Avraham vs. Lot: The Soul and The "Serpent"

Avraham and Lot's Relationship and Time Together

(לא) וַיִּקַּ֨ח תֶּ֜רַח אֶת־אַבְרָ֣ם בְּנ֗וֹ וְאֶת־ל֤וֹט בֶּן־הָרָן֙ בֶּן־בְּנ֔וֹ וְאֵת֙ שָׂרַ֣י כַּלָּת֔וֹ אֵ֖שֶׁת אַבְרָ֣ם בְּנ֑וֹ וַיֵּצְא֨וּ אִתָּ֜ם מֵא֣וּר כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ אַ֣רְצָה כְּנַ֔עַן וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ עַד־חָרָ֖ן וַיֵּ֥שְׁבוּ שָֽׁם׃ (לב) וַיִּהְי֣וּ יְמֵי־תֶ֔רַח חָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים וּמָאתַ֣יִם שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּ֥מׇת תֶּ֖רַח בְּחָרָֽן׃ {פ}

Genesis 11:31-32

(31) Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan; but when they had come as far as Haran, they settled there. (32) The days of Terah came to 205 years; and Terah died in Haran.

בראשית י״ב:ד׳-ה׳

(ד) וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אַבְרָ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ ה' וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אִתּ֖וֹ ל֑וֹט וְאַבְרָ֗ם בֶּן־חָמֵ֤שׁ שָׁנִים֙ וְשִׁבְעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה בְּצֵאת֖וֹ מֵחָרָֽן׃ (ה) וַיִּקַּ֣ח אַבְרָם֩ אֶת־שָׂרַ֨י אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ וְאֶת־ל֣וֹט בֶּן־אָחִ֗יו וְאֶת־כׇּל־רְכוּשָׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁוּ וְאֶת־הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֣וּ בְחָרָ֑ן וַיֵּצְא֗וּ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ אַ֣רְצָה כְּנַ֔עַן וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃

Genesis 12:4-5

(4) Abram went forth as the LORD had commanded him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. (5) Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the wealth that they had amassed, and the persons that they had acquired in Haran; and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in the land of Canaan,

בראשית י״ג:ז׳-ח׳

(ז) וַֽיְהִי־רִ֗יב בֵּ֚ין רֹעֵ֣י מִקְנֵֽה־אַבְרָ֔ם וּבֵ֖ין רֹעֵ֣י מִקְנֵה־ל֑וֹט וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י אָ֖ז יֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (ח) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־ל֗וֹט אַל־נָ֨א תְהִ֤י מְרִיבָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּבֵ֥ין רֹעַ֖י וּבֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

Genesis 13:7-8

(7) And there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and those of Lot’s cattle.—The Canaanites and Perizzites were then dwelling in the land.— (8) Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, between my herdsmen and yours, for we are kinsmen.

בראשית י״ג:י׳-י״ב

(י) וַיִּשָּׂא־ל֣וֹט אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־כׇּל־כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן כִּ֥י כֻלָּ֖הּ מַשְׁקֶ֑ה לִפְנֵ֣י ׀ שַׁחֵ֣ת ה' אֶת־סְדֹם֙ וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָ֔ה כְּגַן־ה' כְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה צֹֽעַר׃ (יא) וַיִּבְחַר־ל֣וֹ ל֗וֹט אֵ֚ת כׇּל־כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּסַּ֥ע ל֖וֹט מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיִּפָּ֣רְד֔וּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵעַ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃ (יב) אַבְרָ֖ם יָשַׁ֣ב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־כְּנָ֑עַן וְל֗וֹט יָשַׁב֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַיֶּאֱהַ֖ל עַד־סְדֹֽם׃

Genesis 13:10-12

(10) Lot looked about him and saw how well watered was the whole plain of the Jordan, all of it—this was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—all the way to Zoar, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (11) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they parted from each other; (12) Abram remained in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the Plain, pitching his tents near Sodom.

בראשית י״ג:י״ג

(יג) וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י סְדֹ֔ם רָעִ֖ים וְחַטָּאִ֑ים לַה' מְאֹֽד׃

Genesis 13:13

(13) Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked sinners against the LORD.

