Kabbalah Library

350) “And the children of Israel sighed.” It is not written that they were sighing because of their own affliction. Rather, it is written “sighed,” meaning that the sigh was for them above, that the angels were sighing for Israel.

351) “And the children of Israel sighed from the work, and they cried out, and their outcry went up to God from the work,” meaning the children of Israel of above, the angels. It is written, “from the work,” implying that the children of Israel are “the ones who work,” those who are from the work of above, the ministering angels. “Their outcry went up to God,” for thus far, their cry did not rise before Him.

352) What is the judgment that the Creator executes in the servants above, in the serving angels and the ministers of the seventy nations? He takes them through the river of fire, removes them from their government, and appoints other ministers from the rest of the nations, as it is written, “Flaming fire are Your ministers.” Hence, what does He deny them if they are taken through the river of fire? There is a fire that is harder than fire, and there is fire that repels fire. Hence, even though they are fire, the fire of the river of fire is harder than them, and there the judgment is executed upon the angels of fire.