Zohar Lech Lecha - Section 19 - "And He Went About His Journeys""

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha Section 19

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:

Abraham the Patriarch attained the highest level of wisdom that a man can achieve. The spiritual process that he endured to acquire this great wisdom is recounted in the following section.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

According to the Zohar, the wisdom of Kabbalah is not merely information and knowledge that one acquires as an external asset. On the contrary, Kabbalistic wisdom is the very substance of Light, the essence and core of that which it describes. To acquire spiritual wisdom is to, therefore, infuse one's self with spiritual energy. This great Light nurtures and fills our soul through the wisdom and words of this profound portion.

Pasook 164. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

אֲמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיֵּלֶךְ לְמַסָּעָיו. לְמִפְקַד אַתְרֵיהּ וְדַרְגּוֹי. לְמַסָּעָיו, לְמַסָּעָו כְּתִיב, מַאן מַסָּעָו. דָּא דַרְגָּא קַדְמָאָה, דְּאִתְחֲזֵי לֵיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, כְּתִיב הָכָא מַסָּעָו, וּכְתִיב הָתָם אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה מַסַּע נִבְנֶה. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא, אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה וַדַּאי. מַסַּע כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר.

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, The verse, "And he went on his journeys... (Heb. lemasa'av)" (Beresheet 13:3) MEANS that he went to visit his place and his grade. In this verse, lemasa'av is spelled without the letter Yud, indicating the singular form. So he asks, Which journey? AND HE ANSWERS, This is the first grade that was revealed to him. Here, it is written, "masa'av (his journey)"; and in another place thither (Heb. masa), "was built of stone made ready before it was brought" (I Melachim 6:7). As we have already explained, assuredly it was "stone made ready (Heb. shlemah)" which means that the stone, which is Malchut, belongs to the King to whom the peace (Heb. shalom) belongs. And King Solomon (Heb. Shlomo) alludes to the king to whom peace belongs, namely Zeir Anpin. So by analogy, in the former verse as well it refers to the Nukva of Zeir Anpin. "Masa" has already been explained.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is explaining code words yet it also relates to the level of Malchut the first grade.

Pasook 165. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וַיֵּלֶךְ לְמַסָּעָיו. כָּל אִינוּן דַּרְגִּין, דַּרְגָּא בָּתַר דַּרְגָּא, כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר. מִנֶּגֶב וְעַד בֵּית אֵל, לְאַתְקָנָא אַתְרֵיהּ, וּלְחַבְּרָא לוֹן בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים. דְּהָא מִנֶּגֶב וְעַד בֵּית אֵל, אִשְׁתְּכַח רָזָא דְחָכְמְתָא, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

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

The words, "on his journeys," MEANS THAT HE MOVED ALONG all of these grades, one after the other, as explained, "from the Negev even to Bet El," to firmly establish his place, WHICH IS CHESED, and to unite it WITH BET EL WHICH IS THE NUKVA. Because the secret of Wisdom lies "from the Negev even to Bet El."

chanoch's Commentary

The verse is clear as written with Rabbi Ashlag's comments. The 7 lower Sefirot are the secret of wisdom as will be revealed.

Pasook 166. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר הָיָה שָׁם אָהֳלֹה בַּתְּחִלָּה אָהֳלֹה בְּהֵ"א, מַאן אָהֳלֹה, דָּא בֵּית אֵל, אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה כִּדְאֲמָרָן. תוּ רְשִׁים וַאֲמַר, אֶל מְקוֹם הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה שָׁם בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה. דִּכְתִיב לַה' הַנִּרְאֶה אֵלָיו. וּכְדֵין וַיִּקְרָא שָׁם אַבְרָם בְּשֵׁם ה'. כְּדֵין אִתְדַּבַּק בִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא.

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 verse, "to the place where his tent (Heb. ohaloh) had been at the beginning" (Beresheet 13:3), the word ohaloh is spelled with a letter Hei (at the end) instead of with a letter Vav. This implies that ohaloh is Bet El, WHICH IS CALLED a "stone made ready," as we have stated, NAMELY THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN. Furthermore, he states THAT HE REFERS TO THE NUKVA, and says, "To the place of the altar, which he had made there at first..." Of this it says, "to Hashem, who appeared to him," WHICH ALLUDES TO THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA. And then it is written, "And there Abram called in the name of Hashem." Because then he cleaved to the complete faith.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk is reinforcing the level of Malchut within all of us.

