Zohar Lech Lecha - Section 16 - "And HaShem Plagued Pharaoh"

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Vayelech Section 16

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:

As the Zohar recounts the story of the King of Egypt's abduction and attempted violation of Sarah, we learn that the angels protected her from his amoral advances. Moreover, it is revealed that the Torah story of Abraham's journey into the land of Egypt is a metaphor for battling the highest degrees of negativity and the strongest selfish desires inherent in our nature. Unlike Adam and Noah, who were enticed by the serpent and succumbed to temptation, Abraham faced and overcame the greatest tests of human nature.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

Abraham's positive action and spiritual strength opened a cosmic window for all mankind. These words open that window in our own lives, allowing Abraham's power and energy to enter.

Pasook 136. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל הַהוּא לֵילְיָא, דְּשָׂרָה הֲוַת לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּפַרְעֹה, אָתוּ מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי, לְזַמְרָא לֵיהּ לְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּשִׁירִין וְתוּשְׁבְּחָן, אָמַר לוֹ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כֻּלְּכוֹ זִילוּ וַעֲבִידוּ מַכְתְּשִׁין רַבְרְבִין בְּמִצְרַיִם, רְשִׁימוּ לְמַאן דַּאֲנָא זַמִּין לְמֶעְבַּד לְבָתַר. מַה כְּתִיב וַיְנַגַּע ה' אֶת פַּרְעֹה נְגָעִים גְּדוֹלִים וגו'.

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, Throughout the night that Sarah was with Pharaoh, the supernal angels came to chant songs and praises before the Holy One, blessed be He. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, Go all of you and inflict great plagues upon Egypt, so that these plagues will be a sign and an omen of what I will do in the future. As it is written, "And Hashem plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues" (Beresheet 12:17).

chanoch's Commentary

This verse is clear as written. Note that the plagues happened in Egypt twice. In modern times that is WW1 and 2. This is my opinion. What happens to the fathers happens to the children.

Pasook 137. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיִּקְרָא פַּרְעֹה לְאַבְרָם וגו'. מְנָא הֲוָה יָדַע, דְּהָא לָא כְתִיב הָכָא, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמָר בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ, דִּכְתִיב, וְעַתָּה הָשֵׁב אֵשֶׁת הָאִישׁ כִּי נָבִיא הוּא וגו', וְהָכָא לָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ מִדֵּי.

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, It is written, "And Pharaoh called Abram" (Beresheet 12:18). HE ASKS, How did he know THAT SARAH IS ABRAM'S WIFE; it is not written here as it is about Abimelech, "Now therefore restore the man's wife, for he is a prophet" (Beresheet 20:7). Here, THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, said nothing to Pharaoh!

chanoch's Commentary

The question is clear. Note that the Name is Avram not Avraham. This is a hint.

Pasook 138. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

אֲמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, הָא כְתִיב עַל דְּבַר שָׂרַי אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם. דְּהָכֵי הֲווֹ אָמְרֵי לֵיהּ, עַל דְּבַר שָׂרַי אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם. דְּהָא לָא הֲוָה מְמַלֵּיל עִמֵּיהּ, כְּמָה דִּמְמַלֵּיל בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ, אֶלָּא בְּמִלָּה דָא אִתְּמָר, וְלָא יַתִּיר, מַכְתְּשָׁא דָא, עַל דְּבַר שָׂרַי אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם אִיהִי, וְלָא הֲוָה מַלֵּיל עִמֵּיהּ, כְּדֵין יָדַע דְּהָא אִתְּתֵיהּ דְּאַבְרָהָם אִיהִי, מִיָּד וַיִּקְרָא פַּרְעֹה לְאַבְרָם וַיֹּאמֶר וגו'.

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 said, But it is written, "because of Sarai, Abram's wife." For so THE ANGELS said 'because of Sarai, Abram's wife.' Because THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, did not speak with him as he did with Abimelech. So only these words were said and no more, This plague is "because of Sarai, Abram's wife." And even this was not said by THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, BUT BY THE ANGELS WHO SMOTE HIM. And then he knew that she was Abraham's wife, so it is written, "And Pharaoh called Abram."

chanoch's Commentary

With Rabbi Ashlag's comments the verse is clear. Why does the Zohar ask a question that the answer is specified in the words of Torah?

