Kabbalah Library

140. “And the name of his two sons were Machlon and Kilayon.” He was called Machlon because the Creator Machal [forgave] him after his death, when his wife married his brother, since he was protesting to his father and advocating before him over the sentences. He was called Kilayon [annihilation] because he was Nichle [annihilated] from the world.

141. As they were, so were their wives. Orpa was sentenced after her name, for being stiff necked [Oreph means neck in Hebrew], for not wanting to be a part of Israel, as it is written, “For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face,” and the sages said, “Since she turned her back to her mother-in-law.”

142.Ruth is named after Thor, who is like the minister over the altar. So was Ruth, fit to join the congregation, and the rule “Ammonite [man] and not Ammonite [woman], Moabite [man] and not Moabite [woman],” meaning that the females are permitted to join the congregation. Ruth, since a son came out from her who gave plentiful singing and praising to the Creator.

143. Ruth, the wife of Machlon, joined the congregation. Her husband, Machlon, since the Creator forgave him, so his name would be remembered through the levirate marriage. Orpa, the wife of Kilayon, did not join the congregation, for the Creator annihilated them, and the name of Kilayon is not mentioned in Israel.

144. For this correction, Naomi is Neshama, Elimelech is Neshama to Neshama, Machlon is the noetic Ruach; Ruth is the noetic Nefesh. Kilayon is the beastly Ruach, and Solomon said about that, “Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?” The Ruach [spirit] of man is Machlon, the Ruach of the beast is Kilayon, from the left side. Orpa is the beastly Nefesh [psyche], making her neck stiff, from the left side. For this reason, the name of Kilayon is not mentioned in Israel.