There was once a king who had an only son whom he loved very much. The king warned the young prince that if he got involved with a bad woman, he would forfeit his chance to be admitted to the inner chambers of the palace.
The king decided to discern the true character of the prince by hiring a very clever and beautiful woman to tempt him. She tried three different ways to weaken his resolve. She tried to hug him, to kiss him, and to speak beguiling words. The prince countered her advances in three ways. He pushed her away, he ignored her advances and scolded her.
Having passed the test of temptation, the prince returned to the palace. There, the king brought his son into the innermost chambers that were previously hidden from him and gave him three precious gifts. [Zohar Truma pg 163]
The Rebbe’s father Reb Levik explains how various aspects of the story correspond to spiritual levels [sefiros], reaching all the way up to the world of Atzilus.
The three approaches used by the clever woman to tempt the prince represent the three emotive attributes of the side of evil (Klipa). Hugging him represents Chesed [kindness] of Klipa, kissing him represents Gevura [power] of Klipa, and speaking in an enticing way represents Tiferes [beauty] of Klipa.
Reb Levik also explains the inner meaning of the King bringing the prince into his innermost chambers and giving him the three precious gifts. The inner chambers represent the “World to Come.” The king’s three precious gifts refer to the intellectual powers of Chochma, Bina, and Daas [Chabad] as they are connected to the Supernal Crown.
The king represents Chachma of Atzilus. The inner chamber of the palace represents Bina of Atzilus [World to Come]. The prince represents Zeir Anpin [emotive attributes of Atzilus]. The palace represents Malchus [this world].
