Zohar Toldot - Section 7 - "And the Children Struggled Within Her"

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

Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Toldot Section 7

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 story of Esau and Jacob is illuminated using an analogy with man's body and internal organs. The "children struggling together within her" refers to the brain and heart. Their struggle for primacy between these two is metaphorically expressed in Esau's selling his birthright to Jacob in exchange for porridge, which signifies the world. We also learn that the Heart and Liverheart and liver are the most important organs. Next, the Rabbis more deeply explore the nature of life after the Resurrection, identifying the elements of our prior existence that will still be present after the Final Redemption.

THE RELEVANCE OF THE PASSAGE:

Man is inclined to sacrifice long-term fulfillment and well-being for immediate ego gratification. This is the true significance of Esau selling his birthright to his brother. We settle for bowls of porridge every day, blinded by the moment, carrying only for our self interestself-interest at the expense of our loved ones. Moreover, we delude ourselves with the belief that our selfish actions are really for the sake of our families. This delusion is fabricated by the dark side of our nature. This passage removes the veils of illusion, giving us the strength and foresight not to sell our souls when temptation for self-indulgence arises.

Pasook 58. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Toldot

כַּד אֲתָא רַב כַּהֲנָא אֲמַר, הָכֵי אָמְרִין מִשְּׁמֵיהוֹן דְּמָארֵי מַתְנִיתָּא, תְּרֵי בִּנְיָינִין דְּגוּפָא אִינוּן, כַּבְדָא וְלִבָּא, דַּאֲמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אֲמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, כַּבְדָא וְלִבָּא, אִינוּן מְנַהֲגֵי גוּפָא בְּכָל סִטְרֵי אֵבָרוֹי, מְנַהֲגָא דְרֵישָׁא מוֹחָא, אֲבָל דְּגוּפָא אִינוּן תְּרֵין, וְקַדְמָאָה הוּא כַּבְדָא, תִּנְיָינָא לִבָּא. וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב בְּפָרְשָׁתָא, וַיִּתְרוֹצֲצוּ הַבָּנִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ אִלֵּין תְּרֵין בִּנְיָינֵי דְגוּפָא.

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

When Rav Kahana arrived, he said that this was said in the name of those versed in the Mishnah. The body is built upon the liver and the heart. As Rabbi Yehuda said, the heart and the liver are the leaders of the various organs of the body. The leaders of the head is the brain, but there are two leaders in the body. The first is the liver and the second is the heart. This is the meaning of the verse, "And the children struggled together within her." These are the two foundations of the body: the brain and the heart.

chanoch's Commentary

There are 3 leaders in the human being. The liver is the left column. Is the brain right column or central column? Is the heart right column or central column?

Pasook 59. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Toldot

מַאי טַעְמָא וַיִּתְרוֹצֲצוּ. מִשּׁוּם דְּלִבָּא אִתְנְשֵׁי מִנֵּיהּ יֵצֶר הָרָע. וַיִּתְרוֹצֲצוּ וַיִּשְׁלָיוּ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא אֲמַר רַב הוּנָא, וַיִּתְרוֹצֲצוּ וַיִּשָּׁבְרוּ, כְּלוֹמַר, נִשְׁבַּר כֹּחָם וְחֵילָם. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, הַגּוּף מַהוּ אוֹמֵר, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה זֶה אָנֹכִי, וְלָמָּה נִבְרֵאתִּי. מִיָּד וַתֵּלֶךְ לִדְרשׁ אֶת ה'.

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 ASKS, Why did THE HEART AND THE LIVER struggle? AND HE REPLIED, Because the Evil Inclination was abolished from the heart. HE THEN WONDERED WHY, IF THE EVIL INCLINATION WAS ABOLISHED, IT IS WRITTEN, "Struggled." It should have been written, 'And they were at peace'. Rav Huna explained that "struggled" means that the strength and vigor OF THE HEART AND LIVER, THE LEADERS OF THE BODY, were broken, BECAUSE THE EVIL INCLINATION WAS REMOVED. Rabbi Yehuda asks, What does the body say then? The body asks, 'If it be so, why am I thus?' and 'Why was I created?' Immediately, "she went to inquire of Hashem" (Beresheet 25:22).

chanoch's Commentary

There is a spiritual process for human beings revealed here. Before someone can find out one's purpose in life one must vanquish the evil inclination within the character traits of that purpose. It also indicates a method to determine that persons spiritual level.

