Kabbalah zu Schemuel I 28:78

This is God’s camp (Gen. 32:3).²This preface, which is a pastiche of citations from the Bible and rabbinic literature, is exceedingly difficult to translate lucidly. The generation of those who seek Him (Ps. 24:6) will rejoice in His deeds (Ps. 149:2) like a dance of two companies (Song of Songs 7:1). Our eyes have seen and were astonished [at these teachings] arising out of the earth (I Sam. 28:13) to plant the heavens (Isa. 51:16). Like the coming out of the sun at noontime, a bright light is upon them (Isa. 9:1). The opening of their words gives light (Ps. 119:130) and shines on a divine vision to those who are sanctified in the treasure-house of the secrets of Torah which is arrayed and guarded from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of leopards (Song 4:8) [and] overlaid with sapphires (Song 5:14).

He asks, what is a watcher (ir) and answers, he explained in the book of Aggadah that it is similar to “and become your enemy (ar)” (I Shmuel 28:16). For the judgments rise against those who are not beloved above; those who arise to execute judgment are their enemies. They are therefore called watchers. Nevertheless, the decree is formed in two ways – with mercy and with judgment; hence, they are called watchers and holy ones – judgment and mercy, referring to the verse, “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones.” Watcher indicates judgment and holy one mercy.