A parable: a man came into a city and heard that a spectacle [pluteimia] was to be held [in the arena, where condemned men are killed]. He went and asked the ludar [one of the men who would be killed in it], “When will the spectacle be held?” He said to him, “It is far off.” He went and asked the one who puts on the spectacle, and he said, “It is near.” He said, “Did I not ask the ludar, and he told me it is far off?” He said to him, “Is this your good sense, that you asked the ludar? Does he want me to hold the spectacle? Does he not know that he goes down [into the arena] and is killed?” So Yisrael asked Bilam, “When will the salvation be?” He said to them, “I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near” (Bamidbar 24:17). HaKadosh Baruch Hu said to him [to Yisrael]: “Is this your good sense? Do you not know that Bilam’s end is to go down to Gehinnom, and he does not want My salvation to come? Rather, be like your father, who said, ‘I hope for Your salvation, Hashem’ (Bereishis 49:18): look to the salvation, for it is near.” Therefore it says, “For My salvation is near to come” (Yeshayahu 56:1).