Pasook 167. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּקַדְמֵיתָא סָלֵיק מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא, דִּכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא ה' אֶל אַבְרָם, וּכְתִיב לַה' הַנִּרְאֶה אֵלָיו. וְדָא הוּא דַּרְגָּא קַדְמָאָה, כִּדְאֲמָרָן אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה. וּלְבָתַר הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ הַנֶּגְבָּה. דַּרְגָּא בָּתַר דַּרְגָּא, עַד דְּאִתְעַטַּר בַּדָּרוֹם, חוּלָקֵיהּ וְעַדְבֵיהּ. לְבָתַר סָתִים מִלָּה, כַּד סָלֵיק, וַאֲמַר לַה' סְתָם, דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה. וּמִתַּמָּן נָטֵיל בְּדַרְגִּין, וְנָחֵית מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא, וְאִתְדַּבַּק כֹּלָּא בְּאַתְרֵיהּ, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

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, At first, he rose THROUGH THE GRADES from lower to higher, as it is written, "And Hashem appeared to Abram," and "to Hashem who appeared to him." This is the first grade, as we have stated, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF a "stone made ready," NAMELY, THE GRADE OF NUKVA WHERE 'SEEING' LIES. AND FROM HERE HE ATTAINED THE NEFESH. After this it is written, "going on still toward the south," MEANING THAT HE ROSE grade after grade until he was crowned in the south, WHICH IS CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN; THIS IS his share and destiny. AND FROM HERE HE REACHED RUACH. After this, as he rose higher, the matter is concealed, and it simply says, "to Hashem," RATHER THAN, "TO HASHEM WHO APPEARED TO HIM." This is the upper world, NAMELY BINAH. AND FROM HERE HE MERITED THE NESHAMAH. He went through further grades, which means that he went down to Egypt and went up from there. Through this, he achieved the grade of Chochmah from the right side, as Chesed became Chochmah. Afterward he descended from above downward, AS IS EXPLAINED IN THE VERSE, "AND HE WENT ON HIS JOURNEYS..." and everything was properly attached to its place!

chanoch's Commentary

As Avraham journeyed to a place he connected that physical place to its spiritual source.

Pasook 168. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וְהָכָא כַּד תִּסְתַּכֵּל בְּדַרְגִּין, תִּשְׁכַּח רָזָא דְחָכְמְתָא עִלָּאָה, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיֵלֶךְ לְמַסָּעָו מִנֶּגֶב, מִסִּטְרָא דְּיָמִינָא, שֵׁירוּתָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה, סְתִימָא עֲמִיקָא לְעֵילָא, עַד אֵין סוֹף, וְנָחֵית דַּרְגָּא בָּתַר דַּרְגָּא, מִנֶּגֶב וְעַד בֵּית אֵל מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא.

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

Here, as you observe the grades THAT APPEAR IN THE SCRIPTURE, you shall find the secret of the supernal Wisdom (Chochmah) NAMELY CHOCHMAH OF THE RIGHT SIDE. As it is written, "And he went on his journeys from the Negev." THIS MEANS from the right side, WHICH IS THE SOUTH AND the beginning of the Supernal, NAMELY BINAH, concealed and unfathomed deep, reaching up to the Endless World (Heb. Ein Sof). And from there he descended, grade after grade, "from the Negev even to Bet El" (Beresheet 18:8), WHICH IS THE NUKVA.

chanoch's Commentary

This verse is explaining the Sefirot code words to relate to the physical terms used in the Zohar. With Rabbi Ashlag's comments the pasuk is clear as written.

Pasook 169. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וּכְתִיב, וַיִּקְרָא שָׁם אַבְרָם בְּשֵׁם ה'. אַדְבַּק יִחוּדָא בְּאַתְרֵיהּ, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, דִּכְתִיב, אֶל מְקוֹם הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה שָׁם בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה, מַאי אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה שָׁם. דְּסָלֵיק לָהּ מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא. וְהַשְׁתָּא נָחֵית בְּדַרְגִּין מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא, בְּגִין דְּהוּא לָא תַעֲדֵי מֵאִינוּן דַּרְגִּין עִלָּאִין, וְאִינוּן לָא יַעֲדוּן מִנָּהּ, וְיִתְיַחֵד כֹּלָּא בְּיִחוּדָא חָדָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

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 it is written, "and there Abram called in the name of Hashem," MEANING THAT he attached Unity in its proper place. As it is written, "To the place of the altar, which he had made there at first." What is THE MEANING OF "which he made there?" IT MEANS THAT FIRST he elevated THE NUKVA from below to the upper grades and now he brought her down through the grades, so that she remains attached to those supernal grades and they remain attached to her, and all become united in one as should be!

chanoch's Commentary

Through meditative contemplation this pasuk becomes clear as written.

Pasook 170. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

כְּדֵין אִתְעַטַּר אַבְרָהָם, וַהֲוָה חוּלַק עַדְבֵיהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וַדַּאי. זַכָּאִין אִינוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּמִתְעַטְּרֵי בֵּיהּ, בְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְהוּא, מִתְעַטֵּר בְּהוֹן. זַכָּאִין אִינוּן בְּעָלְמָא דֵין, וְזַכָּאִין אִינוּן בְּעָלְמָא דְאָתֵי. עֲלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב וְעַמֵּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים לְעוֹלָם יִרְשׁוּ אָרֶץ. וּכְתִיב וְאוֹרַח צַדִּיקִים כְּאוֹר נוֹגַהּ הוֹלֵךְ וְאוֹר עַד נְכוֹן הַיּוֹם.

