Daily Zohar # 5038 – Vayechi – Guarding the covenant atones for death

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Vayechi
Continued from previous DZ
#185
He said: Certainly, the exile is prolonged, and therefore the birds of the heavens, which are the ministers of the nations, are not removed from their dominion until the dominion of the idol-worshipping peoples is removed from the world. When will this be? It is at the hour when the day of the Holy One, blessed be He, arrives, and His judgments are aroused in the world, as it is written: “וְהָיָה יוֹם אֶחָד הוּא יִוָּדַע לַיהוָה”, “And it shall be one day which shall be known as YHVH’s” (Zechariah 14:7).
Notes:
The exile prolongs because the ministers of the nations (“birds of the heavens”) maintain dominion over idol-worshippers. Their removal occurs on YHVH’s unique day, when divine judgments awaken, ending foreign rule and bringing redemption.
#186
While they were walking, they heard a voice saying: The flame of the knop — that is, of Malchut, called knop — has reached its judgments. A flame came out and burned the bird.
Rabbi Yossi said: Certainly it is as it is written: “וִיהִיבַת לִיקֵדַת אֵשָׁא”, “And it was given to the burning of fire” (Daniel 7:11). The meaning is: This is written in Daniel 7 about the fourth creature of the four creatures, which hints at the nations that enslaved Israel in the four exiles. And the fourth was the last exile. And it appears that the bird mentioned above is also the aspect of that fourth creature mentioned above, about which it is written:
“וְשִׁנַּיִן דִּי-פַרְזֶל לַהּ רַבְרְבָן, אָכְלָה וּמַדֱּקָה, וּשְׁאָרָא ברגליה (בְּרַגְלַהּ) רָפְסָה”, “And it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet” (Daniel 7:7),”וְשִׁנַּיִן דִּי פַרְזֶל …”, that is, like what is said above about the bird. And therefore it also concludes in the verse: “וִיהִיבַת לִיקֵדַת אֵשָׁא”, “And it was given to the burning of fire,” said about that creature.
Notes:
The “flame of the knop” (Malchut) burns the bird, symbolizing the fourth creature of the last exile. Its devouring and stamping mirror the bird’s destructive nature, destined for fiery judgment. This reflects the ultimate downfall of oppressive nations in the final rectification.
#187
Rabbi Yossi said: The Holy One, blessed be He, did not exile Israel except at the time when faith was not found among them, which is the secret of the Shekhinah, called faith. For they damaged their covenant, and the Shekhinah departed from them. For when faith was withheld from them, it was as if it was so in all — that is, even above, the Shekhinah was separated from Zeir Anpin. As it is written: “וְכֻפַּר בְּרִיתְכֶם אֶת מָוֶת”, “And your covenant will atone for death” (Isaiah 28:18, approximate). Behold, guarding the covenant atones for death. And all the more so, it would have atoned for them so that they would not be exiled. But they damaged their covenant, and the Shekhinah departed from them, as mentioned above.
Notes:
Israel’s exile occurred when faith (Shekhinah) was lost due to damaging the covenant (brit, Yessod). Guarding the covenant atones for death and prevents exile, but its breach separates the Shekhinah from Zeir Anpin above and below, causing loss of protection.

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