Kabbalah Library
Zohar for All, Volume 10
And a Man from Bethlehem Went
85. “And it came to pass, in the days when the judges judged, and there was famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem went to Judah.” When the judgment comes to the city, one should remove oneself from that city, since permission has been given to the angel of death. He does not make distinctions in people, and may harm a person he meets.
86. When Elimelech saw that judgment has come to the world, he immediately fled, to run away from the judgment. Nevertheless, he did not run from it because the judgment caught up with him. He was the greatest of the generation, and was recognized above, and anyone who is recognized above is caught first.
87. It is written about the Shunamite, “And she said, ‘I dwell among my people.’” It follows that one should put one’s head among the many, and not be registered alone.
88. At first, it is written, “And a man went,” simply, without specifying his name, since he wanted to hide himself so as not to be recognized. The quality of judgment recognized him and said, “And the name of the man was Elimelech,” who is a recognized and registered person and should not be in hiding or to hide himself; is this not Elimelech, the leader of the people? Is this not Elimelech, who closed his eyes before the deeds of the people?”
89. At that time, the Creator was sentencing the world, and the courthouse of above was standing, and the Creator was hiding him and said, “And a man went,” simply. The quality of judgment stood and reminded Him, as it is written, “And the name of the man was Elimelech.” Promptly, the judgment was passed on him and on his sons, as it is written, “And Elimelech died.”
90. Elimelech, who did not know that he was Elimelech, and why was his name mentioned? Because he saw that the generation was contemptuous toward the great ones, he said, “Indeed, I shall go from here and will not be caught among them.” Elimelech was the greatest of the generation and had the ability to protest, to prevent them from sinning, but he did not protest and went from there, and fled. This is why his name was mentioned and he was punished.
91. Wherever it is written, “And it came to pass in the days…” it expresses sorrow. Elimelech was like a king. Since he recognized that the judgment has come into the land, he omitted himself from Israel and went to live among the nations, for he thought that among them, he would not be judged. The quality of judgment stood and mentioned him, and he was caught.
