437. "Then came Amalek, and fought with Yisrael in Refidim" (Shemot 17:8). Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion, saying: "Blessed are you that sow beside all waters, that let the feet of the ox and the donkey range freely" (Yeshayah 32:20). "Blessed are you that sow beside all waters." There we learned that there are various types of waters, THAT THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF LIGHTS, MEANING SWEET WATERS OF HOLINESS, BITTER WATERS, AND PROUD WATERS. Happy is Yisrael who sow their seeds only beside the water, IN ORDER TO SUBDUE ALL KINDS OF WATER OF THE OTHER SIDE. As it is written, "And they camped there by the water" (Shemot 15:27), MEANING over those waters that were under the branches of the tree of the Holy One, blessed be He, WHICH ARE THE TREACHEROUS WATERS, AS IT IS WRITTEN BEFORE US.
438. For we have learned that the Holy One, blessed be He, WHO IS BINAH, has a tree. And this tree is big and strong, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, and it contains food for all. And it is bordered with twelve borders, MEANING THREE COLUMNS TO EACH OF CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, WHICH ARE IN TOTAL TWELVE. And it is strengthened by the four corners of the world, THAT ARE CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT. And seventy branches are attached to it, WHO ARE THE SEVENTY MINISTERS OF THE SEVENTY NATIONS. And Yisrael are located in the trunk of this tree, and the seventy branches are around them - AROUND YISRAEL, WHO ARE ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK OF THE TREE.
439. This is what is meant by, "And they came to Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees" (Shemot 15:27), and we have already explained and learned the meaning of this in many places. What is the meaning of, "and they encamped there by the water?" At that time, Yisrael dominated those waters that were under the branches of the tree that are called "the proud water" (Tehilim 124:5). And referring to this IS WRITTEN, "Blessed are you that sow beside all waters," NAMELY, IN ORDER TO SUBDUE ALL KINDS OF WATERS OF THE OTHER SIDE.
440. "That let the feet of the ox and the donkey range freely." These are two crowns of the left that the heathen peoples joined to, which are called 'ox' and an 'ass.' This is as it is written, "And I have oxen, and donkeys (lit. 'an ox and an donkey')" (Beresheet 32:6). Laban was an expert with sorcery and these lower crowns, and he wanted to destroy Jacob with THE OX AND THE DONKEY, as it is written, "An Arammian wished to destroy my father" (Devarim 26:5). We have already learned that. When Yisrael is meritorious, they send them away so they cannot dominate them. This is the meaning of, "That let (lit. 'send away') the feet of the ox and the donkey range freely," so that they cannot dominate them.
441. Rabbi Aba said, When this pair is coupled together, the world is not able to tolerate it. And referring to this it is written, "You shall not plough with an ox and an donkey together" (Devarim 22:10). The word "together" IS precise. And we learned that a person should not give place to evil species. Because by the actions of a person, things are aroused that should not be. And when they paired together it was not possible to withstand them. From their side emerges a certain Klipah, called 'dog.' It is more disrespectful than all of them. This is what is meant by, "But against any of the children of Yisrael not a dog shall move its tongue" (Shemot 11:7). The Holy One, blessed be He, said, 'You said, "Is Hashem among us, or not?" Behold, I am giving you over to the dog.' Immediately, "Then came Amalek."
442. Rabbi Yehuda said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall be everlasting perdition" (Bemidbar 24:20). HE ASKS, Is Amalek really the first of the nations? Were there not many tongues, nations and peoples in the world before Amalek came?
443. HE ANSWERS, When Yisrael left Egypt, the fear and terror of Yisrael fell upon all the nations of the world. This is what is meant by, "The people shall hear, and be afraid, trembling shall take hold of the inhabitants of Pleshet" (Shemot 15:14). There was no nation that did not fear the superior might of the Holy One, blessed be He. But Amalek was not afraid, as it is written, "And he feared not Elohim" (Devarim 25:18). He did not fear to approach You. Therefore, he is the first among the nations.
444. The first who came to wage war against Yisrael was Amalek. Therefore, "his latter end shall be everlasting perdition," for it is written, "I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek" (Shemot 17:14), and, "You shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek" (Devarim 25:19). It is written, "His latter end shall be everlasting perdition" (Bemidbar 24:20). HE ASKS, Should it not have been written, 'His everlasting perdition?' AND HE ANSWERS, It means until the Holy One, blessed be He, comes and destroys him, as it is written, "I will utterly blot out..." Rabbi Elazar said, Come and behold. Even though "He is the Rock, His work is perfect," and He did kindness with them to bring forth water for them, He did not forsake His own, for it is written, "Then came Amalek"
445. Rabbi Aba opened the discussion, saying, "There is an ill evil which I have seen under the sun" (Kohelet 5:12). There are many people who have clogged hearts, because they are not occupied with Torah. "There is a sore evil." HE ASKS, Is there then an evil which is sore and an evil that is not sore? AND HE ANSWERS, Certainly, there is a sore evil, for we learned that from the left side there emerge Accusers who split the air.
446. And when they want to go out, they go and are swallowed in the hole of the great depth. And afterwards they emerge, join together, split airs and traverse through the world. And they approach people, and each one is called 'evil' as it is written, "No evil will befall you" (Tehilim 91:10), which means they came with false charges against people.