408. The Cherubs were of gold, as we have established, because they are from the side of gold, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF FEAR THAT CHANGED INTO GLORY. Neither silver nor any other color is mixed in with them. This is greenish gold, NAMELY THE GOLD THAT IS AT THE HEAD OF MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED THUS. In the tabernacle, the colors gold and silver are mixed in order to go together, FOR SILVER AND GOLD ARE THEN RIGHT AND LEFT COMBINED WITH EACH OTHER, so that the supernal secret shall be in one. Also MIXED with them is brass, WHICH IS TIFERET, to be with them and to go with them to all the sides, NAMELY ALL THREE COLUMNS, RIGHT, LEFT, CENTRAL, so that there will be perfection in all of them as one, as it is written, "Gold, and silver, and brass" (Shemot 25:3).
409. Another explanation for "Gold, and silver" is that gold reverts to silver and silver reverts to gold, FOR THE RIGHT COLUMN WHICH IS SILVER IS COMBINED IN THE LEFT COLUMN WHICH IS GOLD AND SIMILARLY GOLD WITH SILVER. It is all combined together and in one place. They have returned into three colors. When joy is needed and not Judgment, it is gold, LEFT COLUMN. When Mercy is needed, MEANING CHESED, it is silver, RIGHT SIDE. And when the severity of Judgment is needed, IN ORDER TO SUBDUE THE LEFT SO THAT IT SHOULD UNITE WITH THE RIGHT, IT IS brass, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF TIFERET, THE CENTRAL COLUMN.
410. This is how Moses viewed the work of the brass serpent, for it is written, "And Moses made a serpent of brass" (Bemidbar 21:9). He knew the place of the melting of the gold, MEANING THE SUBJUGATION OF THE LEFT SIDE TO THE RIGHT THROUGH THE JUDGMENTS OF that brass, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN, because the serpent (Heb. nachash) is derived from brass (Heb. nechoshet). He knew its place, because the Holy One, blessed be He, just told him to make a fiery serpent, yet he made a brass serpent, as it is written, "And Moses made a serpent of brass." What is the reason?
411. HE ANSWERS, Hashem knew that was the essence of the matter, because it was first written, "And Hashem sent venomous serpents (lit. 'fiery serpents and snakes') among the people" (Ibid. 6), and, "Venomous serpents (Heb. 'nachash and saraf')" (Devarim 8:15), because their origin was the PRIMORDIAL serpent. Since Moses knew the essence and root and foundation of that place, he made a serpent and laid his hands upon it. What is the reason? Because the children of Yisrael sinned with their tongue, JUST LIKE THE SERPENT, as it is written, "And the people spoke against Elohim, and against Moses" (Bemidbar 21:5). Therefore, "Hashem sent venomous serpents among the people."
412. Moses only followed the source, WHICH IS THE SERPENT, and made a brass serpent in the manner needed, because its place was brass. The Holy One, blessed be He, did not tell him what form to make it, and Moses made it from brass as was necessary for its place. How do we know that? For it is written, "And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole" (Ibid. 9). What is "upon a pole?" MEANING on that mark that is above, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE JUDGMENTS OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN WHERE THEIR PLACE IS.
413. We have learned that this serpent always imitates the woman of valor, WHICH IS MALCHUT. The woman of harlotry, THE KLIPAH, wants to adorn herself similarly TO THE WOMEN OF VALOR, but cannot. The mark and letter of the woman of valor is the letter Hei, and so it befits her. The mark and letter of the woman of harlotry has to be similar, MEANING HEI, but she is not able to. Her letter is Kof, because her letter was prepared in the same manner as the letter Hei, just like a monkey (Heb. kof) by humans, for he follows humans TO IMITATE THEM but cannot do so. In the same way, Moses made that serpent on the mark that befits it. It is always ready to do evil. Adam sinned because of it and was driven from the Garden of Eden, where his dwelling place resembled the dwelling place above.