151. Come and see the offerings and gifts that Yisrael received from the CHIEFS OF THESE NATIONS, because of which neither death nor the Other Side could dominate them, and not only that, they received the Torah without any protest. They also received gifts and presents from all. When they sinned, it is written: "And the children of Yisrael stripped themselves of their ornaments" (Shemot 33:6), which are "gifts from men," WHICH THEY RECEIVED. What was left of them? Just that captivity, which is written: "You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive, YOU HAVE RECEIVED GIFTS FROM (ALSO: 'WITH') MEN."
152. When they sinned again, it is written: "And when the Canaanite, the king of Arad...heard...then he fought against Yisrael, and took some of them prisoners" (Bemidbar 21:1), MEANING THAT HE TOOK FROM THEM THEIR REMAINING CAPTIVITY. As long as Yisrael will repent before their Father in heaven, these gifts will be returned to them and they will shelter them. In the future to come, everything will be returned, as it is written: "And then Hashem your Elohim will return your captivity..." (Devarim 30:3). From here on, speak your words.
153. Rabbi Yosi said, "Hashem, when you did go out of Seir, when you did march out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled..." (Shoftim 5:4). That was during the time when the Holy One, blessed be He, returned from Seir, because they didn't accept the Torah. "The earth trembled:" What is the reason that it trembled? It is because it wanted to return to formlessness and void. The Holy One, blessed be He, made a condition with the world that if the children of Yisrael accept the Torah, it is good but if not, I will return you to formlessness and void. When the earth noticed that the Holy One, blessed be He, invited all the nations to accept the Torah, but they didn't accept, and from all the nations, only Yisrael were left, the earth thought that Yisrael, too, would refuse to accept the Torah as the others did. Due to this, "the earth trembled;" as soon as YISRAEL said, "Will we do, and obey" (Shemot 24:7) immediately, it quieted down. This is what is written: "The earth feared, and was still." First it "feared," then "was still" (Tehilim 76:9).
154. Come and see: Because Yisrael said, "will we do," they were neither afraid of any deeds that the practitioners of witchcraft of the world were capable of doing nor of any sorcerers in the world. What is the reason? One is THAT THEY SAID, "WILL WE DO" and one is because the Holy One, blessed be He, broke all the witchcraft and sorcery before the children of Yisrael, when He took them out of Egypt, so that they should have no effect on them. When Balak came, he was aware of it. Immediately, "he sent messengers to Bilaam the son of Beor to Petor, which is by the river" (Bemidbar 22:5). What is Petor? It is that he prepared a table (Aram. Ptora) from which to ask for counsel as to what to do. "by the river:" HE ASKS: It should have said 'two rivers (Heb. naharaim),' SINCE HE WAS FROM ARAM NAHARAIM (ENG. 'TWO RIVERS'). HE REPLIES: He certainly dwells at all times on one river, MEANING TO SAY THE TABLE OF THE KLIPAH, WHICH IS MALCHUT OF KLIPAH, STANDS ABOVE ONE RIVER OF THAT KLIPAH, WHICH IS YESOD OF THE KLIPAH.
155. Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Aba went to see Rabbi Yosi, son of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakunya, father-in-law of Rabbi Elazar. They rose at midnight to study the Torah. They sat. Rabbi Elazar said, Now is the time that the Holy One, blessed be He, enters the Garden of Eden to be merry with the righteous that are there. Rabbi Aba said, What is this joy and how does He rejoice in them? Rabbi Elazar said, This matter is a secret sealed with me that is not known TO ALL, AND HE DID NOT WANT TO DIVULGE IT. RABBI ABA said to him, Were then the great pillars in the world before us empty, THAT YOU SAY that they did not know OF THIS SECRET AND IT IS IMPROPER TO REVEAL IT? HAD THEY not pursue the knowledge of the reason of their existence in this world, and what they can expect in the World to Come. THEN MOST DEFINITELY, THEY TOO WERE AWARE OF THIS SECRET; THEREFORE, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DIVULGE IT.
156. Rabbi Elazar opened the discussion with the verse: "Hashem, You are my Elohim; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name; for You have done..." (Yeshayah 25:1). This verse in the scripture is the secret of the Faith. Yud Hei Vav Hei is the top secret and is the beginning of the higher point that is concealed and not known, THAT IS, ABA AND IMA UP HIGH, WHO ARE THE SECRET OF CHOCHMAH. AND THEY ARE CONCEALED FROM CHOCHMAH, ENTIRELY UNKNOWN. "My Elohim" is the secret meaning of "a still small voice" (I Melachim 19:12) THAT IS YISRAEL-SABA AND TEVUNAH, WHICH IS THE SECRET MEANING OF BINAH. That is the beginning of that which may be inquired into. HOWEVER, it becomes concealed and unknown, and there is no one that responds to it; ALTHOUGH IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INQUIRY, AVAILABLE TO BE REVEALED BUT RATHER IN THE PLACE OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, because it is concealed, covered and hidden.