Zohar Beha'alotcha

The friends know how to proceed in the right way, MEANING IN THE CENTRAL COLUMN, to establish the deeds properly. And with this name of Ayin-Bet (72), that is the knot of the Patriarchs, are found ways to Judgment, to Mercy, to help, to kindness, to awe, to Torah, to life, to death, to good and bad. Praised are those virtuous ones who know the manners of the Torah and know to go in the ways of the Holy King. They are praised in this world and the World to Come.

81. Here, it is hinted that "the waters were made sweet." This is what is written: "and Hashem showed him a tree...the waters were made sweet" (Shemot 15:25). It is apparent from here that for whoever strives in the Torah, which is the Tree of Life, it is said about his sins: "and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage" (Shemot 1-14). The Holy One, blessed be He, forgives them and they BECOME sweet again, MEANING THAT THE INIQUITIES TURN TO BECOME LIKE MERITS.

82. Days will come of which will be fulfilled, like in the time of the exodus from Egypt, what is written there: "and Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation" (Ibid. 6). In the last exile, death is nothing but poverty, since a poor person is regarded as dead. The verse will be fulfilled of them: "and I will leave in the midst of you a poor and lowly people, and they shall trust in the Name of Hashem" (Tzefanyah 3:12). It will also be fulfilled in relation to them: "and the afflicted people You will save" (II Shmuel 22:28). Those rich that will survive among them, this will be fulfilled about them: "you are idle, you are idle" (Shemot 5:17). They are slack in learning Torah, slow to do kindness toward Torah people, and people of virtue that wander from city to city are not received graciously.