Vedibarta Bam � And You Shall Speak of Them: Balak

"And Balak saw." (22:2)

QUESTION: The names of the three parshiot, Korach, Chukat and Balak each contain the letter kuf. Of what significance is the fact that in Korah the kuf is at the beginning (Korach), in Chukat it is in the middle (Chukat), and in Balak it is at the end (Balak)?

ANSWER: The letter kuf is the first letter of the word kedushah � holiness. The kufs at the beginning, middle and end represent past, present and future.

Korach's attachment to holiness was a thing of the past. His geneology is traced to Yaakov. When one is defiled he is detached from holiness. Through being sprinkled with the ashes of the red heifer he now becomes cleansed of his defilement and thus regains his sanctity. Balak's attachment to holiness was a matter of the future. Among his future would be his granddaughter Ruth, who was the ancestor to King David and Mashiach.

"And Balak saw all that Israel had done to the Amorite ...And Balak was king of Moav at that time." (22:2,4)

QUESTION: Why isn't he referred to as "king" in the first pasuk?

ANSWER: Balak was not actually the king of Moav, but rather an exceptional Jew-hater who only "saw" what the Jews did to the Amorites. He refused to understand that the Jews only acted in self-defense against the Amorites, who, for no reason, declared war against the Jews.

Balak began to agitate among the people of Moav and make them afraid of the "Jewish peril." Because of his intense anti-Semitism, the people of Moav then decided to make him king.

"Moab became very frightened of the people, because it was numerous and Moab was disgusted because of the Children of Israel." (22:3)

QUESTION: Why does it first say "am" � "people" � and then "B'nei Yisrael" � "Children of Israel"?

ANSWER: When the Jewish people left Egypt, a large contingent of Egyptians went along with them. They were known as the "Eirev-rav" � "mixed multitude" (Shemot 12:38).

Moab was well aware that Hashem forbade the Jewish people to attack them (Devarim 2:9). However, their fear was that the Eirev-rav would not consider themselves bound by this prohibition and attack anyway.

Inherent in the gentile world is hatred for Jews. Regardless of what situation the Jews may be in, be it good or bad, the world hates them simply because they are an independent people who do not assimilate.

Therefore, to describe the feelings of Moab, the pasuk says that they feared ha'am � the people � i.e. the Eirev-rav and in addition, "vayakutzu mipenei B'nei Yisrael" � "they were disgusted with the Children of Israel." Though they were confident the Jews would not harm them, being gentiles, they hated them simply because they were Jews.

"He sent messengers to Bilaam son of Be'or to Pethor." (22:5)

QUESTION: What is the significance of the name "Bilaam"?

ANSWER: According to Targum Yonatan ben Uziel (31:8) Bilaam was notorious for four attempts to destroy the Jewish people. 1) He was Lavan the Aramean, who wanted to destroy our forefather Yaakov. 2) He advised Pharaoh to torture the Jews in Egypt. 3) He incited the wicked Amalek to declare war against the Jews. 4) Upon Balak's invitation, he came to curse the Jews, and he advised Balak to encourage harlotry among the Jews.

The word Bilaam (Bilaam) is an acronym for Balak, Lavan, Amalek, Mitzrayim.

"Behold! A people has come out of Egypt, behold it has covered the surface of the earth." (22:5)

QUESTION: The entire world knew that the Jews had left Egypt. Why did Balak need to mention it now to Bilaam?

ANSWER: When Yaakov and his family came to Egypt, they miraculously grew in number. Pharaoh, fearing that ultimately the Jews would take control of the land, consulted his three advisors: Bilaam, Iyov, and Yitro. Bilaam advised him to stop the growth of the Jewish people by casting the newborn babies into the Nile River and torturing the people with excruciating labor (Sotah 11a).

Balak now complained to Bilaam, "Obviously your idea failed: Not only did they multiply and survive, but they even managed to leave Egypt valiantly. Since they pose a threat to me, it is incumbent upon you to do something to stop these people. I implore you to curse them!"

Balak sent messengers to convey his request that Bilaam come to curse the Jewish people, saying, "ulai uchal nakeh bo" � "perhaps I will be able to strike them" (22:6). Instead of expressing doubt, he should have spoken with confidence, telling Bilaam that with his curses he would definitely be able to defeat the people?

In view of the above, that he was disappointed with Bilaam's performance, it is clear that although he wanted Bilaam to try again to harm the Jewish people, inwardly he doubted that Bilaam could really accomplish anything.

"So now, I beseech you, come and curse this people for me, for it is too powerful for me." (22:6)

QUESTION: The word "li" � "for me" � seems superfluous; would it not have been sufficient to say, "Come and curse this people"?

ANSWER: Moshe was commanded by Hashem not to be at enmity with Moav and not to contend with them in battle (Devarim 2:9). They merited this because a Moabite woman, the pure and righteous Ruth, would be the ancestor of King David and Mashiach (Bava Kamma 38b). According to the Gemara (Sotah 47a) Ruth was the daughter of King Eglon, who was a descendant of Balak, king of Moav.

