Daf 194a (דַּף קצ״ד ע״א)

That wicked one, Bilaam, praised himself in everything (הַהוּא רָשָׁע דְּבִלְעָם, שַׁבּוּחֵי מְשַׁבַּח גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּכֹלָּא). And with all this, he would steal the mind and elevate himself with his words (וְעִם כָּל דָּא, גְּנִיבוּ דְּדַעְתָא קָא גָּנִיב, וְאִסְתַּלָּק בְּמִלּוֹי). With small words, he would do great things (בְּמִלִּין זְעִירִין, הֲוָה עָבִיד רַבְרְבִין). That which he said concerning those levels-filthy words he said, and truth he said (מַה דְּאָמַר עַל אִינּוּן דַּרְגִּין מִלִּין מְסָאֲבִין הֲוָה אָמַר, וּקְשׁוֹט אָמַר).

But that wicked one would say and praise himself in a hidden way, and elevate himself with his words (אֲבָל הַהוּא רָשָׁע הֲוָה אָמַר וּמְשַׁבַּח גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּאֹרַח סָתִים, וְאִסְתַּלָּק בְּמִלּוֹי), so that whoever heard thought that he was elevated above all the prophets of the world (דְּכָל מַאן דְּהֲוָה שָׁמַע, חָשִׁיב דְּאִסְתַּלָּק עַל כָּל נְבִיאֵי עָלְמָא), as it is written: “He hears the sayings of El and knows the knowledge of the Most High” (דִּכְתִיב שׁוֹמֵעַ אִמְרֵי אֵל וְיוֹדֵעַ דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן) (Numbers 24). What man in the world, when hearing these words from his mouth, would not think that there was no true prophet in the world like him? (מַאן גֶּבֶר בְּעָלְמָא, דְּהֲוָה שָׁמַע מִפּוּמֵיהּ מִלִּין אִלֵּין, דְּלָא חָשִׁיב דְּלֵית בְּעָלְמָא נְבִיאָה מְהֵימָנָא כְּגִינֵיהּ). And truly it was so (וּקְשׁוֹט הֲוָה, וְהָכִי הֲוָה): “The saying of one who hears the sayings of El”-so it was (נְאֻם שׁוֹמֵעַ אִמְרֵי אֵל, הָכִי הֲוָה). “And knows the knowledge of the Most High”-so it was (וְיוֹדֵעַ דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן הָכִי הֲוָה). And that wicked one would say concerning the levels to which he cleaved (וְהַהוּא רָשָׁע הֲוָה אָמַר עַל דַּרְגִין דְּאִתְדְּבַק בְּהוּ): “He hears the sayings of El”-a word that is in supernal ascent (שׁוֹמֵעַ אִמְרֵי אֵל, מִלָה דְּאִיהוּ בִּסְלִיקוּ עִלָּאָה). And thus he said (וְהָכִי אָמַר): “He hears the sayings of El”-ha’El is not written (שׁוֹמֵעַ אִמְרֵי אֵל, הָאֵל לָא כְּתִיב), for behold: “The El, His way is perfect” (כִּי הָא הָאֵל תָמִים דַּרְכּוֹ) (Psalms 18).

But a simple El-this is another El (אֲבָל סְתָם אֵל, אֵל אַחֵר אִיהוּ), as it is written: “For you shall not bow to another El” (כִּי לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְאֵל אַחֵר) (Exodus 34). “He hears the sayings of El”-it is a small word (שׁוֹמֵעַ אִמְרֵי אֵל, מִלָּה זְעֵירָא אִיהִי), and it seems to one who does not know that it is great and exalted (וְדָמִי לְמַאן דְּלָא יָדַע, דְּאִיהוּ רַב וְעִלָּאָה). “He hears the sayings of El”-that which is called another El, as it is written: “For you shall not bow to another El” (שׁוֹמֵעַ אִמְרֵי אֵל, הַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי אֵל אַחֵר, דִּכְתִיב כִּי לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְאֵל אַחֵר). “And knows the knowledge of the Most High”-concerning all polluted levels, those who direct the four of the sea and the storm (וְיוֹדֵעַ דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן, עַל כָּל דַּרְגִּין דִּמְסָאֳבוּ, אִינּוּן דִּמְנַהֲגֵי אַרְבָּא דְּיַמָּא וּסְעָרָא). They are forty minus one (אַרְבְּעִין חָסֵר חַד אִינּוּן). And that great captain, by whom all of them are directed, he is supreme over all of them (וְהַהוּא רַב הַחוֹבֵל, דְּכֻלְּהוּ מִתְנַהֲגֵי עַל יְדוֹי, אִיהוּ עֶלְיוֹן עַל כֻּלְּהוּ).

