Kabbalah Library

77. In the beginning, it is written, “And Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt,” and in the end, it is written, “Why should you fear?” Is it that because there is grain in Egypt, they must not be seen? What is the connection between this and that?

78. When the Creator wants to sentence the world to hunger, He does not hand this matter over to the clarion, to the angels, since all the other judgments in the world, the clarion declares them before they come to the world. But the sentence of hunger was not given to the clarion. Rather, the Creator Himself declared it and called out, as it is written, “For the Lord has summoned hunger.” From that time, other appointees are appointed over the world by the decree of hunger.

79. A person who is satiated is forbidden to show that he is satiated because he shows a flaw above and denies the word of the king, who decreed hunger. It is as though he removed the king’s appointees from their place. For this reason, Jacob said to his sons, “Why should you fear?” Why should you make a flaw above and below, denying the king’s word and all those appointees in the clarion of the king?

80. “And he said, ‘Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there,” for there you will see yourselves satiated, and do not deny the household of above here. Jacob had much grain, but he did not want to break the hunger unless among those who come, so there will be no flaw in his action, showing himself as full.