Balak, the king of Moav hated the Jewish people and wanted to hurt them in any way possible. Consequently, he called upon Bilaam and beseeched him "arah li" � "curse me" � "pray that something catastrophic happen to me, and thus there will be no Ruth, no David and no Mashiach." The lack of King David and Mashiach, G-d forbid, would be the greatest curse against the Jewish people.

When Balak sent his request to Bilaam he said "ki atzum hu mimeni" � "for he is too powerful for me." Since he was talking about the Jewish community he should have spoken in plural: "ki atzumim heim mimenu" � "for they are too powerful for us."

In accordance with the above, that Balak's concern was to prevent the existence of King David, he asked for a curse against himself because he feared King David's future power. Moav was destined to be destroyed by him (see 24:17 and II Samuel 8:2), but with Balak wiped out, King David would never be born.

He intentionally used the singular "Atzum hu mimeni" because he meant that David's strength is inherited � "mimeni" � from me � since he is my descendent."

"So now, I beseech you, come and curse this people for me... perhaps I will be able to strike them and drive them away from the land." (22:6)

QUESTION: The words "ve'agareshenu min ha'aretz" � "and drive them away from the land" � are superfluous. Don't the words "nakeh bo" � strike him � imply that the Jewish presence would be permanently removed?

ANSWER: The Midrash Rabbah (20:7) says that Balak told Bilaam that just as when one buys produce he expects one twenty-fourth of every se'ah (1 se'ah = approx. 2.2 gallons) to be spoiled (Bava Batra 93b), likewise, he sought to reduce the number of Jews by one twenty-fourth of every thousand people. Why did Balak seek to reduce them specifically by this amount?

The count of the Jewish people recorded in the beginning of Bamidbar (2:32) was 603,550. In addition to this, the tribe of Levi was counted separately and totaled 22,300 (3:39, Rashi). Thus, the census of the Jewish people totaled 625,850. One twenty-fourth of the total count of the Jewish people amounts to 26,077. If Balak had realized his wish, the remaining total of the Jewish people would have been only 599,773.

According to a Midrash, in order for the Jewish people to be worthy of entering Eretz Yisrael, their number had to be at least 600,000. Consequently, if their number had been reduced by one twenty-fourth, they would not have been able to enter Eretz Yisrael and would have remained wandering in the desert.

Balak vehemently hated and feared the people of Israel, and intended two types of harm against them: 1) "Nakeh bo" � physical defeat, and 2) "ve'agareshenu min ha'aretz" � expulsion from the land. By reducing the people by one twenty-fourth, they would not be worthy to enter "the land" � Eretz Yisrael � and would remain wandering in the wilderness.

"Perhaps I will be able to strike them and drive them away from the land, for I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed." (22:6)

QUESTION:

Since Balak hated and feared the Jewish people, why did he only ask for the ability to chase them away, not to annihilate them?

Balak wanted Bilaam to curse the Jewish people; why did he mention his power of blessing?

Grammatically it should read "yevurach" � "will be blessed" in future tense, the same as "yuar" � "will be cursed"?

ANSWER: According to the Gemara (Sanhedrin 105a) Bilaam was originally Lavan, the brother of Rivkah. Before she left home to marry Yitzchak, he blessed her, "Our sister, may you come to be thousands of myriads, and may your offspring inherit the gate of its foes" (Bereishit 24:60).

Consequently, Bilaam said to Balak, "Seeing the great nation that has emerged from your sister, I know you are a great prophet, and whoever you bless is definitely mevorach � blessed. Thus, there is no question that I will not be able to wipe them out because you have already blessed them to destroy their foes. Hence, all I am asking of you is to place a curse upon them so that I may at least drive them from the land."

"So now, I beseech you, come and curse this people for me... for I know whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed." (22:6)

QUESTION:

Since Balak knew Bilaam's blessing power, why didn't he simply ask that he bless him to be victorious over the Jews?

Why regarding cursing did he say "yuar" � in the future tense � "will be cursed" � while regarding blessing he said "mevorach" � "is [already] blessed" and not "yevurach" � "will be blessed"?

ANSWER: For a blessing to be meaningful, it must be given with good intentions and a kind heart. To give a blessing one must be devoid of jealousy and ill will. Therefore, the Kohanim were selected to bless the Jewish people since they are the descendants of Aharon, who was the quintessential lover of his fellow man.

Balak said to Bilaam, "I have known you for quite some time as a vicious person without one iota of kindness, one who always looks upon other people with an evil eye. Consequently, your blessings are of absolutely no value because when you bless you do not mean it. When you bless someone and the blessing later seems to be fulfilled, it is definitely not thanks to you, but because mevorach � the person happens to be already blessed.

