Kabbalah Library

434) “Is the Lord among us or none?” Were Israel fools, not knowing this thing? But they saw the Shechina before them and the clouds of glory on them that surrounded them, and they said, “Is the Lord among us or none?” People who saw the bright glory of their King by the sea, as we learn, that the maidservant that saw by the sea what Ezekiel did not see. They were fools and said, “Is the Lord among us or none?”

435) However, they wished to tell between Atik, the most hidden of all that are hidden, who is Keter, called “none,” and ZA, who is called HaVaYaH [HaVaYaH also means “being” in Hebrew]. This is why it is not written, “Is the Lord among us or not,” as it is written, “If he will walk in My law or not,” but “Is the Lord among us or none.”

436) Thus, why were they punished? It was for separating between Atik and ZA. They did in a test, as it is written, “And because they tested the Lord,” Israel said, “If it is among us, we will ask in one way, and if not, we will ask in a different way.” This is why it immediately writes, “Then Amalek came.”