בראשית י״ד:י״ד

(יד) וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָ֔ם כִּ֥י נִשְׁבָּ֖ה אָחִ֑יו וַיָּ֨רֶק אֶת־חֲנִיכָ֜יו יְלִידֵ֣י בֵית֗וֹ שְׁמֹנָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף עַד־דָּֽן׃

Genesis 14:14

(14) When Abram heard that [Lot] his kinsman had been taken captive, he mustered his retainers, born into his household, numbering three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

בראשית י״ד:ט״ז

(טז) וַיָּ֕שֶׁב אֵ֖ת כׇּל־הָרְכֻ֑שׁ וְגַם֩ אֶת־ל֨וֹט אָחִ֤יו וּרְכֻשׁוֹ֙ הֵשִׁ֔יב וְגַ֥ם אֶת־הַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְאֶת־הָעָֽם׃

Genesis 14:16

(16) He brought back all the possessions; he also brought back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, and the women and the rest of the people.

Avraham and Lots' Relationship Through the Lens of the Zohar

The Zohar (Hebrew: זֹהַר‎, lit. "Splendor" or "Radiance"; Yiddish: דער זוהר‎, romanized: der Zoyer) is a foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah.^[1] It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah (the five books of Moses) and scriptural interpretations as well as material on mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology. The Zohar contains discussions of the nature of God, the origin and structure of the universe, the nature of souls, redemption, the relationship of Ego to Darkness and "true self" to "The Light of God". Its scriptural exegesis can be considered an esoteric form of the rabbinic literature known as Midrash, which elaborates on the Torah.

The Departure from Haran / Who left and who followed?

ספר הזהר, לך לך ד׳

תא חזי, מה כתיב ויקח תרח את אברם בנו ואת לוט בן הרן וגו'. ויצאו אתם מאור כשדים. ויצאו אתם, אתו מבעי ליה. דהא כתיב ויקח תרח וגו' מאי ויצאו אתם. אלא תרח ולוט עם אברהם ושרה נפקו דאנון הוו עקרא למיפק מגו אנון חייביא, דכיון דחמא תרח דאברהם בריה אשתזיב מגו נורא, אתהדר למעבד רעותיה דאברהם, ובגין כך ויצאו אתם תרח ולוט.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 4

Come and behold, It is written, "And Terach took Abram, his son, and Lot, the son of Haran...and they left with them from Ur of the Chaldeans" (Gen. 11:31). "And they left with them," when it should have been written, "with him," (i.e. Terach)? If, as it is written, "And Terach took..." why "with them"? Terach and Lot left with Abraham and Sarah, who really wanted to depart from among the wicked. Only after Terach saw that Abraham his son was saved from the fire did he return to follow Abraham's wishes. As a result, Terach and Lot "left with them."

Lot = The Serpent/Nachash = The Yetzer Hara (The Self-Centered Inclination)

ספר הזהר, לך לך ז׳

כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְּבָּרְכוּ בְּאִלֵּין שֶׁבַע בִּרְכָאן, מַה כְּתִּיב וַיֵּלֶךָ אַבְרָם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלָיו ה' לְנָחֲתָּא לְהַאי עָלְמָא כְּמָה דְּאִתְּפָּקְדָא.

מִיָּד וַיֵּלֶךָ אִתּוֹ לוֹט. דָּא אִיהוּ נָחָשׁ דְּאִתְּלַטְיָא וְאִתְּלַטְיָא עָלְמָא בְּגִינֵיהּ דְּאִיהוּ קָאִים לְפִּתְּחָא לְאַסְטָאָה לְגוּפָּא, ולא תִּפְּעוֹל נִשְׁמָתָּא פּוּלְחָנָא דְאִתְּפַּקְדַתּ עַד דְּיַעַבְרוּן עֲלָהּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא י''ג שְׁנִין, דְּהָא מִתְּרֵיסַר שְׁנִין וּלְעֵילָא נִשְׁמָתָּא אִתְּעָרַתּ לְמִפְּלַח פּוּלְחָנא דְאִתְּפַּקְדַתּ הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִּיב. וְאַבְרָם בֶּן חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וְשִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה. שֶׁבַע וְחָמֵשׁ תְּרֵיסַר אִנּוּן (ותרין עלאין עלייהו ארבע סרי אנון).