"Knowing your viciousness and animosity towards people, I am confident that your curses are sincere and come from the bottom of your heart. Therefore, I will not waste my time asking you to bless me, but curse the Jews since those who you curse, undoubtedly, 'yuar' � 'will be cursed.'�"

"I cannot transgress the word of G-d, my G-d, to do anything small or great." (22:18)

QUESTION: If he could not do a small thing, obviously he could not do a great one. He should have said the reverse, "I cannot do a great or even a small thing against G-d"?

ANSWER: The various names of Hashem represent attributes that He reveals to the Jewish people. The four-lettered Tetragramatton expresses His mercy, and the name Elokim indicates severity and judgment (see Bereishit 1:1, Rashi). The name "Keil" is a sign of kindness, as it is stated "Chessed Keil kol hayom" � "The kindness of G-d is all day long" (Psalms 52:3). The two letters, yud-hei of the four-lettered name, as a separate name, are a sign of 'gevurah' � severity (see Shemot 17:16).

Thus, in order to curse the Jewish people, Bilaam endeavored to evoke the wrath of Hashem by pronouncing the name "Elokim" and the name "Kah," the first two letters of Hashem's four-lettered name.

The Gemara (Sanhedrin 105b) explains the pasuk, "G-d put davar � a thing � in Bilaam's mouth" (23:5) to mean either that He stationed an angel who controlled his mouth, or that He fastened a hook, as it were, to Bilaam's jaw, so that he was prevented from cursing the Jews. Thus, when Bilaam attempted to pronounce the name "Elokim," the hook permitted him only to say the first two letters, "Keil." Further, when he wanted to say only the first two letters (yud-hei) of the four lettered name, his mouth was forced to complete the Tetragrammaton.

When Balak's messengers invited Bilaam to come to curse the Jewish people, he told them that he was not in control of his powers and it would be impossible for him to do "anything small" � i.e. to say only two letters of the four-lettered name � or to do "anything great" � i.e. to pronounce the name "Elokim" in its entirety.

"If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold." (22:18)

QUESTION: Rashi comments that from his words it is obvious that he was very greedy.

Pirkei Avot (6:9) relates that Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma was offered a position as Rabbi of a city. He responded, "Even if you were to give me all the silver and gold, precious stones and pearls in the world, I would dwell nowhere but in a place of Torah." Why isn't the same conclusion drawn � that Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma was greedy?

ANSWER: Balak never offered to pay Bilaam for his services. He only said to him, "I shall honor you greatly" (22:17). Even though there had been no talk of money, Bilaam referred to a large and specific quantity, so it is obvious that he was very greedy.

On the other hand, Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma was offered a million gold pieces. His response that "all the money in the world will not sway my opinion" demonstrates his exceptional character.

"Bilaam arose in the morning and saddled his she-donkey." (22:21)

QUESTION: Rashi writes that when Bilaam personally saddled his she-donkey, Hashem said to him, "Wicked one, Avraham already preceded you, as it is stated, 'Avraham woke up early in the morning and saddled his donkey'�" (Bereishit 22:3). How does Avraham's saddling his donkey affect Bilaam's?

ANSWER: Avraham interpreted Hashem's request to bring up his son as an offering to mean that he should literally slaughter him. Consequently, he woke up early in the morning and saddled his donkey in order to speedily fulfill Hashem's will, although simultaneously the continuity of the Jewish people would cease. After binding Yitzchak on the altar, he stretched out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son, but suddenly an angel from heaven stopped him and explained that Hashem never told him to slaughter his son, but only to bring him up and prepare him for a burnt-offering (see Rashi, Bereishit 22:2).

Bilaam on the other hand, permeated with evil intentions, wanted to curse the Jewish people, and thus end their existence. Upon noticing the alacrity with which Bilaam approached to destroy the Jewish people, Hashem said to him, "You wicked fool! Had I wanted to destroy the Jewish people I could have done it years ago through my faithful servant Avraham. If I did not do it then through him, I will surely not permit a wicked person like you to destroy them."

"G-d's wrath flared because he was going, and an angel of G-d stood on the road to impede him. He was riding on his she-donkey." (22:22)

QUESTION: Why is it necessary for the Torah to tell us that Bilaam was riding on his she-donkey?

ANSWER: When Balak's messengers originally came to Bilaam asking him to go and curse the Jewish people, Hashem instructed him not to go. Balak sent a contingent of more prominent messengers and Bilaam greatly desired to fulfill Balak's request, but Hashem told him, "If the men have come to summon you, 'kum leich itam' � 'arise and go with them'�" (22:20). Hashem did not tell him to travel by donkey, but He meant for him to arise and go by foot with them. Observing the peak intensity of Bilaam's hatred for the Jewish people and lust to become rich at their expense, Hashem thought that if it would take him a prolonged journey to reach his destination, perhaps his "fit" would subside.

Once Bilaam received permission from Hashem to go to Balak, he saddled his donkey in anticipation of completing his journey as quickly as possible. When Hashem noticed Bilaam's actions, He sent an angel who stood on the road to impede him because "vehu rocheiv al atono" � "he was riding on his she-donkey" � and did not follow Hashem's instructions to go by foot.