To this the wicked one would cleave (בְּדָא הֲוָה מִתְדָּבַק הַהוּא רָשָׁע), and he would say that he knew the knowledge of the Most High (וְאָמַר דְּהֲוָה יָדַע דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן)-that is, the level which is supreme over all the governors of the four (דַּרְגָּא דְּאִיהוּ עֶלְיוֹן עַל כֻּלְּהוּ מְנָהֲגֵי אַרְבָּא). Who, hearing such a thing, would not be astounded in his mind, and say that there was no one in the world like him? (מַאן שָׁמַע הָכִי דְּלָא אִתְבְּהִיל בְּדַעְתֵּיהּ, וְיֵימָּא דְּלָא הֲוָה כְּגִינֵיהּ בְּעָלְמָא). But that wicked one praised himself in a hidden way and spoke words of truth, and stole the minds of the people of the world (אֶלָּא הַהוּא רָשָׁע מַשְׁבַּח גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּאֹרַח סָתִים וְאָמַר מִלֵּי קְשׁוֹט, וְגָנִיב דַּעְתָא דִּבְנֵי עָלְמָא). “As the vision of Shaddai he beholds” (אֲשֶׁר מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי יֶחֱזֶה) - whoever heard this, thought that he saw what no other in the world had seen (מַאן דְּשָׁמַע דָּא, חָשִׁיב דְּהֲוָה חָמֵי מַה דְּלָא חָמֵי אַחֲרָא בְּעָלְמָא). “The vision of Shaddai” - this is one branch (מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי, דָּא עַנְפָא חֲדָא), from those branches that came forth from Shaddai (מֵאִינּוּן עַנְפִין דַּהֲווֹ נָפְקִין מִשַּׁדַּי). And why? (וְלָמָּה). For in this wisdom he beheld three (דִּבְחָכְמְתָא דָּא, אַחְזֵי תְּלַת), corresponding to the shin of Shaddai (לָקֳבֵל שׁ׳ דְּשַׁדַּי), corresponding to the three branches in it (לָקֳבֵל תְּלַת עַנְפִין דְּבֵיהּ), and he beheld two prophets, with the wilderness, who were supported by it (וְאַחְזֵי תְּרֵין נְבִיאִין, בַּדֵי עֲרָבוֹת, דְּתַמְכִין בֵּיהּ).

Corresponding to seventy - two branches of the evil eye, to close them (לָקֳבֵל ע׳ תְּרֵין עַנְפִין דְּעֵינָא בִּישָׁא, לְסַתְמָא לוֹן). When Balak came, he said: I shall consume them (כַּד אָתָא בָּלָק, אָמַר אֲנָא אֵיכוּל לוֹן). Amalek, with this wisdom, came to them, and prevailed over them (עֲמָלֵק בַּהֲדֵי חָכְמְתָא דָּא אָתָא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, וְיָכִיל לוֹן). And he sent for Bilaam and said to him (וְשָׁדַר לְבִלְעָם, וְאָמַר לֵיהּ): I have in me the two letters of Amalek, which are Lamed and Kuf (אֲנָא תְּרֵי אַתְוָון דַּעֲמָלֵק אִית בִּי, דְּאִינּוּן ל״ק), which are the ending of Amalek (דְּאִינּוּן סִיּוּמָא דַּעֲמָלֵק). I - to me the Lamed and Kuf (אֲנָא לִי ל״ק), and Amalek - Lamed and Kuf (וַעֲמָלֵק ל״ק). To me the ending, and in you the remainder bet-lamed (לִי סִיּוּמָא, וּבָךְ שֵׁירוּתָא ב״ל).

Rabbi Shimon said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): Thus we say - the remainder of Balak is bet-lamed (הָכִי אֵימָא שֵׁירוּתָא דְּבָלָק ב״ל), and the remainder of Bilaam is bet-lamed (וְשִׁירוּתָא דְּבִלְעָם ב״ל). The remainder of Balak was in Bilaam (שֵׁירוּתָא דְּבָלָק הֲוָה בֵּיהּ בְּבִלְעָם), and the ending of Amalek was in Balak (וְסִיּוּמָא דַּעֲמָלֵק, הֲוָה בֵּיהּ בְּבָלָק). And the ending of Bilaam was the remainder of Amalek (וְסִיּוּמָא דְּבִלְעָם, הֲוָה שֵׁירוּתָא דַּעֲמָלֵק). And if you should say that they could not prevail against them, because of the sorceries of their master Moshe (וְאִי תֵּימָא דְּלָא נֵיכוּל לְהוֹן, בְּגִין דְּחַרְשַׁיָּא דְּרַבֵּהוֹן מֹשֶׁה), who would stretch forth his hand (דְּהֲוָה פָּשִׁיט יְדֵיהּ) - this hand is among those great ones, who are able through sorcery to strengthen more (הַאי יְדָא אִית בְּאִלֵּין רַבְרְבִין, דְּיַכְלֵי בְּחַרְשִׁין לְאִתְתַּקְּפָא יַתִיר). And this is what is written: “And divinations were in their hand” (וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב וּקְסָמִים בְּיָדָם) (Numbers 22). Not “in their hands” is it written, but “in their hand” (בִּידֵיהֶם לָא כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא בְּיָדָם) - hand against hand (יְדָא לָקֳבֵל יְדָא).

