161. Rabbi Elazar asked about Bilaam the wicked, who killed him and how he got killed. Rabbi Yitzchak said, Pinchas and his people killed him, as it says, "And they slew...beside the rest of them" (Bemidbar 31:8). We were taught that in the city of Midian, Bilaam was performing with his witchcraft and that he was flying in the air together with the kings of Midian. If not for the holy gold plate and the prayer of Pinchas that made them drop TO THE GROUND over their slain, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN VICTORIOUS OVER THEM. That is what is written: "AND THEY SLEW THE KINGS OF MIDIAN, beside the rest of them" and: "Bilaam also, of the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Yisrael slay with the sword" (Yehoshua 13:22). Rabbi Elazar said to him, I know all this.
162. Rabbi Shimon said, Elazar, all the sayings of Bilaam the wicked are harsh. The friends already explained them, as it is written: "And there arose not a prophet since in Yisrael like Moses" (Devarim 34:10). They said that one such did arise but not in Yisrael, rather among the nations of the world. Who was he? That was Bilaam. We have already explained this matter that just as there is no one like Moses in the higher crowns, there is no one like Bilaam in the lower crowns, this one in the aspect of holiness and that one in the aspect of the left since he had all this in his power and he was so strong in wisdom, a person who boasted with great power, as it is written: "While I go to the meeting yonder (Heb. coh)" (Bemidbar 23:15). HE MEANT TO SAY, I will uproot coh, WHICH IS MALCHUT, from here. How were they able, then, to kill him?
163. HE RESPONDS: However, in the book of wisdom of King Solomon, it says as follows that there are three indications, an indication of transgression is jaundice, an indication of nonsense is TOO MUCH talk and an indication that he knows nothing is one who keeps boasting. This one WHO BOASTS has outdone the rest, since he is a fool. He is SUSPECTED in all sinful transgressions and has everything in him.
164. HE ASKS: Yet it is written, "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth" (Mishlei 27:2), WHICH MEANS that if there is no stranger to praise you, then let your own mouth. HE RESPONDS: It is not so. However, THE EXPLANATION IS if there is no one who recognizes you, open your mouth to speak in matters of Torah. Inform the true things that are in the Torah and then, by opening your mouth in Torah matters, they will praise your words and they will know who you are. There is nothing in the world that tells as much about a person as when he opens his mouth, and his mouth informs people who he is.