Another matter: “The wise man, his eyes are in his head” (Ecclesiastes 2:14) – this is Moses; “but the fool walks in darkness” (Ecclesiastes 2:14) – this is the wicked Bilam. “I also know that one event will happen to them all, I said in my heart [like the fate of the fool, so will befall me]” (Ecclesiastes 2:14–15) – this one is called prophet and that one is called prophet; if so, “why did I become wiser?”
Why did I give my life for the sake of the Torah?48This sentence is stated from the perspective of Moses. Then I said: “For there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool forever…everything is forgotten.” Tomorrow, the Israelites encounter trouble, and say: “He remembered the days of old, Moses, his people…” (Isaiah 63:11). Do the nations of the world say: He remembered the days of old, Bilam, his people? That is what is written: “How can the wise man die like the fool?”