The Book of Zohar. Chapter “Commandments Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen”

The Book of ZoharThe Book of Zohar. Chapter “The Eleventh Commandment” (abridged)

244. The eleventh Commandment is to give a tithe of the fruits of the earth. Here there are two Commandments: to separate a tithe of the fruits of the earth (desires that are impossible to correct), and to bring the first fruits of the trees (fruits of the earth), as it is written, “Behold, I have given you every herb-yielding seed.” Here it is written, “I HAVE GIVEN YOU.” Elsewhere it is written, “And to the children of Levi, behold, I HAVE GIVEN all the tithe.” It is also written, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Creator’s.”

“The Twelfth Commandment” (abridged)
245. The twelfth Commandment is to bring the first fruits of the trees as an offering, as it is written, “And every tree in which there is fruit of a tree yielding seed.” All that is worthy of Me shall not be eaten by you. I have given you My permission and I have given you all the tithe and offerings of the trees. “To you,” and not to the subsequent generations.

“The Thirteenth Commandment” (abridged)
246. The thirteenth Commandment is to perform the redemption of a first-born son (the beginning of any degree) so as to strengthen him in (spiritual) life. For there are two appointed angels in charge: one over life (goodness, bestowal) and one over death (evil, reception). And they both (the two lines) rule over man from Above (the good and evil inclinations). And when man redeems his son (correction of one through the other), he redeems him from the angel in charge of death (transforms the evil force to good), so that the angel can no longer govern the first-born son. Hence, it is written, AND THE CREATOR SAW EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD MADE – this is in general, AND, BEHOLD, IT WAS… VERY GOOD – this alludes to the angel of life (qualities of Bina, bestowal, bestowal for the sake of bestowal), while the word VERY alludes to the angel of death (when egoism is corrected to goodness, bestowal, reception for the sake of bestowal). Therefore, by this act of redemption, the angel of life is strengthened and the angel of death is weakened. (Spiritual) life is purchased by this redemption, for the evil side leaves him and clings to him no more.

Related Material:

Discussion | Share Feedback | Ask a question




Laitman.com Comments RSS Feed