Zohar, Lech Lecha 7

And after he received these seven blessings [when God sent Avraham off], it is written, "So Abram departed, as Hashem had spoken to him." (Meaning he went) down to the world, as he was commanded to do.

Immediately, "Lot went with him." This is the serpent that was cursed and caused the world to be cursed. The scriptures call the serpent by the name Lot, because Lot means 'a curse' in Aramaic. The serpent was cursed and brought curses on the world. So he accompanies the soul during its stay in this world. And the serpent stands at the opening, in order to mislead the body. And this is why the soul will not start fulfilling the mission it was commanded to perform until it has completed thirteen years in this world. Because from the twelfth year onward, the soul is aroused to fulfill its task. Therefore, it is written, "and Abram was seventy five years old" (Gen. 12:4) and seven and five equals twelve.

לוּט (v. next w.) to curse. Part. לָט, f. לָטָה, Pl. לָטוֹת. Num. R. s. 9 (ed. Wil. p. 56) הכל נשבעות בך ול׳ זו וכ׳ all (women) shall swear by thee and curse each other saying, if thou hast done this, may thy end be &c.

בראשית ג׳:י״ד

(יד) וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ ה' אֱלֹקִ֥ים ׀ אֶֽל־הַנָּחָשׁ֮ כִּ֣י עָשִׂ֣יתָ זֹּאת֒ אָר֤וּר אַתָּה֙ מִכׇּל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וּמִכֹּ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה עַל־גְּחֹנְךָ֣ תֵלֵ֔ךְ וְעָפָ֥ר תֹּאכַ֖ל כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיֶּֽיךָ׃

Genesis 3:14

(14) Then the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you did this,

More cursed shall you be

Than all cattle

And all the wild beasts:

On your belly shall you crawl

And dirt shall you eat

All the days of your life.

The First Phase of Life - The Orlah Years and the Yetzer HaRa's role during and after those years

ספר הזהר, לך לך ז׳

בְּאִילָנָא שָׁלְטָא עָרְלָה תְּלַתּ שְׁנִין. בְּבַר נָשׁ תְּלַתּ סָרֵי שְׁנִין דְּאִקְרוּן שְׁנֵי עָרְלָה, כֵּיוָן דְּאַעֲבָרוּ עַל גּוּפָּא אִנּוּן שְׁנִין וְאִתְּעַבְרַתּ (ד''א ואתערת) נִשְׁמָתָּא לְמִפְּלַח פּוּלְחָנָא קַדִּישָׁא, פְּקִידַתּ לְגוּפָּא לִרְעוּתָּא טָבָא, לִכְפּוֹף לְהַהוּא נָחָשׁ דְּהָא לָא יָכִיל לְשַׁלְטָאָה כְּמָה דְהַוִּי,

דִּכְתִּיב וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָם אֶתּ שָׂרַי אִשְׁתּוֹ וְגו' (אברם דא י' את שרי דא ה'. י' דא נשמתא לנשמתא והוא זכר. ה' דא נשמתא דנוקבא). דָּא גּוּפָּא, דְּאִיהִי לְגַבֵּי נִשְׁמָתָּא כְּנוּקְבָא לְגַבֵּי דְכוּרָא. וְאֶתּ לוֹט בֶּן אָחִיו דָּא (יצר הרע) נָחָשׁ דּלא אַעֲדֵי כָּל כָּךָ מִן גּוּפָּא, בְּגִין דְּבֵקוּתָּא דְּגוּפָּא לָא אַעֲדִיוּ כָּל כָּךָ (זמנא ההוא) מִנֵּיהּ, אֲבָל אִתְּעֲרוּתָּא דְנִשְׁמָתָּא אַלְקֵי לֵיהּ תָּדִיר וְאַתְּרֵי בֵּיהּ וְאוֹכַח לֵיהּ וְכָפִּיף לֵיהּ על כָּרְחֵיהּ וְלָא יָכִיל לְשַׁלְטָאָה.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 7

The orlah (lit. 'foreskin') rules over the tree for three years. In the human being, the first thirteen years are called the "orlah years." After the body has lived these years, the soul is aroused to fulfill its holy task. It then receives full control over the body and inspires the goodwill necessary to overcome the serpent. And then the serpent will not be able to control the body as it did before.

