Lech Lecha: Chapter 5

"Get you out," for your sake

Synopsis

The Zohar brings to light all the supernal forces that govern the various countries and cities of our world by. Abraham masters the knowledge concerning all these diverse metaphysical intelligences that rule over and administer the cosmos. However, the Creator tells him not to direct his mind towards these supernal matters. Rather, Abraham should focus upon his spiritual work in this physical realm, placing his trust in the Creator regarding the workings of the metaphysical dimension.

Relevance

The ability to trust the Creator above the level of our rational mind and logic, radiates throughout this passage. Often, we mistake the pursuance of otherworldly mystical knowledge for the real spiritual work in this mundane world. This truth is understood through a story concerning the great sage Hillel, who was asked to reveal all the supernal mysteries and secrets of the Torah in the short time that he can remain balanced on one leg. "Love thy neighbor as thyself. All the rest is commentary. Now go and learn," the sage replied.

Abram Grades Wicked Wickedness

21. "Now Hashem said to Abraham, Get you out (lit. 'go for you')..." According to Rabbi Elazar, the phrase "Go for you," means "for yourself." IN OTHER WORDS, go out for yourself, to fulfill yourself and complete your grade. "Get you out," for you must not stay here among the wicked.

21. וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל אַבְרָם לֶךְ לְךָ. אֲמַר ר' אֶלְעָזָר, לֶךְ לְךָ: לְגַרְמָךְ, לְאַתְקָנָא גַּרְמָךְ. לְאַתְקָנָא דַּרְגָּא דִילָךְ. לֶךְ לְךָ. לֵית אַנְתְּ כְּדַאי לְמֵיקַם הָכָא, בֵּין חַיָּיבִין אִלֵּין.

Abraham Earth Scales Wind Wisdom

22. The secret BEHIND THE WORDS "Get you out" is that the Holy One, blessed be He, inspired Abraham with the spirit of wisdom. He knew how to judge the spirits (also winds) of the civilized world. He observed them, weighed them in the scales, and knew how to connect them to the powers entrusted to govern the inhabited places on earth.

22. וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה, לֶךְ לְךָ. דְּהָא קוּדְּשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, יָהִיב לֵיהּ לְאַבְרָהָם, רוּחָא דְחָכְמְתָא, וַהֲוָה יָדַע וּמְצָרֵף סִטְרֵי דְּיִישׁוּבֵי עָלְמָא, וְאִסְתַּכַּל בְּהוֹ. וְאַתְקַל בְּתִיקְלָא, וְיָדַע חֵילִין דִּי מְמַנָּן עַל סִטְרֵי יִישׁוּבָא.

Female Female Waters (Mayin Nukvin) Mayin Nukvin (Female Waters) Point Scales Waters Wisdom

23. When he reached the middle point of civilization, he weighed it in the scales, but could not reach any conclusion. THIS MEANS THAT HE ELEVATED MAYIN NUKVIN (FEMALE WATERS) IN ORDER TO DRAW DOWN THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM TO THAT PLACE, BUT DID NOT SUCCEED. He tried to see and to know what sort of power governed that place, but could not conceive it.

23. כַּד מָטָא לְגוֹ נְקוּדָה דְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא דְיִישׁוּבָא, תָּקִיל בְּתִיקְלָא וְלָא הֲוָה סָלֵיק בְּיָדֵיהּ, אַשְׁגַּח לְמִנְדַע חֵילָא דִי מְמַנָּא עֲלָהּ, וְלָא יָכִיל לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בִּרְעוּתֵיהּ.

24. He weighed a few more times before realizing that the whole world sprouts from that place and is established upon it. He observed carefully, and measured, so as to understand the subject, and concluded that the supernal force above it could not be measured, that it is deep and hidden, and that it does not resemble the different parts of the inhabited land.

24. תָּקִיל כַּמָּה זִמְנִין, וְחָמָא, דְּהָא מִתַּמָּן אִשְׁתִּיל כָּל עָלְמָא. אַשְׁגַּח וְצֵרַף וְתָקַל לְמִנְדַע, וְחָמָא, דְּהָא חֵילָא עִלָּאָה, דַּעֲלָהּ לֵית לֵיהּ שִׁעוּרָא עָמִיק וְסָתִים. וְלָאו אִיהוּ כְּגַוְונֵי דְּסִטְרֵי דַּרְגֵּי דְיִשּׁוּבָא.

