Kabbalah Library

280. During the days of David, there was a famine for three years, in order to notify him that the matter was because of a judgment, that King Saul killed the Gibeonites, as it is written, “Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the Lord,” until the judgment was completed. When it was completed, promptly, “And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.”

281. The whole world drinks only from the extract of the Land of Israel. When the world is visited, Israel is visited first, when there is no one to save it and protect it.

282. Elimelech was righteous; he could have protected the inhabitants of the world, but he escaped among the other nations. This is why he was punished and died, and his sons came and took foreign wives from other nations, and were punished.