As it is written, "And Abram took Sarai his wife..." (Gen. 12:5). This refers to the body, which in comparison to the soul is like the female toward the male. "And Lot his brother's son" refers to the [yetzer hara] serpent that does not completely leave the body because the clinging of the body is not entirely gone from it. Nevertheless, the arousal of the soul strikes it always, warns and reproves it, and forces it to obey so that it cannot take control any more.

ויקרא י״ט:כ״ג

(כג) וְכִי־תָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ וּנְטַעְתֶּם֙ כׇּל־עֵ֣ץ מַאֲכָ֔ל וַעֲרַלְתֶּ֥ם עׇרְלָת֖וֹ אֶת־פִּרְי֑וֹ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם עֲרֵלִ֖ים לֹ֥א יֵאָכֵֽל׃

Leviticus 19:23

(23) When you enter the land and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden^-d for you, not to be eaten.

Lot is not without redeeming qualities, even Mashiach level qualities

ספר הזהר, לך לך ט׳

וְאֶת לוֹט בֶּן אָחִיו. מָה חָמָא אַבְרָהָם לְדָבְקָא עִמֵּיהּ לוֹט, אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּצָפָה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ דְּזַמִּין לְמֵיפַּק מִנֵּיהּ דָּוִד.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 9

"And Lot his brother's son," What did Abraham see that made him take Lot with him? He foresaw through the Holy Spirit that David shall issue from him in the future.

רות ד׳:י״ג

(יג) וַיִּקַּ֨ח בֹּ֤עַז אֶת־רוּת֙ וַתְּהִי־ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א אֵלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּתֵּ֨ן ה' לָ֛הּ הֵרָי֖וֹן וַתֵּ֥לֶד בֵּֽן׃

Ruth 4:13

(13) So Boaz married Ruth; she became his wife, and he cohabited with her. The LORD let her conceive, and she bore a son.

רות ד׳:י״ח-כ״ב

(יח) וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ תּוֹלְד֣וֹת פָּ֔רֶץ פֶּ֖רֶץ הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־חֶצְרֽוֹן׃ (יט) וְחֶצְרוֹן֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־רָ֔ם וְרָ֖ם הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־עַמִּֽינָדָֽב׃ (כ) וְעַמִּֽינָדָב֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־נַחְשׁ֔וֹן וְנַחְשׁ֖וֹן הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־שַׂלְמָֽה׃ (כא) וְשַׂלְמוֹן֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־בֹּ֔עַז וּבֹ֖עַז הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־עוֹבֵֽד׃ (כב) וְעֹבֵד֙ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־יִשָׁ֔י וְיִשַׁ֖י הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־דָּוִֽד׃

Ruth 4:18-22

(18) This is the line of Perez: Perez begot Hezron, (19) Hezron begot Ram, Ram begot Amminadab, (20) Amminadab begot Nahshon, Nahshon begot Salmon, (21) Salmon begot Boaz, Boaz begot Obed, (22) Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.

Avraham and Lot's Separation is an archetype

ספר הזהר, לך לך ח׳

תָּא חֲזֵי, מִן אֱלִישָׁע דְּדָחָה לְגֵחֲזִי. וְכֵן בְּאַבְרָהָם כָּל זִמְנָא דְּהֲוָה לוֹט בַּהֲדֵיהּ לָא אִתְחַבַּר בַּהֲדֵי רַשִּׁיעַיָּא, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנֵּיהּ מַה כְּתִיב וַיִּבְחַר לוֹ לוֹט אֶת כָּל כִּכַּר הַיַּרְדֵּן, וּכְתִיב וַיֶאֱהַל עַד סְדוֹם. מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ וְאַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם רָעִים וְחַטָּאִים לַה' מְאֹד.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 8

Come and behold: We see examples in the case of Elisha who thrust away Gehazi, and in the case of Abraham and Lot.

