97. Come and see that, in spite of all this, the wicked of Midian did not rest from all their evil. Generations later, when they saw that Joshua had died, together with all the elders who were worthy to have miracles performed through them, they figured that the time was now opportune. What did they do? They approached Amalek and told them, It is worth it for you to remember what the children of Yisrael and their master Moses and his disciple Joshua have brought upon you that will destroy you. Now is the opportune time, for they have no one to shield them. We will go and accompany you, as it is written: "Midian and Amalek and the children of the east..." (Shoftim 6:33). "And because of Midian Yisrael made for themselves the tunnels..." (Ibid. 2). There was no one in the world who wished to harm the children of YISRAEL like Midian. You might say Amalek; because of jealousy of the covenant, they approached the covenant TO HARM IT. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, took everlasting vengeance, which was not to be forgotten. They agreed that it was certainly so and there was no doubt at all.

169. "Who sees the vision of Shadai:" Whoever hears this thinks that he actually used to see what no other visionary saw. HOWEVER, "the vision of Shadai" is one branch of the branches that emerge from the name Shadai. Why IS IT SO? Because among this wisdom OF THEIRS there are seen three BRANCHES, corresponding to the Shin of Shadai that correspond to the three branches OF THE SHIN OF SHADAI, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET. There are seen CORRESPONDING to the two prophets TWO twigs of the willows, WHICH ARE NETZACH AND HOD that support TIFERET AND corresponding to the 72 branches of the evil eye, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE NAME OF 72 OF SANCTITY, THAT IS THE SECRET OF THE BENEVOLENT EYE, to block them, AND ALL THIS EXISTS IN CHOCHMAH OF THE KLIPOT. When Balak came, he said to himself, I will be successful against them, since Amalek attacked them with this wisdom and was successful against them.

170. He sent to Bilaam and said to him, I have within my name the two letters of Amalek, which are Lamed Kof, the ending of the name Amalek. I have Lamed Kof, and Amalek's ending is Lamed Kof. I have the ending. And you have the beginning, Bet Lamed. Rabbi Shimon said to him, Here is how I say it. The beginning of THE NAME Balak is Bet Lamed and the beginning of the name of Bilaam is Bet Lamed; hence, the beginning of Balak was with Bilaam. The ending OF THE NAME of Amalek, MEANING LAMED KOF, was in Balak and the ending of Bilaam, WHICH IS AM is in the beginning of Amalek. SO WE FIND THAT THE SUFFIX OF BILAAM WHICH IS AM AND THE SUFFIX OF BALAK, THAT IS LAMED KOF, SPELL AMALEK.

276. King David said, "For, lo, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow..." (Tehilim 11:2). Although we already explained that this verse is about Shevna and Yoach, the chief ministers of Hezekiah, it is also said, referring to Samael and his retinue, that all his counsels and advice were against Yisrael. Balak and Bilaam tread exactly the same path, THAT OF SAMAEL AND HIS RETINUE and we learned that they formed an evil partnership. They said, Amalek IS SPELLED am lak, meaning a nation (Heb. am) that smote (Heb. lakah) them, like a snake that strikes with his tail. They figured that we are more THAN THEY ARE, because Balak IS SPELLED ba lak, meaning came (Heb. ba), he who smote (Heb. lakah) them as he wishes. Bilaam CONSISTS OF THE LETTERS bal am, meaning there are no (Heb. bal) people (Heb. am) and no shepherd. Our name will cause their destruction and uprooting from the world.