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

Then Abraham was crowned and his destiny surly became connected with the Holy One, blessed be He. Happy are the righteous, who are crowned by the Holy One, blessed be He, and He, in turn, is crowned by them. They are happy in this world, as well as in the World to Come. Of them it is written, "Your people also shall be all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever" (Yeshayah 60:21), and "But the path of the just is like the gleam of sunlight, that shines ever more brightly until the height of noonday" (Mishlei 4:18).

chanoch's Commentary

There are a number of revelations in this pasuk that students of Kabbalah will be able to perceive threough contemplation. Among them will be the end of cycles.

Pasook 171. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

אֲזָלוּ, כַּד מָטוֹ בְּחַד בֵּי חֲקַל, יָתְבוּ. פָּתַח ר' שִׁמְעוֹן וְאָמַר, פְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵנִי וגו'. הַאי קְרָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָא בֵּיהּ, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא לֵיהּ, בְּכַמָּה אֲתַר. אֲבָל בְּהַאי קְרָא, מִלִּין סְתִימִין אִית בֵּיהּ, פְּנֵה אֵלַי. וְכִי דָוִד אֳמַר פְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵנִי.

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

They went along until they reached a field in which they sat down. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion by saying, "Turn to me and have mercy upon me..." (Tehilim 86:16). This verse should be studied. Even though we have explained it in many places, there is hidden meaning in its passages. HE ASKS, How could it be that David, WHO WAS HUMBLE, should say, "Turn to me and have mercy upon me?"

chanoch's Commentary

How can King David ask HaShem to judge him? This is one of the questions being asked.

Pasook 172. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

אֶלָּא, בְּגִין דַּרְגָּא דִילֵיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ אִתְעַטַּר בֵּיהּ קָאֲמַר, תְּנָה עֻזְךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ. תְּנָה עֻזְךָ, דָּא עֹז עִלָּאָה, כְּדִכְתִיב וְיִתֵּן עֹז לְמַלְכּוֹ. מַאן מַלְכּוֹ. דָּא מֶלֶךְ סְתָם, מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא. אוֹף הָכָא לְעַבְדֶּךָ, דָּא מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא, כִּדְאֲמָרָן מֶלֶךְ סְתָם.

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 REPLIES, He was referring to his grade, by which he is crowned. IN OTHER WORDS, HE PRAYED FOR THE SAKE OF THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN. In the verse, "give Your strength to your servant," the words "give Your strength" refer to the supernal strength, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH. As it is written, "and he shall give strength to his king" (I Shmuel 2:10). Who is his king? His king, without any specific reference, is clearly to King Messiah, NAMELY MALCHUT, WHICH IS THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN. In this passage, the words "your servant" also refer to Messiah. As we have stated, the king is mentioned without any reference; therefore it alludes to the Nukva.

chanoch's Commentary

The pasuk is clear as written with Rabbi Ashlag's comments.

Pasook 173. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Lech Lecha

וְהוֹשִׁיעָה לְבֶן אֲמָתֶךָ. וְכִי לָא הֲוָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּיִשַׁי אִיהוּ, עַד דְּאִיהוּ אֲמַר בִּשְׁמָא דְאִמֵּיהּ, וְלָא בִּשְׁמָא דַּאֲבוֹי. אֶלָא, הָא אוֹקִימְנָא, דְּכַד יֵיתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְקַבֵּל מִלָּה עִלָּאָה לְאִדְכָּרָא, בָּעֵי לְמֵהַךְ בְּמִלָּה דְּאִיהוּ וַדַּאי. וְעַל דָּא, אַדְכַּר לְאִמֵּיהּ, וְלָא לַאֲבוֹי. וְתוּ, הָא תָּנִינָן דְּדָא מֶלֶךְ כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן.

Transliteration

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Translation

About the verse, "And save the son of Your handmaid" (Tehilim 86:16), HE ASKS, Was he not the son of Jesse? If so, then why did he refer to himself as the son of his mother and not of his father? AND HE REPLIES, We have already explained that when a person comes forward to receive something lofty, he should refer only to things that are absolutely true. Therefore he mentioned his mother, WHEN HE SAID, "AND SAVE THE SON OF YOUR HANDMAID," and not his father. And furthermore, we have already learned that this refers to an unspecified king, as we said. This means that he did not pray for himself, but for the sake of the Nukva which is called 'king' with no further qualifications. This is why he mentioned his mother's name, who pertains to the Nukva, and not his father's name!

chanoch's Commentary

The pasuk is clear as written with Rabbi Ashlag's comments.