As long as Lot was with Abraham, Lot did not associate with the wicked. But as soon as he left him, it is written, "Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan...and pitched his tent toward Sodom" (Gen. 13:11-12), followed by "And the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before Hashem exceedingly" (Ibid. 13).

מלכים ב ה׳:כ״ה-כ״ז

(כה) וְהוּא־בָא֙ וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔יו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֱלִישָׁ֔ע (מאן) [מֵאַ֖יִן] גֵּחֲזִ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹא־הָלַ֥ךְ עַבְדְּךָ֖ אָ֥נֶה וָאָֽנָה׃ (כו) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ לֹֽא־לִבִּ֣י הָלַ֔ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר הָפַךְ־אִ֛ישׁ מֵעַ֥ל מֶרְכַּבְתּ֖וֹ לִקְרָאתֶ֑ךָ הַעֵ֞ת לָקַ֤חַת אֶת־הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ וְלָקַ֣חַת בְּגָדִ֔ים וְזֵיתִ֤ים וּכְרָמִים֙ וְצֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר וַעֲבָדִ֖ים וּשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ (כז) וְצָרַ֤עַת נַֽעֲמָן֙ תִּֽדְבַּק־בְּךָ֔ וּֽבְזַרְעֲךָ֖ לְעוֹלָ֑ם וַיֵּצֵ֥א מִלְּפָנָ֖יו מְצֹרָ֥ע כַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃

II Kings 5:25-27

(25) He entered and stood before his master; and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He replied, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.” (26) Then [Elisha] said to him, “Did not my spirit go along when a man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to take money in order to buy clothing and olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves? (27) Surely, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” And as [Gehazi] left his presence, he was snow-white with leprosy.

Avraham and Lot teach about the Struggle with the Yetzer Hara (and the goal is co-existence)

ספר הזהר, לך לך י׳

וְכָל דָּא, אִי זַכָּאָה בְּהַאי עָלְמָא לְאַתְּקָנָא גּוּפָּא כְּדְקָא יָאוֹתּ וּלְאִכַּפְּיָא (ולאספיא) תּוּקְפָּא דְּהַהוּא לָטְיָיא, עַד דְּאִתְּפָּרְשָׁא מִנֵּיהּ מַה כְּתִּיב, וַיְהִי רִיב בֵּין רוֹעֵי מִקְנֵה אַבְרָם וּבֵין רוֹעֵי מִקְנֵה לוֹט (דא יצר הרע),

דְּבְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, אִנּוּן סִיעָן וּמַנְהִיגִי דְּנִשְׁמָתָּא, וְאִנּוּן סִיעָן וּמַנְהִיגִין דְּיֵצֶּר הָרָע, אִנּוּן בְּקִטְרוּגָא מְקַטְרְגִין אִלֵּין בְּאִלֵּין, וְכָל שָׁיְיפִּין דְּגוּפָּא בְּצַּעֲרָא בֵּינַיְיהוּ בֵּין נִשְׁמָתָּא וְהַהוּא נָחָשׁ דְּקָא מַגִּיחִין קְרָבָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא.

מַה כְּתִּיב וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אל לוֹט. נִשְׁמָתָּא אֲהַדְּרָא לְגַבֵּי יֵצֶּר הָרָע וְאָמַר לֵיהּ, אַל נא תְּהִי מְרִיבָה בֵּינִי וּבֵינְיךָ וּבֵין רוֹעַי וּבֵין רוֹעֶיךָ, סִטְרִין דִּילִי וְסִטְרִין דִּילָךָ. כִּי אֲנָשִׁים אַחִים אֲנַחְנוּ, יִצֶּר טוֹב וְיֵצֶּר הָרָע קְרֵיבִין דָּא בְּדָא, דָּא לִימִינָא וְדָא לִשְׂמָאלָא.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 10

All this happens if (the soul) merited to amend the body in this world and overcome the power of that cursed being, (the Evil Inclination, which is Lot) until it is separated from it. As it is written, "And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle (the soul) and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle, (the Evil Inclination)" (Gen. 13:7).