"The she-donkey saw the angel of G-d... and it pressed Bilaam's leg against the wall." (22:25)

QUESTION: Why did the donkey crush Bilaam's leg against the wall?

ANSWER: Many years earlier, Lavan and Yaakov made a peace treaty. First Yaakov took a stone and raised it up as a monument. Then they took stones and made a mound. Then Lavan declared: "This mound shall be witness and the monument shall be witness that I may not cross over to you past this mound, nor may you cross over to me past this mound and this monument for evil" (Bereishit 31:45,52)

Bilaam was a descendant of Lavan (Sanhedrin 105a). By coming to curse the Jewish people, he was the first to violate this ancestral agreement. When one deserves a punishment for transgressing before witnesses, the Torah prescribes that "yad ha'eidim tiheyeh bo barishonah" � "the witnesses should be first to administer the punishment" (Devarim 17:7).

The fences in the vineyard where the angel stood were of stone (Rashi). Since Bilaam had blatantly defied the agreement not to cause harm to the Jewish people, he was punished by having his leg crushed by the witnesses � the stones of the wall.

"And it pressed Bilaam's leg against the wall." (22:25)

QUESTION: Why did Hashem make him injure his foot specifically?

ANSWER: There is a saying, "Sheker ein lo raglayim" � "Falsehood has no feet" � which means that lies cannot "stand up" for long. Eventually truth prevails and lies dissipate. Bilaam was permeated with falsehood. His lust for glory and money, so blinded him that he thought that he could even deceive Hashem. Therefore Hashem caused the donkey to injure his foot as a message that his attempts to hurt the Jewish people would be short-lived.

In Hebrew the word for falsehood is "sheker," and truth is "emet." Emet is spelled with an alef, a mem, and a taf, each of which stand on two feet. On the other hand, the letters shin and reish have only one foot, and the kuf has one foot longer than the other, which makes it imbalanced. Truth stands firmly on two feet and can stand forever. One may be able to stand on one foot, but not for long.

Alef is the first letter of the alef-beit, mem is the middle letter, and taf is the last letter. These three letters together spell the word "emet" � "truth" � because something true is true from beginning to end.

"The donkey said to Bilaam, 'Am I not your donkey that you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do such a thing to you?' He said, 'No.'�" (22:30)

QUESTION: According to the Gemara (Sanhedrin 105b) during the dialogue between Bilaam and the donkey, she asked him, "Why did you take me and not ride on a horse?" and Bilaam replied, "My horse was out in the field." Why didn't the donkey ask him, "Why didn't you go to the field to get your horse?"

ANSWER: Prior to the plague of hail, Moshe warned Pharaoh to send a message to his people: "�'Gather your livestock from the field; otherwise the hail shall descend upon them and they shall die.' Whoever among the servants of Pharaoh feared the word of G-d chased his servants and livestock into his house. And whoever did not take the word of G-d to heart, left his servants and livestock in the field" (Shemot 9:19-21).

According to the Targum Yonatan ben Uziel, "The one who feared the words of G-d" was Pharaoh's adviser Iyov, and the one who "did not take the word of G-d to heart" was his adviser Bilaam. Thus, during the plague of hail Bilaam's horse was out in the field and died. Bilaam's "wise" donkey wanted to ridicule him for not listening to Hashem and asked him, "Why didn't you ride on your horse?" Though she knew very well that he had no horse, she was eager to force his embarrassing admission that he had disregarded Hashem's word.

"Build me here seven altars and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams." (23:1)

QUESTION: The word "bazeh" � "here" � mentioned twice in the pasuk seems superfluous?

ANSWER: Concerning the statement "There did not arise another prophet in Israel like Moshe" (Devarim 34:10), the Sifri (Devarim 31:43) comments that although there was no equal to Moshe among the Jewish people, the gentile world could boast of Bilaam, who was his equal.

The only prophet to whom Hashem spoke directly and prophesied with the expression "zeh" � "this is" � was Moshe. All others prophesied with the word "koh" � "thus" (Rashi 30:2).

Immensely impressed by his own powers, Bilaam arrived in Moav and told Balak to build altars and to prepare animals so that Hashem would reveal Himself and instruct him to prophesy with the term "zeh" as He had done to his counterpart, Moshe. To his great surprise and humiliation, Hashem limited Bilaam's power of speech and told him, "Shuv el Balak vechoh tedaber" � "Return to Balak and speak with the term 'koh' and not 'zeh'�" (23:5).

"Balak did as Bilaam had spoken, and Balak and Bilaam brought up a bull and a ram on each altar." (23:2)

QUESTION: The Jewish people offer oxen, rams and lambs as sacrifices. Why didn't Bilaam and Balak also offer lambs on their altars?

ANSWER: The continual daily sacrifice in the Beit Hamikdash consisted of two lambs (28:3). Though oxen are more select in the animal kingdom, the lamb was selected because it represents humility. According to the Midrash the Jewish people are compared to lambs, which demonstrate the trait of humility by walking head to tail.

