זוהר שמות — דף קיב ע”ב

The stars and constellations led peoples toward idolatry in two ways: by drawing their powers down to earth, and through oaths and conjurations. The Holy One blessed be He sought to bring judgment against them, so that the entire chain would fall and become useless. The hills mentioned in the verse refer to the Mothers, the sacred grades called virgins. Israel walked the paths of the higher grades until it associated with the lower grades. King Solomon would gaze each morning toward the four cardinal directions, returning from that foreign wisdom to declare: "I turned and saw all the oppressions done under the sun," accompanied by a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud.