זוהר בראשית — דף קסו ע”ב

Rabbi Shimon explains “better to be lightly esteemed and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread”: one who does not follow the evil impulse and humbles his spirit before the Holy One, blessed be He, finds that impulse turned into his servant, while one who exalts himself lacks faith. In another reading, it is Jacob, who humbled himself before Esau so as to rule over him later. According to the text, “I have sojourned with Laban” recalls Laban the Aramean, a master of sorcery and divination who wanted to destroy Jacob and from whom Balaam drew his knowledge. “Ox, donkey, flock, servant, and maidservant” are explained as lower judgments and powers that the Holy One, blessed be He, struck in Egypt. The end opens a parable about a man on the road and robbers.