Pasook 139. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וַיְצַו עָלָיו פַּרְעֹה אֲנָשִׁים. לָמָּה, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִקְרַב בַּר נַשׁ בְּהוֹ, לְאַבְאָשָׁא לוֹן. וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אוֹתוֹ. לְוָיָיה עֲבָדוּ לֵיהּ, בְּכָל אַרְעָא דְמִצְרַיִם. אָמַר לוֹ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הָכֵי אַנְתְּ זַמִּין לְמֶעְבַּד לִבְנוֹי, אַתְּ תּוֹזִיף לוֹן מֵאַרְעָךְ, דִּכְתִיב וַיְהִי בְּשַׁלַּח פַּרְעֹה אֶת הָעָם. דְּאוֹזִיף לוֹן מִכָּל אַרְעֵיהּ.

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 Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him." HE ASKS, Why did he do so? AND HE SAYS, So that nobody would come near them and harm them. "And they sent him away" means that they prepared an escort, to accompany him through Egypt. The Holy One, blessed be He, said TO PHARAOH, This is what you shall do in the future to his children; you shall escort them out of your land. As it is written, "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh let the people go" (Shemot 13:17) meaning that he escorted them throughout his entire country."

chanoch's Commentary

What happens to the fathers happen to the children. When the ingathering takes place the material oriented people will escort the Children of Israel to Israel. This is my opinion.

Pasook 140. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

אָמַר רָבִּי אַבָּא, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה אִזְדַּמֵּן לֵיהּ לְאַבְרָהָם, וּלְמַאי אִצְטְרִיךְ. אֶלָּא, בְּגִין לְגַדְּלָא שְׁמֵיהּ דְּאַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה בְּעָלְמָא, דַּאֲפִילּוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם, דְּאִינוּן חֳרָשֵׁי עָלְמָא, וְלָא הֲוָה יָכִיל בַּר נָשׁ לְאִשְׁתְּזיב מִנַּיְיהוּ, אִתְגַּדַּל אַבְרָהָם, וְאִסְתַּלֵּיק לְעֵילָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיַּעַל אַבְרָם מִמִּצְרַיִם, לְאָן אֲתַר, הַנֶּגְבָּה.

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 Aba asked, Why did this happen to Abraham? For what reason did he have to go through it all? AND HE SAID, "So that Abraham and Sarah would achieve great fame in the eyes of the world. So that even in Egypt, which has the greatest magicians from whom nobody can be saved, Abraham was still able to rise high and be elevated. Therefore, it is written, "And Abram went up out of Egypt" (Beresheet 13:1). Where to? "To the Negev," THAT IS, TO HIS PREVIOUS LEVEL.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk needs to be contemplated by all students of Kabbalah.

Pasook 141. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

אֲמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, תָּא חֲזֵי, כֹּלָּא רָזָא דְחָכְמְתָא אִיהוּ, וְקָא רָמַז הָכָא בְּחָכְמְתָא, וְדַרְגִּין דִּלְתַתָּא, דְּקָא נָחִית אַבְרָהָם לְעוֹמְקַיָּיא דִלְהוֹן, וְיָדַע לוֹן, וְלָא אִתְדַּבֵּק בְּהוֹ, וְתָב לְקַמֵּי מָרֵיהּ.

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, Come and behold, Everything is in accordance with the secret of Wisdom. The verse here alludes to Chochmah (Wisdom) and grades below REFERRING TO THE GRADES OF THE EGYPTIANS, WHO DRAW DOWN CHOCHMAH. And Abraham went down to these great depths and knew them all, but did not attach himself to them. Rather, he returned to his Master.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is teaching a spiritual law.

Pasook 142. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וְלָא אִתְפַּתָּא בְּהוֹ, כְּאָדָם, דְּכַד מָטָא לְהַהוּא דַרְגָא, אִתְפַּתָּא בְּנָחָשׁ, וְגָרִים מוֹתָא לְעָלְמָא. וְלָא אִתְפַּתָּא כְּנֹחַ, דְּכַד נָחַת וּמָטָא לְהַהוּא דַרְגָּא, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָּר וַיִּתְגָּל בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלֹה. אָהֳלֹה כְּתִיב בְּה"א.

