323. Similar to this, "Bilaam lifted up his eyes" (Bemidbar 24:2). It is written "eye:" that refers to the evil eye that wished to stare at them, MEANING THAT HE ROUSED AGAINST THEM THAT EVIL KLIPAH CALLED 'EVIL EYE.' "And he saw Yisrael abiding according to their tribes" (Ibid.): What is the meaning of "according to their tribes?" HE REPLIES: It only refers to the tribes of Joseph and Benjamin that were there. Upon the tribe of Joseph, no evil eye can have any effect, as it is written: "Joseph is a fruitful bough" (Beresheet 49:22). What does "a fruitful bough" mean? It means that he increased and spread about to cover his mother FROM THE EVIL EYE OF ESAU, AS MENTIONED EARLIER. "A fruitful bough by a well" means that no evil eye can affect him. It is written about the tribe of Benjamin: "And he shall dwell between his shoulders" (Devarim 33:12) and: "He shall dwell in safety" (Ibid.). What does "in safety" indicate? It means that he has no fear of the evil eye and is not afraid of any evil plague.

324. The wicked one said, I will remove AND MAKE VOID this line OF THE TRIBES OF JOSEPH AND BENJAMIN, so that they will not last IN THE WORLD, and I will gaze at them WITH MY EVIL EYE as is required. Rachel was present there and noticed that the eye of the wicked one was focussed to do harm. What did she do? She came out and spread her wings over them, which covered over her children. This is what it says: "And Bilaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Yisrael." Once the Holy Spirit, WHICH IS MALCHUT CALLED 'RACHEL,' noticed the focussed eye OF BILAAM, instantly "the spirit of Elohim came upon him." Upon whom WAS THE SPIRIT OF ELOHIM? THAT MEANS upon Yisrael, THAT THE SPIRIT OF ELOHIM spread its wings and covered over them. Immediately, the wicked one retreated.