The Gemara (Chullin 89a) explains the pasuk, "ki atem hame'at mikol ha'amim" � "for you are the least among all the nations of the world" � to mean "you make yourself least" � insignificant and unimportant � while the nations of the world are the reverse � arrogant and conceited. Thus, the lamb, representing the character of the Jewish people, was selected to be the daily offering in the Beit Hamikdash. However, the haughty Balak and Bilaam considered the humble lamb unworthy to be offered by such "exalted" personages as themselves.

"And he went alone." (23:3)

QUESTION: Of what importance is it to know how he went?

ANSWER: Bilaam knew very well that he was under Hashem's control and that he could not harm the Jewish people without His consent. Nevertheless, his hatred of Jews and greed overpowered his better judgment. Ultimately he admitted his folly. Prior to his departure, he advised Balak of a way to destroy the Jewish community. He told him, "Their G-d hates immorality. See to it that the Jewish people mingle with the Moabite women and their doom will be sealed." Balak followed Bilaam's advice and a grave plague took its toll.

In an effort to prevent the Jewish people from intermarrying, the sages have forbidden the oil, bread and wine of non-Jews (Shabbat 17b). The word "shefi" � "alone" � is an acronym for "shemanan" � "their oil" � "pitan" � their bread � and "yeinan" � "their wine."

Bilaam knew that he would not succeed in cursing the Jews, but his wicked mind was occupied with getting the Jewish people to eat together with the Moabites, so that they would eventually intermarry and, G-d forbid, their destruction would follow.

Consequently, "vayeilech shefi" � he went the route of "shefi" � advising Balak to invite the Jews to their festivities, where they would partake of non-Jewish oil, bread and wine.

"How shall I curse whom G-d has not cursed." (23:8)

QUESTION: What was Bilaam's proof that Hashem had not cursed the Jewish people?

ANSWER: In the wilderness the tribes were divided into four groups and each had its own banner. On the banner of Yehudah were the letters alef-yud-yud, which are the first letters of the names of the Patriarchs: Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov. On Reuven's banner were the letters beit-tzaddik-ayin, the second letters of the names of the Patriarchs. On Ephraim's banner were the letters reish-chet-kuf, the third letters, and on Dan's were the letters mem-kuf-beit, the final letters. The letter hei, the fourth letter of Avraham's name, hovered over all of the camps and protected them as they traveled from one destination to the other.

Since in Avraham's name hei is the fourth letter, shouldn't the banner of Dan bear the letters hei-kuf-beit, the fourth letters of the Patriarchs' names, and the remaining mem should hover over the Jewish camp. The reason that Hashem did not so instruct is because the letters hei-kuf-beit can be arranged to form the word "kavah," which means "to curse."

When Bilaam arrived and saw the banners of the Jewish people, he immediately realized from the Hebrew letters upon them that Hashem does not want anything resembling a curse to be attached to the Jewish people. Accordingly, he told Balak, "How do you expect me to curse them?"

"How shall I curse whom G-d has not cursed. How shall I bring anger upon whom G-d is not angry. For from its origins, I see it rock-like, and from hills do I see it." (23:8-9)

QUESTION: Rashi explains that "tzurim" and "geva'ot" mean the patriarchs and matriarchs [of the Jewish people]. What does this have to do with Bilaam's inability to curse the Jews?

ANSWER: There are a total of thirteen letters in the names of the patriarchs, Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, and thirteen letters in the names of the matriarchs, Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, Leah. Thus, the letters of the names of the patriarchs and matriarchs together add up to twenty-six, which is also the numerical value of the four-lettered holy name of Hashem, the Tetragrammaton. Afterwards, Yaakov received an additional name, "Yisrael," which added five more letters to the names of the patriarchs, and together with the letters of the matriarchs' names, the total is thirty-one, which equals the Divine name of "Keil."

The four-lettered holy name represents Hashem's mercy and compassion (see Bereishit 1:1, Rashi). The name "Keil," too, is a revelation of Hashem's kindness, as it is stated "Chessed Keil kal hayom" � "The kindness of G-d is all day long" (Psalms 52:3). Thus, Bilaam told Balak, "Since through their patriarchs and matriarchs they are strongly connected with Hashem's attribute of mercy and kindness, how can my curse have any effect?"

"Behold it is a nation that will dwell in solitude." (23:9)

QUESTION: The word "Hen" � "Behold" � seems superfluous?

ANSWER: The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet serve both as letters and numerals and are divided into three categories. From alef to tet are the single numerals, from yud to tzaddik are the tens, and from kuf to taf are the hundreds. In the single category, the first and last letters can be added to equal ten: i.e. alef + tet = 10; the second and second-to-last, beit + chet = 10, etc. The only letter that remains single, without a pair, is hei. In the category of tens, the first and last letters can be paired together to equal 100: i.e. yud + tzaddik = 100; The second and second-to-last, kaf + pei = 100, etc. The only letter which remains unpaired is the nun.

