178. Come and see that wicked man, about whom it is written: "And he went to a steep place (Heb. shefi)" (Bemidbar 23:3). This is one of his higher levels, which is the male snake. Tzelyah took both male and female and, through this, he was able to overpower him, because he took over the charge that was dominating them and they were subjugated to him. This was "an adder (Heb. shefifon) in the path" (Beresheet 49:17), which is on the same path that this wicked one took, as it is written: "Dan shall be a serpent by the way" (Ibid.), which refers to Samson. "An adder in the path" refers to Tzelyah.