, Abraham recognized a sign in that cave, NAMELY THE CAVE OF MACHPELAH, and his heart and desire were there. For he had entered it before and seen Adam and Eve interred there. HE ASKS, How did he know it was they, FOR HE DID NOT KNOW THEM? HE ANSWERS, He saw the shape OF ADAM and looked at it. Then a door to the Garden of Eden opened before him AND HE UNDERSTOOD that this was the shape of Adam before him. He understood that he deserved to be buried in the gate of the Garden of Eden because he had been in the Garden of Eden during his lifetime.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. There are many Tzadikim who lived in Israel who have been in the the Garden of Eden during their lifetimes, yet they are not buried in the entrance to the garden of Eden. In my opinion this explanation is inadequate.

Pasook 89. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

וְתָא חֲזֵי, כָּל מַאן דְּאִסְתַּכַּל, בִּדְיוֹקְנָא דְּאָדָם, לָא אִשְׁתְּזֵיב לְעָלְמִין מִמִּיתָה, בְּגִין דְּהָא בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעַלְמָא, חָמֵי לֵיהּ לְאָדָם, וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא מִית. אֲבָל אַבְרָהָם אִסְתַּכַּל בֵּיהּ, וְחָמָא דְיוֹקְנֵיהּ, וְאִתְקַיַּים, וְחָמָא נְהוֹרָא דְּנָהֵיר בִּמְעַרְתָּא, וְחַד שְׁרַגָּא דָּלֵיק, כְּדֵין תָּאֵיב אַבְרָהָם, דִּיּוּרֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא אֲתַר וְלִבֵּיהּ וּרְעוּתֵיהּ הֲוָה תָּדִיר בִּמְעַרְתָּא.

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, Whoever beholds the shape of Adam cannot escape death. THAT PERSON HAS TO DIE THAT INSTANT, for man sees Adam the moment that he dies and passes from the world. But Abraham looked at him, saw his shape, and lived. He saw a light shining from within the cave and a candle burning. Then he wanted to dwell in that cave, and his heart and desire were always there.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. This explanation makes sense to me. Abraham is unique since he did not die when he saw Adam. Why not. Avraham is the first to experience a near death experience referred to in modern science as NDE.

Pasook 90. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

תָּא חֲזֵי, הַשְׁתָּא אַבְרָהָם בְּחָכְמְתָא עֲבַד בְּזִמְנָא דְּתָבַע קִבְרָא לְשָׂרָה, דְּהָא כַּד תָּבַע, לָא תָבַע לִמְעַרְתָּא בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, וְלָא אֲמַר דְּבָעֵי לְאִתְפָּרְשָׁא מִנַּיְיהוּ, אֶלָּא אֲמַר, תְּנוּ לִי אֲחוּזַת קֶבֶר עִמָּכֶם וְאֶקְבְּרָה מֵתִי מִלְּפָנַי. וְאִי תֵימָא דְלָא הֲוָה עֶפְרוֹן תַּמָּן, תַּמָּן הֲוָה, דִּכְתִיב וְעֶפְרוֹן יוֹשֵׁב בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי חֵת, וְאַבְרָהָם לָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא כְּלוּם.

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, Abraham behaved wisely when he asks for a grave for Sarah, for he did not ask for the cave immediately or say that he wanted to be separated from them. Instead, he said, "Give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight" (Beresheet 23:3). HE DID NOT MENTION EITHER EFRON OR THE CAVE. If you say that Efron was not there, IT IS NOT SO. INDEED he was present, as it is written, "And Efron dwelt among the children of Chet" (Ibid. 9). NEVERTHELESS, Abraham said nothing to him for the time being.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. Why is withholding Avraham's ultimate purpose considered wise?

Pasook 91. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

אֶלָּא מַה דַּאֲמַר לוֹן, אֲמַר כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי חֵת וגו'. וְכִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ דְּאַבְרָהָם בָּעָא לְאִתְקְבְרָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ בֵּין מְסָאֳבִין, אוֹ דִּתְאוּבְתֵּיהּ הֲוָה עִמְּהוֹן, אֶלָּא בְּחָכְמָה עֲבַד.

