R. Eleazar remarked that all these verses contain deep lessons, based on what we have learned from tradition, to wit, that some blessings from above are obtained by action, some by speech, and others by devotion. So that whoever wishes to draw down to himself blessings must exercise prayer, which consists of speech and devotion; yet there are blessings that cannot be obtained by prayer, but only by action.
Observe that Jacob, the simple man, acted throughout with wisdom. AND HE SET THE RODS —we read— WHICH HE HAD PEELED OVER AGAINST THE FLOCKS IN THE GUTTERS IN THE WATERING TROUGHS. This was all done with esoteric wisdom so as to draw benedictions from the chief well-spring that waters all the supernal grades which were his lot and portion.
The rods were symbolic of the grades embodying judgement, which he had “peeled”, that is, the severity of which he had mollified. “In the gutters” (rehatim) finds its echo in the passage: “The king is bound to the gutters (rehatim)” (S. S. 7, 5), indicating that the supernal King is tied and bound to those supernal aqueducts whence flow benedictions for all,
“Flowing in the watering troughs”; to wit, in the rivers and brooks that flow on until they reach their final reservoir. Again, “where the flocks came to drink” is parallel with the verse: “They give drink to every animal of the field, the wild asses quench their thirst” (Ps. 104, 11), both alluding to the reservoir, the gathering place of all the waters whereto all resort to drink.
“And they were heated” (vayehamnah). When the north wind blows, the waters become frozen, they stop flowing, so that no one comes to drink of them. This is the time when judgement impends over the world, and the cold of the North freezes the waters. But when the south wind arises, the waters become warmer, and, the ice being melted, flow on their way, and all come to drink of them; for the southern warmth having caused the waters to thaw, all come to drink with relish the waters after they have been freed from the icy grip of the North.
אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר כָּל הַנֵּי קְרָאֵי, לְאַחֲזָאָה חָכְמָתָא קָא אַתְיָין. דְּתָנִינָן מִלִּין דִּלְעֵילָא, מִנְּהוֹן תַּלְיָין בְּעוֹבָדָא, וּמִנְהוֹן בְּמִלּוּלָא וּמִנְּהוֹן בִּרְעוּתָא דְלִבָּא. וּמַאן דְּבָעֵי לְאַמְשָׁכָא בִּרְכָאן, בִּצְלוֹתָא, בְּמִלּוּלָא, וּרְעוּתָא. וּמִנְּהוֹן דְּלָא בִּצְלוֹתָא, אֶלָּא בְּעוֹבָדָא תַּלְיָין.
R. Eleazar remarked that all these verses contain deep lessons, based on what we have learned from tradition, to wit, that some blessings from above are obtained by action, some by speech, and others by devotion. So that whoever wishes to draw down to himself blessings must exercise prayer, which consists of speech and devotion; yet there are blessings that cannot be obtained by prayer, but only by action.
תָּא חֲזֵי, יַעֲקֹב שְׁלִים, כָּל מַה דְּעֲבַד, בְּחָכְמְתָא עָבִיד, כְּתִיב (בראשיתל) וַיַּצֵּג אֶת הַמַּקְלוֹת אֲשֶׁר פִּצֵּל בָּרְהָטִים בְּשִׁקַּתוֹת הַמַּיִם, כֹּלָּא בְּחָכְמְתָא, לְאַמְשָׁכָא בִּרְכָאן מִמַּבּוּעָא דְכֹלָּא, לְכֻלְּהוּ דַּרְגִּין עִלָּאִין דְּאִינוּן חוּלָקֵיהּ וְעַדְבֵיהּ.
Observe that Jacob, the simple man, acted throughout with wisdom. AND HE SET THE RODS —we read— WHICH HE HAD PEELED OVER AGAINST THE FLOCKS IN THE GUTTERS IN THE WATERING TROUGHS. This was all done with esoteric wisdom so as to draw benedictions from the chief well-spring that waters all the supernal grades which were his lot and portion.