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 he was not enticed by them, as was Adam, who, when he reached that same level, was enticed by the serpent and brought death upon the whole world. And Abraham was not enticed as was Noah, of whom, when he went down to that grade, it is written, "And he drank of the wine and was drunken, and he was uncovered within his tent (Heb. ohaloh)" (Beresheet 9:21). Ohaloh is spelled with an additional Hei, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF 'A STRANGE WOMAN.'

chanoch's Commentary

This discusion of Ohaloh is discussed in the Zohar in the parasha of Noach

Pasook 143. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

אֲבָל בְּאַבְרָהָם מַה כְּתִיב, וַיַּעַל אַבְרָם מִמִּצְרַיִם. דְּסָלֵיק וְלָא נָחֵית, וְתָב לְאַתְרֵיהּ, לְדַרְגָא עִלָּאָה, דְּאִתְדְּבַּק בֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא. וְעוֹבָדָא דָא הֲוָה, בְּגִין, לְאַחֲזָאָה חָכְמְתָא, דְּאִתְקַיֵּים בְּקִיּוּמָא שְׁלִים, כִּדְקָא חָזֵי לֵיהּ, וְלָא אִתְפַּתָּא, וְקָם בְּקִיּוּמָא וְתָב לְאַתְרֵיהּ. הַנֶּגְבָּה: דָּא דָרוֹם, דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה, דְּאִתְאֲחֵיד בֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, דִּכְתִיב הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ הַנֶּגְבָּה. אוֹף הָכָא הַנֶּגְבָּה, אֲתַר דְּאִתְדַבַּק בֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא.

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

But what is written about Abraham? "And Abram went up out of Egypt." That he went up not down and returned to his place, to the supernal grade to which he was previously attached. This action came to reveal Wisdom; he deserved to reach full perfection because he was not enticed BY THE EGYPTIANS; rather he remained entirely steadfast and returned to his place. "The Negev" means the south, CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN. THIS IS the supernal grade to which he first cleaved. As it is written, "And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the Negev" (Beresheet 12:9). So here as well, "to the Negev" MEANS to the grade to which he had previously cleaved.

chanoch's Commentary

The spiritual law is one must fall spiritually prior to rising. In this fall one is exposed to sparks that one has the responsibility to elevate. If one uses binding by striking the sparks are elevated and one returns to the level that one started; then one can climb an easier path to higher spiritual levels.. If not one falls spiritually and must climb again to previous spiritual heights following a more difficult path.

Pasook 144. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

תָּא חֲזֵי, רָזָא דְמִלָּה, אִי אַבְרָם לָא יֵיחוֹת לְמִצְרַיִם, וְלָא יִצְטָרֵף תַּמָּן בְּקַדְמֵיתָא. לָא יְהֵא חוּלַק עַדְבֵיהּ בְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. כְּגַוְונָא דָא לִבְנוֹי, כַּד בָּעָא קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמֶעבַּד לֵיהּ עַמָּא חָדָא, עַמָּא שְׁלִים, וּלְקָרְבָא לוֹן לְגַבֵּיהּ, אִי לָא נָחֲתוּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא לְמִצְרַיִם, וְלָא יִצְטַרְפוּן תַּמָּן, לֹא הֲווֹ עַמָּא יְחִידָא דִילֵיהּ.

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 the secret of this matter, Had Abram not gone down to Egypt and been purified, his destiny would not have been attached to the Holy One, blessed be He. And the same thing happened to his children, when the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to join them to one nation one perfect and complete nation and bring them near to Him. Had they not gone to Egypt first and been purified, they would not have become His one nation.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is clear as written.

Pasook 145. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

כְּגַוְונָא דָא, אִי לָא אִתְיְיהִיבַת אַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא לִכְנַעַן בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וְיִשְׁלוֹט בָּהּ, לָא הֲוַת אַרְעָא חוּלְקֵיהּ וְעַדְבֵיהּ, דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְכֹלָּא רָזָא חָדָא.

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

In the same manner, had the Holy Land not been given at first to the Cna'anites and had they not ruled over it, then this land would not have been destined to become the portion and lot of the Holy One, blessed be He; it is all the same secret.

chanoch's Commentary

What would the Land become if the Canaanites were given the land and did not corrupt the Land. Would they be the Children of Israel.