Bilaam, in describing the Jewish people, was alluding to a Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 15:7) in which Hashem says, "Just as in the alef-beit the hei and the nun (hein) remain alone without a pair, so too the Jewish nation is separate from the entire world and cannot join with any other nation."

"Behold! It is a nation that will dwell in solitude and not be reckoned among the nations." (23:9)

QUESTION: What did Bilaam mean with this description of the Jewish people?

ANSWER: Bilaam was amazed by the Jewish people's survival in the face of constant oppression and persecution. What was the secret, he wondered, of their success?

In praise of the Jewish people, he proclaimed, "The reason they continue to exist is that they are 'a people apart.' They always bear in mind that the nations of the world do not consider them significant, and they realize that efforts to find favor in the eyes of the nations are futile. Even if on the surface it appears that they are accepted, they do not assimilate since they know that 'ubagoyim lo yitchashav' � among the nations, i.e. in their hearts, the Jew is not reckoned and will never be given respect and acceptance."

Alternatively, the success of the Jewish people lies in the fact that they direct their lives according to the fundamentals and teachings of their Torah, "ubagoyim lo yitchashav" � they do not "reckon" (care or worry about) what the nations of the world think or say about them.

Alternatively, Bilaam was prophesying about the Jewish people: As long as they are "am levadad" � a people apart from the entire world � "yishkon" � they will dwell and remain an entity. However, when, G-d forbid, "uvagoyim" � they will assimilate or adopt the lifestyles of the nations of the world � then "lo yitchashav" � they will lose their uniqueness and no one will reckon them as anything.

"Behold! It is a nation that will dwell in solitude and not be reckoned among the nations. Who has counted the dust of Yaakov or numbered a quarter of Israel? May my soul die the death of the upright, and may my end be like his!" (23:9-10)

QUESTION: Why, when describing the uniqueness of the Jewish people, did Bilaam express the wish that his end be like theirs?

ANSWER: An argument that Christianity makes to the Jewish people is, "You are the fewest of the peoples (Devarim 7:7), and your Torah requires you to follow the majority (Shemot 23:2). Why don't you join our faith since we outnumber you?"

One of the answers to this argument is that the Torah says about the Jews who cleave to Hashem, "Chaim kulchem hayom" � "You are all alive today" (Devarim 4:4). Even those who are not alive physically are still considered alive since they will be resurrected after Mashiach comes. Thus, taking into account all the Jews of previous generations, we outnumber the Christians.

Bilaam, puzzled, exclaimed of the Jewish people, "It is a nation that dwells in solitude; they keep themselves separate and distinct. Since they are the minority, why don't they assimilate and join the nations of the world?" Then Bilaam himself offered an answer to his question. "Mi manah afar Yaakov � Who counted the dust of Yaakov? � if one counts the members of Yaakov who have returned to the dust over the years and who are going to be resurrected, one discovers that they are in fact the majority. Consequently, I yearn that in death I join the majority and that my end be like theirs � resurrected in the days of Mashiach."

"Balak said to him, 'Go now with me to a different place from which you will see them; however, you will see their edge but not see all of them.'�" (23:13)

QUESTION: Balak was interested in the destruction of the entire people of Israel. Why did he ask Bilaam to curse them from a place where he could only see some of them?

ANSWER: Bilaam's attempts to curse the Jewish people were to no avail and his debut turned out to be a colossal failure. Balak said to Bilaam, "Perhaps your difficulty is that you look at the Jewish people as one entity. When you judge them as a whole, you see their collective splendor. Blind your eyes to their general excellence and concentrate only on certain aspects, and surely you will be able to find faults in individuals."

To their dismay, their efforts were futile because each and every Jew in his own right was holy and righteous.

"Behold the people will arise like a lion cub and raise itself like a lion." (23:24)

QUESTION: Rashi explains that lion-like "From the moment the Jews arise in the morning they strengthen themselves to seize mitzvot: put on tallit, read the shema, and put on tefillin."

The Gemara (Berachot 14b) says, "He who reads shema without tefillin is compared to one who gives a false testimony about himself." If so, why does Rashi mention reciting shema before donning tefillin?

ANSWER: It is considered false testimony only when a person recites shema and does not put on tefillin at all. Thus, he speaks about the mitzvah of wearing tefillin, but does not actually perform it. However, if later on in the day he puts on tefillin, his recital of shema is not considered false testimony.

This can be substantiated from the Gemara (ibid.), which discusses the analogous case of one who brings a sacrifice without the libations. Though libations are indeed required with many sacrifices, the Gemara (Menachot 15b) clearly rules that it is unnecessary to bring them together. When one brings a sacrifice and a few days later brings the libations, he has properly fulfilled his obligation.

When one fears missing the deadline for the reciting shema, it is proper to recite it immediately without tefillin, and don the tefillin later on in the day.

"He declaimed his parable and said: 'The words of Bilaam son of Beor, the words of the man with the open eye.'�" (24:3)

QUESTION: Rashi interprets "shetum ha'ayin" to mean "blind in one eye." Why did Bilaam praise himself with his blindness?