Canaan Corners Nukva Point Zeir Anpin

25. He watched attentively, weighed, and realized that the middle point of the inhabited world is the point from which the whole world moves out to all its corners, WHICH MEANS THAT THE POINT GOVERNS ALL THE SFIROT OF ZEIR ANPIN AND ALL THE SFIROT OF NUKVA, WHICH ARE NAMED THE CORNERS OF THE WORLD, SINCE THE POINT IS PLACED ABOVE THEM. Similarly, he knew the power that now prevails over the point. AS A RESULT, all other powers that govern the corners of the world originate from that point and all THE SFIROT hold to it. Then "they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans, to go to the land of Canaan."

25. אַשְׁגַח וְתָקִיל, וְיָדַע, דְּהָא כַּמָּה דִּמְהַהִיא נְקוּדָה אֶמְצָעִיתָא דְּיִשּׁוּבָא, מִנֵּיהּ אִשְׁתִּיל כָּל עָלְמָא, לְכָל סִטְרוֹי. הָכֵי נָמֵי יָדַע, דְּהָא חֵילָא דְּשָׁרֵי עֲלָהּ, מִתַּמָּן נָפְקוּ כָּל שְׁאָר חֵילִין, דִּמְמַנָן עַל כָּל סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא, וְכָלְהוֹ בֵּיהּ אֲחִידָן. כְּדֵין וַיֵּצְאוּ אִתָּם מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִים לָלֶכֶת אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן.

Haran Strength

26. He continued to observe, weigh, and examine in an effort to determine the nature of that place, but he was unable to understand it and thus cleave to it. He saw the strength of that place and realized that he could not understand it, and therefore immediately "they came to Charan, and dwelt there" (Beresheet 11:31).

26. עוֹד אַשְׁגַּח וְתָקֵיל וְצָרֵיף, לְמֵיקַם עַל בְּרִירָא דְמִלָּה, דְּהַהוּא אֲתַר, וְלָא הֲוָה יָדַע, וְלָא יָכִיל לְמֵיקַם עֲלָהּ לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא תּוּקְפָא דְּהַאי אֲתַר, וְלָא יָכִיל לְמֵיקַם עֲלֵיהּ, מִיָּד וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד חָרָן וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם.

Abraham Astrology Canaan Constellation Directions Haran Point Stars

27. HE ASKS, Why did Abraham DELAY IN CHARAN AND NOT LEAVE THERE IMMEDIATELY, "TO GO TO THE LAND OF CANAAN," AS IT IS WRITTEN, "AND THEY DWELT THERE?" AND HE ANSWERS, Abraham knew and checked all the governors and rulers of the world that had dominion over the entire civilized world. And he was examining all those who govern and rule over the directions of the world's inhabited land, all those that have dominion over the stars and the constellations. He learned how they exercise their power over one another. In considering all the inhabited places in the world, he did well. But when he reached that place, THE POINT OF MALCHUT, he saw the force of the depths. And he could not withstand it.

27. מַאי טַעְמָא דְאַבְרָהָם. אֶלָּא, דְּאִיהוּ הֲוָה יָדַע וְצָרֵיף בְּכָל אִינוּן שָׁלְטָנִין מְדַבְּרֵי עָלְמָא, בְּכָל סִטְרוֹ דְיִשּׁוּבָא. וַהֲוָה תָּקֵיל וְצָרֵיף אִינוּן דְּשָׁלְטִין בְּסִטְרֵי דְיִשּׁוּבָא מְדַבְּרֵי כֹּכְבַיָא וּמַזָּלֵיהוֹן, מַאן אִינוּן תַּקִּיפִין, אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין, וַהֲוָה תָּקֵיל כָּל יִשּׁוּבֵי דְעָלְמָא, וַהֲוָה סָלֵיק בִּידוֹי. כַּד מָטָא לְהַאי אֲתַר, חָמָא תַּקִּיפוּ דַּעֲמִיקִין, וְלָא יָכִיל לְמֵיקַם בֵּיהּ.

