"And Elohim came to Bilaam at night"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda talks about the witchcraft that Bilaam made at night by summoning the chieftain of the left side. That Elohim was also summoned by the spells of Laban and Abimelech, as the name Elohim is shared by all - even idolatry is called Elohim, namely Other Elohim, and so are the chieftains of the Other Side.

Balaam Evil Gates Sorcery Sun Witchcraft

11. "And he said to them, 'Lodge here this night, and I will bring you back word, as Hashem shall speak to me" (Bemidbar 22:8). Come and behold: when the sun sets, and all the gates are closed, night falls and it becomes dark, many legions are loosed from their chains and roam about the world with several attendants over them to guide them. On the left side is the greatest chieftain among them all, that highest chieftain whom that evil man, BILAAM, visited by use of his spells. When he was in power with all his companions, he would perform witchcraft by night and THE CHIEFTAIN would come and be with him, and let him know what he wanted.

11. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם לִינוּ פֹה הַלַּיְלָה וַהֲשִׁיבוֹתִי אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֵלָי. ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּעָאל שִׁמְשָׁא, וְתַרְעִין כֻּלְּהוּ אַסְתִּימוּ, וְעָאל לֵילְיָא וְאִתְחֲשָׁךְ, כַּמָה חֲבִילֵי שָׁרָאן מְשַּׁלְשְׁלֵיהוֹן, וְאָזְלִין וְשָׁטָאן בְּעָלְמָא, וְכַמָּה רַבְרְבֵי מְמָנָן עָלַיְיהוּ דִּמְדַבְּרֵי לְהוּ. וְאִית מְמָנָא רַבְרְבָא עַל כֹּלָּא מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא וְהַהוּא רָשָׁע הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ לְגַבֵּי הַהוּא מְמָנָא עִלָּאָה מִכֹּלָּא בְּחַרְשׁוֹי. וְהוּא הֲוָה אָמַר בְּחַרְשׁוֹי בְּלֵילְיָא, בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִיהוּ שַׁלְטָא בְּכָל סִיעָתָא דִּילֵיהּ, וְהוּא הֲוָה אָתֵי לְאִשְׁתַּכְּחָא גַּבֵּיהּ, וְאוֹדַע לֵיהּ מַה דְּאִיהוּ בָּעֵי.

Abimelech Balaam Laban Philistines Sisra Sorcery Windows Witchcraft

12. In the same manner, "Elohim came to Laban the Arammian" (Beresheet 31:24), who was with him, NAMELY WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED CHIEFTAIN. ALSO, "And Elohim came to Abimelech" (Beresheet 20:3). It is all the same; he was universally summoned by the same spells, and was therefore more frequent by night than by day, SINCE THE NIGHT IS HIS TIME OF DOMINION. This has already been explained. Abimelech had many sorcerers and wise men, as it is written: "Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out at a window" (Beresheet 26:8). It says here, "out at a window," and elsewhere, "The mother of Sisera looked out at the window" (Shoftim 5:28). AS THE FORMER VERSE PERTAINS TO WITCHCRAFT, SO DOES THE LATTER ABOUT ABIMELECH. THEREFORE, IT ALSO SAYS, "AND ELOHIM CAME TO ABIMELECH," NAMELY THE CHIEFTAIN THAT IS SUMMONED THROUGH WITCHCRAFT. It was already explained that Laban WAS A SORCERER, as was Bilaam. HENCE, 'ELOHIM,' MENTIONED IN RELATION TO THEM, IS THE CHIEFTAIN.

12. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל לָבָן הָאֲרַמִי, הַהוּא דִּשְׁכִיחַ גַּבֵּיהּ. וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, כֻּלְּהוּ כְּגַוְונָא דָּא. בְּכָל אֲתַר אִקְרוּן לֵיהּ בְּאִינּוּן חַרְשִׁין, וְעַל דָּא הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ בְּלֵילְיָא יַתִּיר מִבִּימָמָא. וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ. וְכָל הָנֵי חַרְשִׁין וְחַכִּימִין הֲווֹ לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ, דִּכְתִּיב וַיַּשְׁקֵף אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ פְּלִשְׁתִּים בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן. כְּתִיב הָכָא בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן, וּכְתִיב הָתָם בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן נִשְׁקְפָה וַתְּיַבֵּב אֵם סִיסְרָא. לָבָן הָא אוּקְמוּהָ, בִּלְעָם כְּדֵין.

Abimelech Balaam Evil Idolatry Laban Other Side Sorcery Witchcraft Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH)

13. In relation to them all, it is therefore written, "Elohim," NOT YUD HEI VAV HEI, AS IT IS WRITTEN: "And Elohim came to Bilaam at night" (Bemidbar 22:20). "And Elohim came to Laban the Arammian;" "And Elohim came to Abimelech;" - "ELOHIM" BEING THE SAID CHIEFTAIN. He used to come to them, not they to him, since these CHIEFTAINS have no settled place. You may say it is written, "Elohim;" HOW CAN IT BE SAID IT IS THE OTHER SIDE? HE ANSWERS: The name ELOHIM is shared by all, even idolatry is called Elohim, namely Other Elohim. These chieftains are included amongst Other Elohim, and since they pertain to it, they are called BY THE NAME ELOHIM. That evil man used witchcraft to summon him, and he came to him. It is therefore written: "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you back word, as Hashem shall speak to me." IT DOES NOT SAY, "ELOHIM," since that evil man boasted AND SAID 'YUD HEI VAV HEI,' though it says of him, "And Elohim came" (Bemidbar 22: 9).

13. וְעַל דָּא בְּכֻלְּהוּ כְּתִיב אֱלֹהִים, וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל בִּלְעָם, וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל לָבָן, וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, הוּא אָתָא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, וְלָאו אִינּוּן לְגַבֵּיהּ, דְּהָא לֵית לְהוּ אֲתַר זַמִּין. וְאִי תֵּימָא, הָא כְּתִיב אֱלֹהִים. אֶלָּא, שְׁמָא דָּא אִשְׁתְּתַּף בְּכֹלָּא, וַאֲפִילּוּ עֲ"ז נָמֵי אֱלֹהִים אִקְרֵי, אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, וּבִכְלָלָא דֶּאֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים אִלֵּין מְמָנָן, וּבִכְלָלָא דָּא הֲווֹ, וּבְגִין כַּךְ אִקְרֵי הָכֵי. וְהַהוּא רָשָׁע הֲוָה אָמַר בְּחַרְשׁוֹי וְקָרֵי לֵיהּ, וְאָתֵי לְגַבֵּיהּ. וּבְגִין כַּךְ כְּתִיב לִינוּ פֹה הַלַּיְלָה וַהֲשִׁיבוֹתִי אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֵלָי. הַהוּא רָשָׁע קָא מְשַׁבַּח גַּרְמֵיהּ, דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ, אֶלָּא וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים.