“To Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of gowns.”
In the work, we should discern:
1) “Wealth” means an act of Torah and Mitzvot [commandments], and on the act, there is nothing to add, as our sages said, “Do not add and do not subtract.” This is why it is called “wealth,” meaning wholeness. This is regarded as “righteous,” who walk on the path of the right [side].
2) Afterward, they must shift to the left. “Left” is regarded as something that needs correction, as our sages said, “And they will be a token on your hand,” which is the weaker hand, left, where correction is missing.
In other words, once he is already on the right line in the work in Torah and Mitzvot [commandments], then begins the matter of intentions. That is, he begins to think what he wants in return for his work in Torah and Mitzvot, what reward he hopes to receive for his labor in Torah and Mitzvot.
At that time, he gets the “gowns,” if he wants to work not in order to receive reward. At that time, the body comes and asks, “What is this work for you?” which is the wicked man’s question.
3) Then he comes into answering, meaning to answer the question of the wicked one. That is, he wants to work above reason and above flavor.
This state is regarded as Katnut [smallness/infancy], meaning that his work is on Katnut. This means that the majority of his work is on the questions that the wicked one asks, that he must believe above reason that this is His will, and he wants to do His will, which is the manner of faith. This is called Hassadim [mercies], when he wants to work only in Hesed, which is in order to bestow.
4) After he has been rewarded with faith above reason, which is called Katnut, he is rewarded with the revelation of the secrets of the Torah, as Rabbi Meir said, “He who learns Torah Lishma [for Her sake] is rewarded with many things.” This is also called “left,” since here he should reveal once more the desire to bestow.
5) This is after he has been rewarded with the quality of receiving in order to bestow, when he can receive the Kli [vessel] of Torah in order to bestow. It follows that altogether, there are five changes of Smalot [gowns], from the word Smol [left]. The inversion of the “left” is called “right,” and left is called “left.” He does not say “right” because the “right,” too, should replace the left, this is why they are called together, “five changes of gowns.”