Thus Balak sent to Bilaam (הָכִי שָׁדַר לֵיהּ בָּלָק לְבִלְעָם). And therefore “the vision of Shaddai” as we have said (וּלְהָכִי מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי כִּדְאַמָרָן). And therefore they were punished, and punished Above (וּלְהָכִי אִתְעֲנָשׁוּ, וְאִתְעֲנָשׁוּ לְעֵילָּא), and were called “vision” (וְאִקְרוּן מַחֲזֵה), as you say: “And opposite panel to panel” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וּמוּל מֶחֱזָה אֶל מֶחֱזָה) (I Kings 7). A branch that came forth from there (עַנְפָא דְּנָפַק מִתַּמָּן). And who is that “vision”? Aza and Azael (וּמַאן הַהוּא מַחֲזֶה עֲזָא וְעַזָאֵל), who are “fallen and open-eyed” (דְּאִינּוּן נוֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם). And this is the vision of Shaddai, that he saw “fallen and open-eyed” (וְאִיהוּ מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי, דְּהֲוָה חָמָא נוֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם). Where was Bilaam at that time? (אָן הֲוָה בִּלְעָם בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא).

If you say in Midian (אִי תֵּימָא בְּמִדְיָן), behold it is written: “And now, behold, I go to my people” (הָא כְּתִיב וְעַתָּה הִנְנִי הוֹלֵךְ לְעַמִּי) (Numbers 24). If he went to them, who placed him in Midian? (אִי אָזַל לֵיהּ, מַאן יָהֲבֵיהּ בְּמִדְיָן). Rather, that wicked one, when he saw that twenty-four thousand of Yisrael fell by his counsel (אֶלָּא הַהוּא רָשָׁע, כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא דְּנָפְלוּ מִיִשְׂרָאֵל כ״ד אֶלֶף עַל עֵיטוֹי), he lingered there and sought reward from them (אִתְעַכָּב תַּמָּן וַהֲוָה בָּעֵי מִנַּיְיהוּ אַגְרוֹי). And while he lingered there, Pinchas and the chiefs of the army came there (וּבְעוֹד דְּאִתְעַכָּב תַּמָּן, אָתָא פִּנְחָס וְרַבְרְבָנֵי חֵילָא לְתַמָן). When he saw Pinchas, he flew in the air (כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא לְפִנְחָס, פָּרַח בַּאֲוִירָא), and two of his sons were with him, Yonos and Yombreos (וּתְרֵין בְּנוֹהִי עִמֵּיהּ, יוֹנוֹס וְיוֹמְבְּרוֹס). And if you say: but they died in the incident of the Calf, for they made it (וְאִי תֵּימָא, הָא מִיתוּ בְּעוֹבָדָא דְּעֵגֶל, דְּהָא אִינּוּן עַבְדוּ).

Rather, thus it surely was, and this is what is written: “And there fell of the people that day about three thousand men” (אֶלָּא הָכִי הֲוָה וַדָאי, וְדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב, וַיִּפּוֹל מִן הָעָם בַּיוֹם הַהוּא כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ) (Exodus 32). And did they not know a small reckoning such as this? (וְכִי לָא הֲווֹ יַדְעֵי חוּשְׁבָּנָא זְעֵירָא דָּא). And behold, there are many other reckonings, high and great, that the verse knew to count (וַהֲרֵי כַּמָה חוּשְׁבָּנִין אַחֲרָנִין, רָמָאִין עִלָּאִין וְרַבְרְבָנִין, יָדַע קְרָא לְמִמְנֵי), and here: “about three thousand men” (וְהָכָא כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ). Rather, these were the sons of Bilaam, Yonos and Yombreos, who were equal to about three thousand men (אֶלָּא אִינּוּן בְּנוֹי דְּבִלְעָם, יוֹנוֹ״ס וְיוֹמְבְּרוֹ״ס, דַּהֲווֹ שַׁקְלֵי כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ). But that wicked one knew all the sorceries of the world (אֶלָּא הַהוּא רָשָׁע, כָּל חַרְשִׁין דְּעָלְמָא הֲוָה יָדַע), and he took wing by the sorceries of his sons, in which they were practiced (וְנָטַל אוּף הָכִי חַרְשִׁין דִּבְנוֹי, דַּהֲווֹ רְגִילִין בְּהוּ), and by them he flew and was elevated (וּבְהוּ טָאס וְאִסְתְּלַּק). Pinchas saw him-that there was a man flying in the air, and he was ascending in the air, out of sight (פִּנְחָס חָמָא לֵיהּ, דְּהֲוָה בַּר נָשׁ חַד טָס בַּאֲוִירָא, וַהֲוָה מִסְתְּלַק בַּאֲוִירָא מֵעֵינָא). He raised his voice to the men of war and said (רָמָא קָלָא לִבְנֵי חֵילָא, אָמַר): Is there anyone who knows to fly after that wicked one-for that is Bilaam! (אִית מַאן דְּיָדַע לְמִפְרַח אֲבַּתְרֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא רָשָׁע, דְּהָא בִּלְעָם אִיהוּ), and they saw him, that he was flying (חָמוּ לֵיהּ דְּהֲוָה טָאס).