Zohar from Scratch #11 The Staff of Moses

(3) 3. Therefore it is written, "and the river is parched, and dries up" (Job 14:11). It "is parched" at the first Temple and "dries up" at the second. For this reason, "He slew two lion-hearted men of Moab." Moab (is) מֵאָב דְּבִשְׁמַיָא, or from our Father in Heaven. And both Temples were destroyed because of Him, as all the lights that shone upon Yisrael were now darkened.

(4) 4. Further, "He went down and slew the lion" (II Samuel 23:20). In early days, when this river's waters flowed downward, Yisrael were in a state of perfection, because they offered their offerings and sacrifices to atone for their sins and purify their souls. Then, from above, the image of a lion descended. They saw it on the altar, as it crouched on its prey, consuming it like a mighty man. And all the dogs hid from it and did not come out.

(5) 5. The sins caused him to go down to the lower levels and slay the lion. The lion refused to give up its prey as before, (as if) he killed it! Assuredly, "He slew the lion." "In the midst of a pit"(Ibid.) in front of the eyes of the Other Evil Side. And because the Other Side saw this, it gained courage and sent a dog to eat the offerings. And what is the name of that lion? Oriel, אוֹרִיאֵ''ל, as he had the face of a lion. And what is the name of that dog? Baladan, בְּלַאדָן is its name, because Baladan is formed by the same letters as the words Bal (not) and Adam (Man), with the final Mem exchanged for Nun. And it is not a human being, but a dog with the face of a dog.

(6) 6. "In a day of snow" (II Shmuel 23:20) (is) the day when the sins caused the sentence to be pronounced by the Court on high. Therefore, it is written, "She is not afraid of the snow" (Prov. 31:21), which symbolizes the judgment on high. Because "all her household are clothed with scarlet" (Ibid.). She can endure the strong fire. Up to this point, the secret of the verse is not revealed.

(7) 7. What is written next? "And he slew the Egyptian, a man of good appearance" (II Samuel 23:21). Here the secret of the verse is revealed to let us know that every time Yisrael sinned, he went away and prevented them from receiving all the blessings and all the lights that shone upon them. "He slew the Egyptian." This is the light, the same Light that shone upon Yisrael. And who is he? Moses. As he is described in the verse, "And they said an Egyptian man delivered us" (Ex. 2:19). Because he was born and grew up (in Egypt) until he rose to reach the Supernal Light.

(8) 8. "A man of good appearance (Heb. מַרְאֶה)." This is, as it is written, "manifestly (Heb. מַרְאֶה), and not in dark speeches" (Num. 12:8). "A man," is, as it is written, "the man of Elohim" (Deut. 33:1). This is the husband of that "appearance," the glory of Hashem (i.e. Malchut). Because he earned the right to lead this grade over the land, as he wished, a feat that no other man had achieved.

(9) 9. "And the Egyptian had a spear in his hand" (2 II Samuel 23:21). This refers to the rod of Elohim that was delivered into his hand. As it is written, "With the rod of Hashem in my hand" (Ex. 17:9). And this is the same rod that was created at the twilight of Shabbat eve and was engraved with the Holy Name by a holy shaping. And with this rod Moses committed the sin of smiting the rock, as is written, "And he smote the rock with his rod twice" (Num. 20:11). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "Moses, I have not given you My rod for this purpose; by your life, from henceforward, it will not be in your hands any more."

(10) 10. Immediately, "he went down to him with a staff" (II Samuel 23:21), (which is) harsh Judgment, "and plucked the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian" (Ibid.). From that moment onward, he lost the rod and could never regain it. "And slew him with his own spear" (Ibid.) - because of the sin of smiting with the rod, he died and did not enter the Holy Land, thereby causing this light to be withheld from Yisrael.