Kabbalah Library

283. “And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with divination in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him. And he said to them, ‘Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.’” It is written about them, “and they spoke to him.” Speaking is a hard tongue, since he was flawed in the ear. It is written about him, “And he said to them.” Saying is a soft tongue, as is normally done. “Lodge here tonight,” since the night is the time of the Sitra Achra and of the sorcerers, the time when evil sides are present and control, and spread in the world. “As the Lord speaks to me,” he was praising himself in the name of the Creator.

284. “So the ministers of Moab stayed with Balaam.” But the ministers of Midian parted from them and did not want to stay there, and the elders of Moab stayed, as it is written, “So the ministers of Moab stayed,” alone. Midian did well. If they had completely parted from them, and if they did not strike in the end, since they followed Balaam’s advice to send their women to Israel in the acacia trees, to mislead them.

The text proves their sin, as it is written, “because they are harming you with their deceit which they have deceived you over Peor and over Kozbi, their sister, the daughter of the president of Midian. They sinned twofold: In Peor and in Kozbi, and their iniquity was grave. Afterwards, they struck with their tail, meaning with their end, and because of it, they stayed with him, and these went to themselves.

285. “And the ministers of Moab stayed with Balaam.” How good it was for Midian that they had left, if that was their wish. However, the stay that those of Moab stayed did good to them, since they stayed there. And those of Midian who left did them harm. What is the reason? These feared the honor of the Creator’s speech, and they returned, and those feared nothing and went on their way.

286. When that wicked one said, “and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks,” promptly, those of Moab were startled at that thing and stayed there, while those of Midian did not fear from it at all and went their way, and this is why they were later punished. Hence, “And the ministers of Moab stayed with Balaam.

That night, that wicked one was whispering spells and performing witchcraft, and drew upon himself a spirit from above. Promptly, “And God came to Balaam.” Simply God, which is his degree on the Sitra Achra on the left.