(înapoi la pagina ZOHAR CUPRINS / Lech Lecha – click)
136) That whole night when Sarah was with Pharaoh, the upper angels came to sing before the Creator with songs and praises. The Creator told them, “Go and afflict great plagues upon Egypt, as a note and a sign of what I will do later, as it is written, ‘And the Lord plagued Pharaoh … with great plagues.’”
137) “And Pharaoh called Abram and said, ‘…Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?’” How did he know that Sarah was Abram’s wife? After all, it does not say here as it does with Abimelech, “Now therefore restore the man’s wife”? Here the Creator told Pharaoh nothing.
138) It is written about Sarai, Abram’s wife, since this is what the angels said about Sarai, Abram’s wife. But the Creator did not speak with him as He spoke with Abimelech. He was only told these words, “This plague is because of Sarai Abram’s wife.”
Also, it was not the Creator who spoke to him. Rather, the striking angels said that. Then he knew that she was Abram’s wife. Promptly, “And Pharaoh called Abram.”
139) “Pharaoh commanded men concerning him,” so no man would approach to harm them, “And they sent him away,” accompanying him throughout the land of Egypt. The Creator told Pharaoh, “This is what you are destined to do with his sons. You will accompany them from your land, as it is written, ‘And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had sent the people away,’” meaning he accompanied them out of his whole country.
140) Abraham needed all that in order to increase the name of Abraham and Sarah in the world, so that even in Egypt, who were the sorcerers of the world and no one could save himself from them, there, too, Abraham’s name grew and was raised up high. It is written about it, “And Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev,” to his initial degree.
141) The writing implies to the degrees of the Egyptians, who extend the Hochma from above downwards. Abraham went down to their depths and knew them but did not cling to them but returned to his Master.
142) He was not seduced by them like Adam, who was seduced by the serpent when he reached that degree and caused death to the whole world. He was also not seduced like Noah when he came down to that degree, as it is written, “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.” “His tent” is written with the letter Hey, which is a strange woman.
143) But concerning Abraham, it is written, “And Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev.” In other words, he went up and did not descend. He returned to his place, the high degree to which he adhered in the beginning. This act was in order to instruct wisdom, to exist in complete existence as he should. He was not lured after the Egyptians but maintained his persistence and returned to his place, the Negev, which is the south wind, Hesed de ZA, the upper degree that he had held in the beginning. It is written about it, “Going on still toward the Negev.” Now, too, it is toward the Negev, the place to which he adhered in the beginning.
144) Had Abram not gone down to Egypt and had not been purified there first, he would have had no share and lot in the Creator. It was likewise with his sons when the Creator wished to make them one nation, a whole nation, and to bring them closer to Him. Had they not gone down to Egypt first and had they not been purified there, they would not have been His one nation. Similarly, had the land of holiness not been given to Canaan first, and had they not ruled it, the land would not have been the share and lot of the Creator, and it is all one.
(înapoi la pagina ZOHAR CUPRINS / Lech Lecha – click)