Abraham

28. As soon as the Holy One, blessed be He, noticed his awakening and his passion, He immediately revealed Himself to Abraham and said, "Get you out" in order to learn about and perfect yourself.

28. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אִתְעֲרוּתָא דִילֵיהּ, וְתֵיאוּבְתָּא דִילֵיהּ, מִיָּד אִתְגְּלֵי עֲלֵיהּ, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ, לֶךְ לְךָ. לְמִנְדַע לָךְ, וּלְאַתְקָנָא גַּרְמָךְ.

Birth Wisdom

29. The words "Your country," AS USED WHEN HE SAID TO HIM, "GET YOU OUT," referred to that side of the inhabited world to which he was attached. THIS IS THE RIGHT SIDE ONLY; THE LEFT SIDE IS NOT INCLUDED. THE WORDS "and from your kindred," MEAN THAT HE TOLD HIM, "GET YOU OUT" from that Wisdom with which you study your horoscope, determined by watching and examining the moment, hour, and time of your birth, and the planet and the sign under which you were born. ALL OF THIS IS RELATED TO THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT SIDE AND IS NOT INCLUDED WITHIN THE RIGHT.

29. מֵאַרְצְךָ. מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא דְיִשּׁוּבָא דַּהֲוֵית מִתְדַּבַּק בֵּיהּ. וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ מֵהַהוּא חָכְמָה, דְּאַתְּ מַשְׂגַּח, וְתָקִיל תּוֹלְדָתָא דִילָךְ, וְרִגְעָא וְשַׂעֲתָא וְזִמְנָא, דְּאִתְיְילִידַת בֵּיהּ, וּבְהַהוּא כּוֹכָבָא, וּבְהַהוּא מַזָּלָא.

Haran House Wisdom

30. The verse, "And from your father's house," MEANS THAT HE TOLD HIM "GET YOU OUT" and never look upon your father's house again, REFERRING TO CHARAN, AND NEVER SEEK TO DISCOVER if the root of your success in the world is from your father's house. Therefore, "Get you out" of this wisdom and this observance.

30. וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ. דְּלָא תַשְׁגַּח בְּבֵיתָא דַּאֲבוּךְ. וְאִי אִית לָךְ שָׁרְשָׁא לְאַצְלָחָא בְּעָלְמָא, מִבֵּיתָא דַּאֲבוּךְ, בְּגִין כָּךְ לֶךְ לְךָ, מֵחָכְמָה דָּא וּמֵאַשְׁגָּחוּתָא דָּא.

Haran Judgment Point

31. Come and behold, it is indeed so! Because they had already left Ur of the Chaldeans and were in Charan, why should He say to him, "Get you out of your country, and from your kindred?" FOR HE HAS ALREADY LEFT UR OF THE CHALDEANS, WHICH IS HIS COUNTRY AND FAMILY. Therefore, the main point has to be, as previously stated, THAT THE MEANING OF "YOUR COUNTRY" IS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE RIGHT WITHOUT THE LEFT, AND "YOUR KINDRED" IS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT WITHOUT THE RIGHT. "To the land that I will show you" MEANS THAT "I will show you" what you were not able to conceive - BECAUSE OF THE JUDGMENTS OF THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LEFT - and were not able to know about the power of that land, NAMELY MALCHUT, which is deep and hidden.

31. תָּא חֲזֵי. דְּהָכֵי הוּא, דְּהָא נָפְקוּ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים, וַהֲווֹ בְּחָרָן, אַמַּאי יֵימָא לֵיהּ לֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ. אֶלָּא עִקְּרָא דְמִלְּתָא, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמָר. אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ. אַרְאֶךָּ, מַה דְּלָא יְכֵילַת לְמֵיקַם עֲלֵיהּ, וְלָא יְכֵילַת לְמִנְדַע חֵילָא דְּהַהִיא אַרְעָא, דְּאִיהוּ עָמִיק וְסָתִים.

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