ANSWER: When the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, was a young boy he asked his father the following question: "Why did Hashem create me with two eyes. One eye would be sufficient because when I close one eye, I can see just as well?"

His father explained that people have two eyes for a reason. There are certain things at which one should "look with the right eye" � i.e. love and concern � and there are things which one should "look with the left eye" � i.e. apathy and indifference. When one looks at a Jew, one should always look with the right eye and find his good qualities. The left eye is for worldly matters and things of minor importance. Sometimes one should even close it and not pursue materialistic desires.

Balak was extremely disappointed with Bilaam because instead of cursing the Jews, he was praising and blessing them. Bilaam comforted Balak and told him, "Do not fear, I am blind in one eye. My right eye has no vision, and thus I cannot see any good in the Jewish people."

"How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Israel." (24:5)

QUESTION: Rashi comments that Bilaam was amazed when "he saw that the openings [of their tents] were not lined up one with the other." Why did he focus on their "openings"?

ANSWER: The Midrash Rabbah (Song of Songs 5:2) says that Hashem urges the Jewish people to do teshuvah, saying: "Pitchu li petach kechuda shel machat ve'Ani potei'ach lachem petachim shetiheyu agalot nichnasot bo" � "Make a small opening like that of the head of a needle and I will open for you an opening through which caravans can enter." In other words, the Jew merely has to begin the teshuvah process and Hashem will help him to attain the most lofty goals. Thus, the "openings" that Jews have to make and Hashem's reciprocal "opening" are not comparable.

Therefore, in praise and envy Bilaam said, "You Jews are so lucky; your opening and Hashem's opening are not 'lined up' � identical � to each other. You only have to put in a little effort and Hashem opens for you the vast gates of teshuvah. If your G-d loves you so much, how can my cursing possibly have an effect?"

"How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Israel." (24:5)

QUESTION: Why do we open our daily prayers with words of the vile Bilaam, uttered in an attempt to annihilate the Jewish people? (In fact, some omit it and start from "Va'ani berov chasdecha" � see Responsa Maharshal 64).

ANSWER: Inherent humility and insecurity usually inhibits a person from thinking highly of or praising his own endeavors and accomplishments. Very often he needs the assurance of an outsider to be convinced that his decision or action was correct.

A popular adage states: "A stranger for a while sees for a mile." Particularly one who is familiar with "both sides of the fence" is in the best position to honestly appraise one's virtues.

Bilaam the non-Jewish prophet had a profound insight of the secular world. When he took a close look at the Jewish people, he was stunned and flabbergasted at their beauty. Knowing keenly the shortcomings and faults of the gentile world, he involuntarily proclaimed, "How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov."

In order to dispel any doubts that we may have about our convictions of G-dliness and Judaism, we proclaim these words at the very beginning of prayers. We thus recall that even the great gentile prophet, Bilaam, attested to the beauty and superiority of our religion.

"Now, flee to your place." (24:11)

QUESTION: Why did Balak tell Bilaam to flee?

ANSWER: Balak was very much afraid of the Jewish people. Since he would otherwise have had to engage armies to fight the Jews and incur great expenditures, he agreed to pay Bilaam a large fee for his services. Bilaam was confident that he would succeed and "lived it up" lavishly in the city of Moav.

Now that his failure was obvious and he would not be remunerated, Balak advised Bilaam, "Run away quickly before the creditors get hold of you and kill you or put you in prison."

"Go, I shall advise you what this people shall do to your people in the end of days." (24:14)

QUESTION: In lieu of "lechah" � "go" � shouldn't he have said "bo" � "come"?

ANSWER: Balak feared the Jewish people would wipe out the people of Moav. Therefore, he hired Bilaam to annihilate the Jewish people through his power of cursing. Bilaam's attempts failed and he had to flee in shame.

In parting, he said to Balak, "There is really no reason for you to be afraid of the Jewish people � lechah i'atzecha � I advise you � lechah � to go on � with your activities and not pay any attention to them. What you have seen � asher ya'aseh ha'am hazeh le'amcha � what this people shall do to your people � i.e. the Jewish people will destroy Moav � is correct. However, this will not take place in your days, but be'acharit hayamim � in a later period � when King David will reign. I see that then 'a star of Jacob shall step forth who will smite the corners of Moav'�" (24:17).

"Come, I shall advise you what this people will do to your people in the end of Days." (24:14)

QUESTION: The Gemara (Sanhedrin 106a) says that Bilaam advised Balak "The G-d of these people hates immorality" and presented him with a plan to entice the Jewish people to commit harlotry, so that Hashem would be angry and punish them. The episode related in the Torah about the relationship between the Jewish people and the daughters of Moav was a result of Bilaam's advice.

Where is there an indication in the pasuk that Bilaam advised Balak to promote harlotry with the Jewish people?