Because in this world, on each and every day, those camps and rulers from the side of the soul are in strife with the camps and rulers from the side of the yetzer hara, and they fight with each other while all the parts of the body are trapped in agony between them, between the soul and the serpent, between those forces that fight each other every day.

Thus it is written, "And Abram said to Lot" (Gen. 13:8) that the soul answered the Evil Inclination, "Let there be no strife, I pray you, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen." Between my camps and your camps "for we are brethren"; because the Good Inclination and the Evil Inclination are close to each other, the one to a person's right and the other to their left.

The struggle is real (and takes a long time)

ספר הזהר, לך לך י׳

הֲלא כָל הָאָרֶץ לְפָּנְיךָ הִפָּרֶד נָא מֵעָלַי. סַגִּיאִין חַיָּיבַיָא אִנּוּן בְּעָלְמָא, זִיל וְשׁוּט אֲבַּתְּרַיְיהוּ וְאִתְּפְּרַשׁ מֵעִמִּי. אִם הַשְׂמֹאל וְאֵימִינָה וְגו'. וְאוֹכַח לֵיהּ וְאָעִיק לֵיהּ בְּכַמָּה קְרָבִין דְּעָבִיד בַּהֲדֵיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא, עד דִּכְתִּיב וַיִּפָּרְדוּ אִישׁ מֵעַל אָחִיו.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 10

"Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself, pray you, from me..." (Ibid. 9). There are a lot of wicked men in the world; go and chase after them and leave me alone. "If you will go to the left, then I will go to the right..."; it reproves and annoys it with many fights and arguments every day, until, as it is written, "and they separated themselves the one from the other" (Ibid. 11).

What happens after one's separates from their Yetzer Hara?

ספר הזהר, לך לך י׳

כֵּיוָן דְּמִתְּפָּרְשִׁין דָּא מִן דָּא מַה כְּתִּיב, אַבְרָם ישב בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן. אִתְּיַשְׁבַתּ נִשׁמתָּא בְּאִנּוּן צַּדִּיקַיָא בְּיִשׁוּבָא טַב בִּשְׁלָם. וְלוֹט יָשַׁב בְּעָרֵי הַכִּכָּר, הַהוּא לָטְיָא מְקַטְרְגָא אָזִיל לְקַטְרְגָא וּלְאִתְּחַבְּרָא בְּאֲתַּר דְּחַיָּיבַיָא תַּמָּן דִּכְתִּיב וַיֶּאֱהַל עַד סְדוֹם. מַה כְּתִּיב בַּתְּרֵיהּ וְאַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם רָעִים וְחַטָאִים לַה' מְאֹד. תַּמָּן שַׁרְיָא וְשָׁוִי דִּיּוּרֵיהּ בֵּינַיְיהוּ לְאִתְּחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ לְאַסְטָאָה לוֹן וּלְאוֹבָדָא לוֹן. (ואברהם בעובדין טבין בתשובה באורייתא) (חסר) (ס''א) בְּעוֹבָדִין בִּישִׁין.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 10

Since they have separated themselves from each other, it is written, "Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan" (Gen. 13:12), the soul has settled among the righteous in a good and peaceful settlement. "And Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain", the cursed adversary went to prosecute and join the wicked in their dwellings. As it is written, "and pitched his tent toward Sodom," followed by, "And the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinners before Hashem exceedingly" (Gen. 13:13). There he dwelt and set his residence among them; he joined them, so that he could deceive them and destroy them by evil deeds.