Pasook 60. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Toldot

וַיֹּאמֶר ה' לָהּ שְׁנֵי גוֹיִם בְּבִטְנֵךְ וּשְׁנֵי לְאֻמִּים וגו'. אֵלּוּ הַשְּׁנֵי גֵאִים, הַכָּבֵד וְהַלֵּב. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר, הַמּוֹחַ וְהַלֵּב. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר, הַמּוֹחַ אֵין בִּכְלַל זֶה, מַשְׁמַע דִּכְתִיב בְּבִטְנֵךְ, וְהַמּוֹחַ אֵין בַּבֶּטֶן אֶלָּא בָּרֹאשׁ. וּשְׁנֵי לְאוּמִּים מִמֵּעַיִךְ וגו', וְרַב יַעֲבוֹד צָעִיר, זֶהוּ הַכָּבֵד, שֶׁהוּא רַב וְגָדוֹל, וְהוּא מְשַׁמֵּשׁ לִפְנֵי הַלֵּב, דְּאָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, הַכָּבֵד קוֹלֵט הַדָּם, וּמְשַׁמֵּשׁ בּוֹ לִפְנֵי הַלֵּב.

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 Hashem said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples'" (Beresheet 25:23). These are the two proud ones, the liver and the heart. Rabbi Yosi said that these are the brain and the heart, but Rabbi Yehuda said, The brain is not included in this, for it is written, "in your womb (lit. 'belly')," and the brain is not in the belly, but in the head. "And two peoples from your bowels and the elder (lit. 'great') shall serve the younger." This is the liver, which is great and big, and which serves the heart, as Rabbi Yehuda said, The liver receives the blood, and serves it to the heart!

chanoch's Commentary

This verse is clear as it is written.

Pasook 61. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Toldot

וַיֵּצֵא הָרִאשׁוֹן אַדְמוֹנִי. אָמַר רַב כַּהֲנָא, הַכָּבֵד הוּא הָרִאשׁוֹן וְהוּא אַדְמוֹנִי, לָמָּה הוּא אַדְמוֹנִי, עַל שֶׁבּוֹלֵעַ אֶת הַדָּם תְּחִלָּה. רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ רִאשׁוֹן, עַל שֶׁהוּא רִאשׁוֹן, לִבְלוֹעַ הַדָּם, מִכָּל הַמַּאֲכָל, וְהוּא רִאשׁוֹן לַדָּם אֲבָל לֹא לַיְצִירָה. וּבְמַאן נוֹקִים וְרַב יַעֲבוֹד צָעִיר, עַל שֶׁהוּא רַב וְגָדוֹל בְּשִׁעוּרוֹ מִן הַלֵּב, וְהוּא עוֹבֵד לַלֵּב. אֲמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, לָמָּה אֲתָא פָּרְשָׁתָא דָא, אֶלָּא לְאַחֲזָאָה לִבְנֵי עַלְמָא, דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּהַהִיא שְׁלֵימוּתָא לֶיהֱוֵי בְּאַרְעָא, אָרְחֵיהּ וְטִבְעֵיהּ דְּעַלְמָא לָא אִשְׁתַּנֵּי. רִבִּי יֵיסָא אֲמַר בֹּא וּרְאֵה הַכָּבֵד הוּא הַצָּד צַיִד וְהוּא צַיִד בְּפִיו, וְהַלֵּב הוּא הַחוֹשֵׁב, וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים הה"ד וַיָּזֶד יַעֲקֹב נָזִיד, חוֹשֵׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת, נוֹשֵׂא וְנוֹתֵן בַּתּוֹרָה.

