תורה 101

4. This is the meaning of [the opening verse]: {“When mrei’im (evildoers) come close to consume my flesh—it is they, my foes and my enemies, who st umble and fall.”} When mRei’Im come close—This corresponds to the “two Rei’In (friends) who never separate,” which are Y-H, the wisdom of the Torah, the aspect of adam. One must to consume my flesh—that is, to consume and kill my atzmiyut (essence), since “the Torah is not retained except by one who kills atzmo (himself) over it,” as explained above.

And then, automatically, it is they, my foes and my enemies, who st umble and fall—all the foes and enemies in the grip of a darkened countenance stumble and fall. This is because the aspect of a darkened countenance is eliminated, and one merits a shining countenance, the wisdom of the Torah. This is the aspect of Y-H, the “two friends who never separate,” the specific reason Israel is referred to as “adam,” as explained above. And then, all the foes and enemies in the grip of a darkened countenance, of evil desires and traits, stumble and fall—because one merited a shining countenance.