The Redemption of the Yetzer Hara Taken into Captivity

ספר הזהר, לך לך י׳

כֵּיוָן דְּאִשְׁתְּאָרַתּ נִשְׁמָתָּא בְּלָא מְקַטְרְגָא וְאִתְּדְּכֵי גוּפָּא מֵהַהוּא זוּהֲמָא, מִיָּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא אַשְׁרֵי דִיּוּרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ וְיָרִיתּ אַחְסַנְתָּא עִלָּאָה וְתַּתָּאָה, וְאִיתּ לֵיהּ נַיְיחָא בֵּין צַּדִּיקַיָא, והַהוּא לָטְיָא בֵּין אִנּוּן רַשִׁיעַיָיא חָטָאן בַּהֲדֵיהּ, עַד דְּלָא הֲוָה פּוּרְקָנָא לְחוֹבַיְיהוּ.

מַה כְּתִּיב וַיִּשְׁמַע אַבְרָם כִּי נִשְׁבָּה אָחִיו. וַיִּשְׁמַע אַבְרָם דָּא נִשְׁמָתָּא דְּאִשְׁתְּאָרַתּ בְּדַכְיוּ בְּגוּפָּא.

כִּי נִשְׁבָּה אָחִיו, דָּא יֵצֶּר הָרָע דְּנִשְׁבָּה בֵּין אִנּוּן חַיָּיבַיָא בְּחוֹבִין סַגִּיאִין. וַיָּרֶק אֶתּ חֲנִיכָיו יְלִידֵי בֵיתּוֹ, אִלֵּין אִנּוּן צַּדִּיקַיָיא דְּלָעָאן בְּאוֹרַיְיתָּא דְּאִנּוּן שַׁיְיפֵּי דְגוּפָּא זְרִיזִין לְמֵיהַךָ בַּהֲדֵיהּ י''ח וּשֹלשׁ מֵאוֹתּ, אִלֵּין רמ''ח שַׁיְיפִּין דְּגוּפָּא, ושִׁבְעִין, דְּרָזָא דְּנִשְׁמָתָּא דְּנָפְּקָא מִתַּמָּן (ע''כ). בְּכלָּא אִזְדְּרָז לְמֵהַךָ תַּמָּן לְגַבֵּי אִנּוּן חַיָּיבַיָא לְאֲתָּבָא לוֹן (מחובוי) מֵחוֹבֵיהוֹן.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 10

As the adversary leaves the soul and the body is purified from that defilement, the Holy Bountiful One immediately takes up residence beside them, and they inherit the upper and lower portion and are delighted among the righteous. While that cursed one, referring to Lot, is among the wicked and they sin together with him until finally they cannot be redeemed from their sins.

It is then written, "And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive..." (Gen. 14:14). "And when Abram heard" refers to the soul which remained purified in the body.

"That his brother was taken captive" refers to the Evil Inclination, which was taken captive among the wicked by their innumerable sins. "And he armed his trained servants, born in his own house," means the righteous men who learn Torah and are the limbs of the body, armed to join him. They number three hundred and eighteen - 248 limbs of the body and seventy that belong to the secret of the soul. The soul comes from (the Seven Sefirot of Zeir Anpin). He was armed with all these to confront those sinners to make them repent and atone for their sins.

The struggle continues...

ספר הזהר, לך לך י׳

וְגַם אֶתּ לוֹט אָחִיו וְגו'. אֲפִּלּוּ לְהַהוּא יֵצֶּר הָרָע אַתְּקִיף בַּהֲדֵיהּ עַד דְּאַכְפְּיֵיה בְּעַל כָּרְחֵיהּ (ולא) וְאַמְתִּיק לֵיהּ כְּדְקָא חָזֵי. כּלָּא אָתִּיב בִּתְּיוּבְתָּא שְׁלֵימָתָּא כְּדְקָא יְאוּתּ, בְּגִין דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח יְמָמָא וְלֵילְיָא עַד דְּאוֹכַח לוֹן וּרְדַף לוֹן עַל הַהוּא חוֹבָא דְּחָאבוּ עַד דְּתָּאבוּ בִּתְּיוּבְתָּא שְׁלֵימָתָּא כִּדְקָחָזוּ.

Zohar, Lech Lecha 10

The words "And also brought again his brother Lot" mean that he even attacked that Evil Inclination until he overcame it by force against its will and weakened it, as should be. He brought them all to wholeheartedly atone for their sins, as should properly be. He reproved and reprimanded them day and night for every single sin they performed, until they repented completely.