אֶת הַמַּקְלוֹת. מַאן מַקְלוֹת, אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין דְּאִינוּן בֵּי דִינָא. אֲשֶׁר פִּצֵּל, דְּאַעֲבַר מִנְּהוֹן דִּינָא. בָּרְהָטִים, הַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב, (שיר השירים ז׳:ו׳) מֶלֶךְ אָסוּר בָּרְהָטִים, דְּהָא מֵהַהוּא מֶלֶךְ, אַתְיָין בִּרְכָאן לְכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין.
The rods were symbolic of the grades embodying judgement, which he had “peeled”, that is, the severity of which he had mollified. “In the gutters” (rehatim) finds its echo in the passage: “The king is bound to the gutters (rehatim)” (S. S. 7, 5), indicating that the supernal King is tied and bound to those supernal aqueducts whence flow benedictions for all,
דָבָר אַחֵר מֶלֶךְ אָסוּר בָּרְהָטִים, מֶלֶךְ דָּא, אָסוּר וְקָשׁוּר בְּאִינוּן רְהָטִין עִלָּאִין, דְּמִנַּיְיהוּ אִשְׁתַּקְיָין כֹּלָּא, (נ"א אתמשכן ברכאן לכולא) מִמֶּלֶךְ עִלָּאָה. בְּשִׁקַּתוֹת הַמַּיִם, (ס"א ומתמן אשתקיין כלא שקתות המים), אִלֵּין אִינוּן נַחֲלִין דְּנָפְקִין וְאַתְיָין, עַד דְּמָטוּ לְאֲתַר דְּמִתְכַּנְשֵׁי תַּמָּן. אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹאנָה הַצֹּאן לִשְׁתּוֹת, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (תהילים ק״ד:י״א) יַשְׁקוּ כָּל חַיְתוֹ שָׂדָי יִשְׁבְּרוּ פְרָאִים צְמָאָם. וּבְהַהוּא אֲתַר, דְּמִתְכַּנְשֵׁי תַּמָּן מַיָא, כֻּלְּהוּ אַתְיָין לְאַשְׁקָאָה מִנֵּיהּ.
“Flowing in the watering troughs”; to wit, in the rivers and brooks that flow on until they reach their final reservoir. Again, “where the flocks came to drink” is parallel with the verse: “They give drink to every animal of the field, the wild asses quench their thirst” (Ps. 104, 11), both alluding to the reservoir, the gathering place of all the waters whereto all resort to drink.
(בראשית ל) וַיֵּחַמְנָה, מַאי וַיֵּחַמְנָה. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְרוּחַ צָפוֹן נָשִׁיב, מַיִין גְּלִידִין וְלָא נָגְדִין לְבַר וְלָא אִשְׁתַּקְיָין, בְּגִין דְּדִינָא תַּלְיָא, וּקְרִירוּ דְּצָפוֹן גָּלִיד מַיָא. וְכַד אִתְעַר רוּחַ דָּרוֹם, מִתְחַמְמֵי מַיָא, וְאִתְעֲבַר גְּלִידוּ דִּלְהוֹן וְנָגְדִין, כְּדֵין אִתְשַׁקְיָין כֹּלָּא. בְּגִין דְּחֲמִימוּ דְּדָרוֹם שָׁרָאן מַיָא, וְכֻלְּהוּ מִתְחַמְמֵי וְחָדָאן לְמִשְׁתֵּי מֵהַהוּא קְרִירוּ דְּצָפוֹן, דְּהֲוָה לוֹן בְּקַדְמִיתָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיֵּחַמְנָה. וַיֵּחַמְנָה, וְהָא (ולא) כְּתִיב וַיֶּחֱמוּ. אֶלָּא דְּאִינוּן כֻּלְּהוּ נוּקְבֵי.
“And they were heated” (vayehamnah). When the north wind blows, the waters become frozen, they stop flowing, so that no one comes to drink of them. This is the time when judgement impends over the world, and the cold of the North freezes the waters. But when the south wind arises, the waters become warmer, and, the ice being melted, flow on their way, and all come to drink of them; for the southern warmth having caused the waters to thaw, all come to drink with relish the waters after they have been freed from the icy grip of the North.