זוהר, וישלח י״בZohar, Vayishlach 12

Segment 1א׳

תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה דַרְגִין וְסִטְרִין מִתְפָּרְשָׁן לְעֵילָא וְכֻלְּהוּ מְשַׁנְיָין דָּא מִן דָּא. חֵיוָון מְשַׁנְיָין אִלֵּין מֵאִלֵּין, אִלֵּין מְקַטְרְגִין לְשַׁלְּטָאָה עַל אִלֵּין וּלְמִטְרַף טַרְפִין כָּל חַד וְחַד לְזִינֵיהּ.

The companions have remarked that there exist a variety of grades and sides on high, each one different from the other, serpents of all sorts, one kind endeavouring to gain dominion over the other and to devour prey, each according to its kind.

Segment 2ב׳

מִסִּטְרָא דְרוּחָא מְסָאֲבָא כַּמָּה דַרְגִּין מִתְפָּרְשִׁין, וְכֻלְּהוּ כָּמַן לְקַטְרְגָא אִלֵּין לָקֳבֵיל אִלֵּין, דְּהָא כְּתִיב (דברים כ״ב:י׳) לֹא תַחֲרשׁ בְּשׁוֹר וּבַחֲמֹר יַחְדָּו, דְּכַד קָא מִתְחַבְּרָן מְקַטְרְגֵי עַלְמָא.

From the side of the unclean spirit ever so many grades branch out, and all of them lie in wait to bring accusations against each other. Hence it is written: “Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together” (Deut. 22, 10), inasmuch as when these are joined together they bring accusations against mankind.

Segment 3ג׳

וְתָּא חֲזֵי, תִּיאוּבְתָּא דְדַרְגִין מְסָאֲבִין לָאו אִיהוּ אֶלָּא לְקַטְרְגָא בְּסִטְרִין קַדִּישִׁין. יַעֲקֹב דְּאִיהוּ קַדִּישָׁא, כֻּלְּהוּ כָּמַן לֵיהּ וְקִטְרְגוּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ. בְּקַדְמִיתָא נָשְׁכֵיהּ חִוְיָא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר וַיִּגַּע בְּכַף יֻרִכוֹ, הַשְׁתָּא נָשְׁכֵיהּ חֲמוֹר.

Observe further that the great desire of the unclean grades is to find matter of charge against the holy sides. Thus, since Jacob was a holy man, they all lay in wait for him and contended with him. First the serpent bit him when he touched the hollow of his thigh, and now the ass bit him.