Why Specifically Did Zevulun Merit the Keter? The Daily Chizuk from the Gaon and

The Daily Chizuk (strengthening) – All the princes of the tribes among the spies were humble, but they did not want to give up the gifts in the desert, and therefore they erred

Friday, 9th of Iyar, 5784

The holy Ari (Rabbi Isaac Luria) says that the plan was to kill Yehoshua (Joshua) bin Nun.

Bnei Yisrael (the Children of Israel) said that Yehoshua bin Nun is the problem—everything is already fine, the problem is the Tzaddik. Moshe's (Moses') student is the problem; he is the one causing all the issues.

Bnei Yisrael did not want to enter Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). They said, Moshe is a "Zionist," he wants to enter Eretz Yisrael; this is a problem, we need to eliminate him.

It is written in Sha’ar HaPesukim by the holy Ari that the entire plan was—how to eliminate Yehoshua. For forty days, he might fall asleep for a moment, he won't notice.

"Who and who are those who are going" (Exodus 10:8) has the Gematria (numerical value) of Yehoshua. Yehoshua is 391, and "Who and who are those who are going" is 216. The Baal HaTurim says that we don't say "Yehoshua," but rather "Bin Nun." If we say "Bin Nun," then it works out exactly.

'Bin Nun’ with ’Calev' (Caleb), or to say ‘Calev’ ‘and Bin Nun', one must add the letter ’Vav' (and).

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Moshe did not know the secret of the Vavim (hooks/the letter Vav), "And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five he made hooks (Vavim) for the pillars" (Exodus 38:28). The secret of the Vavim (the end of the Geulah/Redemption) was hidden from him, because the 'Vav' is already in Atika (the highest level of the Keter). The Vavim are in Atika, and Moshe could not attain this.

Now we are learning Gemara Sotah (34b): what happened that Calev remained silent (among the spies)? After all, Yehoshua did speak, and they wanted to kill him. They said to him, "You are speaking? You are opening your mouth? Let's kill you and solve the problem."

The holy Ari says that there was a complete plan here on how to eliminate Yehoshua bin Nun.

"And when Moshe saw the humility of Yehoshua" (Targum Yonatan on Numbers 13:16)—what humility? What kind of humility? After all, all the princes of the tribes among the spies were humble! Sethur the son of Michael (of the tribe of Asher) signifies humility. Nachbi the son of Vophsi (of the tribe of Naphtali)—"Nachbi" because he hides himself (mit-chabe). These are all holy names; it's just that they did not want to give up the Manna (which they received for free in the desert), they did not give up the Ananei HaKavod (Clouds of Glory, which would cease upon entering the Land), and they did not give up the Well of Miriam.

But the Ari writes in Sha’ar HaPesukim (Parshat Vayetzei) the order of the levels of the ten sons. Rabbi Chaim Vital testifies: "I heard from my teacher of blessed memory (the Ari), Zevulun (the highest) reaches the Keter (Crown), and after Zevulun is Issachar in Chochmah (Wisdom)."

And the question is, why specifically does Zevulun reach such a high place, all the way to the Keter? He was, after all, just a merchant—a successful merchant, working in real estate, selling some figs, some pomegranates. Because regarding Zevulun it is written, "My husband will dwell (yizbeleni) with me" (Genesis 30:20); "Zevul"—"I have surely built a house of habitation (Beis Zevul) for You" (I Kings 8:13). He is in Zevul—Zevulun brings everyone to the Beis HaMikdash (the Holy Temple); he brings all the nations of the world to the Beis HaMikdash.

And...