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 the first came out red" (Beresheet 25:21). Rav Kahana explained that the liver is the first and is red. Why is it red? Because it is first to swallow the blood. Rabbi Eliezer asks, Why is it called 'first'? Because it is the first to swallow the blood from all the food; the first in blood but not in creation. And why is it that "the great shall serve the younger?" Because despite its being greater and bigger in size than the heart, it serves the heart. Rabbi Aba then asks, What is the purpose of this text if not to teach the people in the world that though there will be perfection upon earth, the path and nature of the world will not change? Rabbi Yisa said, Come and behold. The liver hunts and has venison in its mouth, while the heart contemplates and is "dwelling in tents" (Ibid. 27). As it is written, "And Jacob cooked pottage" (Ibid. 29), while thinking deep thoughts and occupying himself with the Torah.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk makes the codewords clear and able to be understood.

Pasook 62. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Toldot

וַיָּזֶד יַעֲקֹב נָזִיד. רִבִּי בָּא בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי אַחָא אָמַר, לְעוֹלָם טִבְעוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אֵינוֹ מִשְׁתַּנֶּה, בֹּא וּרְאֵה, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיָּזֶד יַעֲקֹב נָזִיד, כְּדָּבָר אֲחֵר אֲשֶׁר זָדוּ עֲלֵיהֶם, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ דַּחֲשִׁיבוּ. כְּלוֹמַר, הַלֵּב חוֹשֵׁב וּמְהַרְהֵר בַּתּוֹרָה, בִּידִיעַת בּוֹרְאוֹ, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיָּבֹא עֵשָׂו מִן הַשָּׂדֶה וְהוּא עָיֵף. הַכָּבֵד שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ טִבְעוֹ, לָצֵאת וְלָצוּד צַיִד בְּפִיו לִבְלוֹעַ, וְאֵינוֹ מוֹצֵא, נִקְרָא עָיֵף, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לַלֵּב, עַד שֶׁאַתָּה מְהַרְהֵר בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ בְּד"ת, הַרְהֵר בַּאֲכִילָה וּבִשְּׁתִיָּה, לְקַיֵּים גּוּפְךָ, הה"ד, וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו אֶל יַעֲקֹב הַלְעִיטֵנִי נָא מִן הָאָדֹם הָאָדֹם הַזֶּה, כִּי כֵן דַּרְכִּי לִבְלוֹעַ הַדָּם, וּלְשַׁגֵּר לִשְׁאָר הָאֵבָרִים, כִּי עָיֵף אָנֹכִי, בְּלֹא אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה. וְהַלֵּב אוֹמֵר, תֵּן לִי הָרִאשׁוֹן וְהַמּוּבְחָר מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁתִּבְלַע, תֵּן לִי בְּכוֹרָתְךָ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב מִכְרָה כַיּוֹם אֶת בְּכוֹרָתְךָ לִי, קוֹנְמִיתָא דְּתָאִיבָא, עַד שֶׁהַלֵּב מְהַרְהֵר וְחוֹשֵׁב בַּמַּאֲכָל, בּוֹלֵעַ הַכָּבֵד, דְּאִלְמָלֵי הַהוּא כִּסּוּפָא וְהִרְהוּרָא דְּלִבָּא בַּמַּאֲכָל, לֹא יוּכְלוּ הַכָּבֵד, וְהָאֵבָרִים לִבְלוֹעַ דְּאָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ הָעֲבָדִים, שֶׁאֵינָם אוֹכְלִים עַד שֶׁהָאָדוֹן אוֹכֵל.

