Baal Shem Tov Devarim

"On that day I will utterly hide [231] My face because of all the evil that they have done in turning to alien gods.” Vayeilech 31: 18 28.2 When a person is unaware that there is a state of concealment, it is certainly not good, for he can think that he is a perfect Tzaddik, and will not repent. However, when he realizes that there is concealment, and feels it in his soul, he will be humbled before G• d and beseech Him. This is the meaning of “hiding, I will hide.”

That is, I will hide the concealment itself, so that the person will not even realize that it is hidden. Degel Machane Ephraim, Tzav[ 232]

“I will utterly hide My face . . . .”Vayeilech 31: 18 28.3 This is an astonishing thing. How can G•d hide His face from Israel? How will they find life and strength, for this is their whole vitality?

This can be compared to a king who hid himself in his palace, surrounded by walls, fire and rivers, to keep people from approaching him. Yet he created all of it with the power of illusion. Thus, he hid himself from his children. However, one of the wiser ones began to consider the situation. Could it be that his compassionate father did not want to show his face to his beloved son? It must be a trick! His father was testing him to see if he would make the effort to come to him. Really, there was no concealment. Indeed, as soon as he through himself into the river, the illusion vanished, and he passed through. So too, with the walls, until he came to the king’s chambers.

Another person, a foolish one, managed to pass through the walls, and through the water, but turned back because of the fire. The parable is easily understood. Only when a person can sacrifice himself and push himself past the walls and come to the king will attain a higher level than before. This is the meaning of: “I will descend with you”(Genesis 46: 4). That is, when you realize that “I”(i.e., G•d) is even in the descent, and that the very concealment with which He hid Himself from you is also for your benefit, then, “and I will raise you up, and you will ascend”(ibid.). That is, you will merit a higher level, which is the meaning of [the extra words] “and you will ascend.”

And this is the meaning of: “G• d who goes before you constantly” [233] both in low times and high ones. Then, “He will not fail you, nor forsake you” ( Deuteronomy 31:8), which the Targum explains translates as “He will not cast you off, nor will He distance you.” For even when He is at times concealed, He does not intend to be far from you, as we explained. This is what is alluded to in the words: “And I will hide”– that is, you should realize that “I” am in the concealment. Degel Machane Ephraim, Vayelech

[231] Hastar astir( הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּי ר ), literally “hiding, I will hide.”

[232] See, also, Ben Poras Yosef, p. 28c; Tzafnah Paneach p. 2a and 51c; Katones Passim, p. 35a.

[233] A paraphrase of Deuteronomy 31:8, as is apparent from the second half of the verse quoted.