165. The evil Bilaam used to praise himself in everything. With all these, he used to deceive people's minds and reached a high level with his RHETORICAL speeches. He used to make mountains out of molehills. Whatever he said was about these levels of filthy speech, and he spoke the truth. However, that wicked one used to speak and heap praise upon himself disguised manner and arrogantly speak highly UNTIL whoever listened to him would think that he had exceeded above all the prophets of the world, as it says, "The saying of him, who hears the words of El, and knows the knowledge of the most High" (Bemidbar 24:16). Who in the world could hear such talk, and imagine any other prophet in the world as trustworthy.

166. It was indeed true and so it was. "The saying of him who hears the words of El," so it was "And knows the knowledge of the most high," so it was. This evil man was speaking of the levels to which he was attached. "Who hears the words of El." He heard matters that are of the highest level, AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE LIKE THEM.

167. So he said, "Who hears the words of El." It is not written, 'the El' since "as for the El, His way is perfect" (Tehilim 18:31). However, simply, "El," which is another El, AS IT IS WRITTEN: "for you shall worship no other El" (Shemot 34:14). THEREFORE, "who hears the words of El" is merely a minor thing, yet to whoever is unaware and does not recognize it, it seems that it is a great and high achievement. "Who hears the words of El" means that which is called a strange El, is as it is written: "For you shall worship no other El."

168. "And knows the knowledge of the most High." THE EXPLANATION IS that THE HIGHEST over all the levels of defilement are the ones that steer and lead the ship of the sea and the storm WINDS. They are forty minus one. The captain of the ship, who leads them all, is the highest over all. In that HIGHEST one, this wicked one was connected, and about him he said that he knows "the knowledge of the most High," meaning the highest level of all those who steer the ships OF DEFILEMENT. Who could hear his talk and would not become afraid in his mind and say that there was no one like him! However, that wicked one used to acclaim himself in a vague manner and speak truthful words, except that he used to deceive the minds of the people BECAUSE HE USED TO SPEAK ABOUT LEVELS OF DEFILEMENT. AND THE ONES WHO LISTENED THOUGHT THAT HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THE HIGHEST SANCTITY.

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.

171. You might say that we cannot succeed against them because of the witchcraft of their master Moses, when he extends his hand, MEANING "MOSES STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND OVER THE SEA" (SHEMOT 14:27) AND OTHER INSTANCES. Here, this hand exists among these chiefs, who are more powerful with witchcraft. This is what is written: "Divination in their hand" (Bemidbar 22:7). It is not written, 'in their hands,' but rather: "in their hand," meaning hand against the hand OF MOSES, which is how Balak sent to Bilaam.

172. (SOME MISSING HERE). Therefore, "who sees the vision (Heb. machazeh) of Shadai" is as we explained. Therefore, they were punished and they were punished above, and they were called 'visionaries,' as it is written: "And light (Heb. mechezeh) was against light" (I Melachim 7:5), which is the branch that emerges from there. Who is that visionary? That is Uza and Azael, who are the "falling down, but having his eyes open" (Bemidbar 24:4) and that is the "the vision of Shadai," which he saw when falling down and with open eyes...(SOME MISSING HERE).