Vayetze
Angel of Death Angels Death Death and the Afterlife Female Gates Male Samael Serpent Shadow

288. "Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death." HE ASKS, What are the gates of death, and what are the gates of the shadow of death? HE ANSWERS, They are as one, joined together LIKE MALE AND FEMALE ARE JOINED TO BE ONE. We learned that "death" means the Angel of Death. It has already been explained TO BE THE SECRET OF THE SERPENT, WHICH IS FEMALE. The shadow of death is he who rides upon death, NAMELY, SAMAEL WHO RIDES UPON THE SERPENT. It is its shadow and gives it the power to be united into one bond. And so they are one.

288. וְשַׁעֲרֵי צַלְמָוֶת תִּרְאֶה. מַאן אִינוּן שַׁעֲרֵי מָוֶת ומַאן אִינוּן שַׁעֲרֵי צַלְמָוֶת. אֶלָּא מָוֶת וְצַלְמָוֶת כַּחֲדָא אִינוּן, וְזִוּוּגָא חָדָא אִינוּן. מָוֶת הָא אִתְּמָר, דָּא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ. צַלְמָוֶת: צֵל מָוֶת. הַאי אִיהוּ מַאן דְּרָכֵיב עֲלֵיהּ, וְאִיהוּ צִלָּא דדִילֵיהּ, וְתוֹקְפָא דִיללֵיהּ, לְאִזְדַּוְּגָא כַּחֲדָא, בְּקִשּׁוּרָא חַד וְאִינוּן חַד.