Kabbalah Imamat 26:28: Reshit Chokhmah & Sefer HaBahir

Another reason for Keri is explained by what it says in the Torah “Then if you walk contrary (lit. Keri) to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins…then I will walk contrary (lit. Keri) to you in fury” (Leviticus 26:21-28). Rashi explains about this: Our teachers said that “Keri” here means ‘casual’, meaning by chance or something that happens sometimes, as if to say “if you are casual with my precepts”. And Menachem [Ben Saruk] explains “Keri” means and expression of ‘holding back’, which is similar to “Hokar Raglecha” (hold back your foot; Proverbs 25:17), and “Yekar Ruach” (withheld of spirit; Proverbs 17:27). This is also similar to Onkelos’s translation, which he explained it to mean “hardness” since they hardened their hearts to hold themselves back from bringing themselves close to Me. Both of these explanations come to one conclusion.

Thus what is written after: “then I will walk contrary (lit. Keri) to you in fury” (Leviticus 26:28). Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in the Zohar in Terumah explains about this: 66. This is the secret of that which is written: “And if you walk contrary (Heb. keri) to me” (Vayikra 26:21) and that which is written: “Then I will walk contrary to you also in fury” (Ibid. 28), MEANING with that anger that goes forth from the entrance CALLED ‘keri’. 67. There are those who float around during the night, IF THEY ARE NOT BEING NOURISHED FROM THE SMOKE AS MENTIONED EARLIER. When the souls emerge from the entrance to appear above, they go out and accuse them, so they are not able to ascend and appear above, except for those holy supernal pious ones who split the firmaments and airs and ascend. These camps of spirits go forth and inform people with falsehoods, and appear to them in other FEMALE forms and seduce them until they discharge semen. They are called men who have nocturnal emission of semen (Heb. keri), because it causes those who go forth from the entrance called ‘keri’ TO BE CALLED MEN OF NOCTURNAL EMISSION.

[He continued,] "And what wisdom did the Blessed Holy One give to Solomon? Solomon carried the name of the Blessed Holy One, as we have said that every 'Solomon' that is said in Song of Songs it he Holy One except one (BT Shevuot 35b). The Blessed Holy One said, 'Since your name is like the name of My glory, I will marry my daughter to you. But she is married! Say that as a gift, He gave her to him, as is written, 'YHVH gave wisdom to Solomon (1 Kings 5:26) — but it was not given. When was it given? Further on, as is said, 'For they saw the wisdom of Elohim within him to execute justice' (1 Kings 3:28). Therefore, say that the wisdom that Elohim gave to him — and that was with him in his rooms — was in him to execute justice. What is 'to execute justice'? [It teaches us] that the wisdom of Elohim is within a person, every time he executes justice. This is the one that helps him and brings him close. And if not, it sends him away. And further, it disciplines him, as is written 'I will discipline you; I am anger' (Leviticus 26:28).*
*[Ed. - A more standard translation would be 'I will discipline you, I too'.]