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 Jacob cooked pottage." In the name of Rabbi Acha, Rabbi Bo said that the nature of the world never changes. Come and behold, it is written, "And Jacob cooked pottage (Heb. nazid)," as in the verse "they dealt (Heb. zadu)" (Shemot 18:11), which was translated into Aramaic as "they thought." It means that the heart thinks of and contemplates Torah, which represents the knowledge of its Creator. Thus, it is written, "and Esau came from the field, and he was faint" (Beresheet 25:29). It is the nature of the liver to go out hunting and swallow with its mouth. If it does not find any prey, it becomes tired and says to the heart, 'Before you think of the words of Torah, think of eating and drinking to nourish your body.' This is the meaning of the verse, "and Esau said to Jacob 'Give me to swallow, I pray you, of that red pottage,'" for it is my way to swallow the blood and transmit it to the other parts; "for I am faint," without food and drink. And the heart replies, 'Give me the first and choicest of whatever you swallow, give me your birthright,' this is the meaning of "Sell me this day your birthright" (Ibid. 31). That is, swear by your desire. As the heart contemplates food, the liver swallows. If it were not for the heart, longing and thinking about food, the liver and other organs would not be able to swallow. As Rabbi Yosi said, This is the way of slaves, who do not to eat before their master.

chanoch's Commentary

This pasuk gives us insight into the relationship between spiritual and physical cause and effect.

Pasook 63. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Toldot

אָמַר רָבִּי יוֹסֵי, כְּתִיב לְאַחַר כֵּן, וְיַעֲקֹב נָתַן לְעֵשָׂו לֶחֶם וּנְזִיד עֲדָשִׁים, מַהוּ עֲדָשִׁים, סְגַלְגַּלִּין כְּגֻלְגַּלְתָּא, וְגַלְגַּלָּא סָבֵיב בְּעַלְמָא, כְּלוֹמַר, דְּלָא אִתְנְשֵׁי מֵאָרְחֵיהּ. כָּךְ הוּא בַּר נָשׁ, בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא אַף עַל גָּב דְּכָל הַהוּא טִיבוּ, וִיקָר וּשְׁלֵימוּתָא לֶיהֱוֵי, אָרְחֵיהּ דְּעַלְמָא לְמֵיכַל וּלְמִשְׁתֵי לָא יִתְנְשֵׁי.

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 Yosi said, It is later written, "Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils" (Beresheet 25:34). What are these lentils? HE ANSWERS, They are round as a circle, and as the circle which revolves around the world does not deviate from its path, so man in that time will never deviate from his. Although there will yet be all that is good and precious and perfect, with all that, the worldly habit of eating and drinking will not change.

chanoch's Commentary

Initially, The body will still need physical food because the spiritual communication with the body does not change with coming of Mashiach.

Pasook 64. from the Zohar Sulam Commentary on Parasha Toldot

מַתְנִיתִין, תְּנַן אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם מְנַשְּׁבָן, וְעָתִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְהִתְעוֹרֵר רוּחַ אֶחָד, לְקַיֵּם הַגּוּף, שֶׁיְהֵא כְּלוּל מִד' רוּחוֹת, הה"ד מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת בֹּאִי הָרוּחַ, בְּאַרְבַּע לָא כְתִיב, אֶלָּא מֵאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁיְהֵא כָּלוּל מֵאַרְבַּעְתָּם. וְתָאנָא, אוֹתוֹ הָרוּחַ, הוּא רוּחַ הַמּוֹלִיד, הוּא הָרוּחַ הָאוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה וְאֵין בֵּין הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ, אֶלָּא שִׁעְבּוּד מַלְכֻיּוֹת בִּלְבָד, וְאֵין בֵּין עוֹלָם הַזֶּה, לִתְחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים, אֶלָּא נְקִיּוּת וְהַשָּׂגַת יְדִיעָה. רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר וַאֲרִיכוּת יָמִים.

Transliteration

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Translation

We learned in the Mishnah that four winds blow in the world, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will raise one spirit to establish the body to include four spirits, as it is written, "Come from the four winds, O breath" (or: spirit) (Yechezkel 37:9). It is not written, 'in the four,' but, "from the four winds," for it will be composed of the four of them. We learned that this spirit (or: wind) is the wind that procreates, the wind that eats and drinks. And there is no difference between this world and the days of Messiah's coming, save the delivery from servitude to the empires alone, and there is no difference between this world and the resurrection of the dead, save cleanliness and the attainment of knowledge. Rav Nachman added longevity.

chanoch's Commentary

how does this pasuk impact how you see the world and your expectations about the coming of Mashiach?