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 spoke with them further, as it is written, "And spoke to the sons of Chet" (Ibid. 3). Could you conceive that Abraham wanted to be buried among the defiled or that he wanted to join them, when he said, "Give me a possession of a burying place with you"? But he behaved wisely.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written. A body that has died means the soul has left and is therefore defiled. Why did Avraham consider Sarah's body to be different that he would not want it buried with the defiled bodies of the people he resided among? This is why there are separate Jewish burial sites. Yet the earlier question in this commentary is not yet answered.

Pasook 92. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

וְיַלְפִינָן אוֹרַח אַרְעָא הָכָא, בַּמֶּה דַעֲבַד אַבְרָהָם, דְּהָא בְּגִין דִּתְאוּבְתֵּיהּ וּרְעוּתֵיהּ הֲוָה בְּהַהִיא מְעַרְעתָּא, אַף עַל גָּב דַּהֲוָה תַּמָּן, לָא בְּעָא לְמִשְׁאַל לֵיהּ מִיָּד, הַהוּא רְעוּתָא דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ בִּמְעַרְתָּא, וְשָׁאֵיל בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, מַה דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ, לְאִינוּן אָחֳרָנִין, וְלָא לְעֶפְרוֹן.

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

And we learn proper conduct from the way Abraham acted, because he desired and wished for that cave. Although Efron was there, he did not want to ask him immediately. He did not ask for the cave but rather for what he did not want, and asks another, not Efron, AS HE SAID TO THE SONS OF CHET, "GIVE ME A POSSESSION OF A BURYING PLACE WITH YOU..."

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. Our question still remains unanswered. Why is hiding our intentions considered wise?

Pasook 93. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Chayei Sarah

כֵּיוָן דַּאֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ, קַמֵּי עֶפְרוֹן, שְׁמָעֵנוּ אֲדֹנִי נְשִׂיא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה בְּתוֹכֵנוּ וגו', מַה כְּתִיב וְעֶפְרוֹן יֹשֵׁב בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי חֵת, יָשַׁב כְּתִיב, מִשֵּׁירוּתָא דְּמִלִּין דַּאֲמַר אַבְרָהָם, תַּמָּן הֲוָה, כְּדֵין אֲמַר שְׁמָעוּנִי וּפִגְעוּ לִי בְּעֶפְרוֹן בֶּן צֹחַר וְיִתֶּן לִי אֶת מְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וגו'. וְאִי תֵימָא בְּגִין יְקָרָא דִּילִי יַתִּיר מִנַּיְיכוּ, אֲנָא עָבֵיד, דְּלָא רָעֵינָא בְּכוֹ, בְּתוֹכְכֶם, בְּגִין לְאִתְקְבָרָא בֵּינַיְיכוּ, דְּרָעֵינוּ בְּכוֹ, בְּגִין דְּלָא אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנַּיְיכוּ.

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

Once the sons of Chet said to him in the presence of Efron, "Hear us, my lord, you are a mighty prince among us" (Beresheet 23:5), it is written, "And Efron dwelt (lit. 'dwells') among the children of Chet." 'Dwells' is written without vowels and can be conjugated as 'dwelt', which would mean that Efron was already there as they started talking. Then Abraham said, "Hear me, and entreat for me to Efron, the son of Tzochar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has" (Ibid. 8). If you say that since my honor is greater than yours I ASK FOR THE CAVE OF THE MACHPELAH FROM EFRON because I do not want to dwell among you, THIS IS NOT TRUE. But "with you" AND "AMONGST YOU" (IBID. 10) IN OTHER WORDS, to be interred among you. THIS IS WHAT I MEANT, because I want you, so that I shall not be separated from you.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written, with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. This confuses the reason Jewish people have a separate buriel site.