ANSWER: Bilaam sought to annihilate the Jewish people. Unable to succeed with his prophetic powers, he tried to destroy them through enticing them to intermarry. According to the Gemara (Kiddushin 68b), when a Jewish man marries a gentile woman, the children are considered non-Jewish. Consequently, Bilaam advised harlotry with the anticipation that the Jews would assimilate and cease to exist, G-d forbid.

This is derived from our pasuk, which superficially is hard to understand. Instead of saying, "What this people [the Jews] will do to your people [Moav]," he should have advised him, "What your people [Moav] should do to this people [the Jews]."

Bilaam was actually saying to Balak, "I will advise you what this people [i.e. Moav] should do, le'amecha � to cause the Jewish people to become a part of amecha � your people. Embark on a campaign to encourage intermarriage between Israel and Moav, and ultimately they will cease to exist as Jews and become Moabites."

"Bilaam rose up and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way." (24:25)

QUESTION: Bilaam returned to his homeland of Pethor in Aram; to where and to what did Balak return?

ANSWER: Bilaam's endeavors to curse the Jewish people ended in a colossal failure. Prior to leaving, he advised Moab not to fear the Jewish people, for though in years to come the Jews under King David would wipe out Moab, at present they would not harm them. After conveying this knowledge, he realized that there was no reason to stay and returned to his homeland.

Now, Balak was not really a native Moabite, but a Midianite. Fearing the Jewish people, and cognizant of Balak's intense hatred of the Jews, the Moabites invited him to become their king (see p. 165). Upon hearing from Bilaam that the Jews posed no present threat, they concluded that there was no longer any need for the arch anti-Semite to be their king. Consequently, he was forced to resign and he returned to his native country, Midian, so that his reign was short-lived.

"They invited the people to the feasts of their gods; the people ate and prostrated themselves to their gods. Israel became attached to Ba'al Pe'or." (25:2,3)

QUESTION: Hashem was angry with the Jews who worshipped Ba'al Pe'or. Why is it necessary to tell us that they were invited to meals and that the people ate the food?

ANSWER: The worship of Ba'al Pe'or involved scatological practices. The people would undress and defecate before it (see Rashi). In the wilderness the Jews were sustained on manna from heaven which was entirely digested without creating any need to ease themselves (Yoma 75b). If so, how was it possible for them to attach themselves to Ba'al Pe'or and worship it?

Therefore, the Torah tells us that, "They invited the people to feasts which were prepared in honor of their gods; the people participated and ate Moabite food." Consequently, they were able to perform the scatological practices associated with Ba'al Pe'or.

"And they were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting." (25:6)

QUESTION: Targum Yonatan ben Uziel writes that they were weeping "vekaryan Shema" � "and reciting Shema." Why did they say Shema at this time?

ANSWER: In the census of the Jewish people at the beginning of Bamidbar they numbered 603,550. In addition, there were 22,300 Levites, making a grand total of 625,850. In Parshat Pinchas, after the plague which struck the Jewish community for the Pe'or incident, the Jewish people were again counted, and together with the Levites they totaled 624,730 (601,730 + 23,000 Levites, see 27:51, 62). Thus, the total reduction of the Jewish population was 1,120. Included in this were also the blasphemer and the Shabbat desecrator, who were killed for their own sins (Vayikra 24:23, Bamidbar 15:36). Thus, the actual reduction due to the plague was 1,118.

The words of the pasuk "Shema Yisrael...Hashem echad" have the numerical value of 1,118. Thus, the Targum is saying that they were weeping "and reciting Shema," i.e. weeping over the loss of 1,118 people from the total Jewish population since the last census.

Alternatively, in the recitation of the Shema 248 words are said (see Orach Chayim 61:3). In this prayer the Jew affirms his acceptance of the heavenly yoke (kabbalat ol malchut shamayim) and acceptance of the yoke of mitzvot (kabbalat ol mitzvot).

When Pinchas observed the heinous crime, the Torah relates that "vayikach romach beyado" � "he took a spear in his hand" (25:7). The word "romach" has the numerical value of 248. The Targum is saying that Pinchas approached the sinners with confidence because he took, i.e. relied upon, the merit of K'lal Yisrael, who were reciting the Shema and declaring their dedication to Hashem.

"Pinchas, the son of Elazar son of Aharon the Kohen, saw, and he stood up from amid the assembly and took a spear in his hand." (25:7)

QUESTION: Why didn't Moshe or Elazar take action?

ANSWER: When Zimri decided to commit an act of adultery with Kazbi, he brazenly confronted Moshe and asked, "Is she forbidden or permitted? If you dare say she is forbidden, who permitted you to marry the daughter of a Midianite?"

When one is a "nogei'ah bedavar" � "an interested party" � he may not rule in the matter since his decisions may be motivated by personal interest. Consequently, Moshe did not take action against Zimri. For the same reason Elazar, too, who was married to the daughters of Putiel � Yitro � (see Shemot 25:6) did not take any action.

Though Pinchas was the son of Elazar, and if his father married a woman who was forbidden, it would make him a challal � disqualified Kohen � (see Rambam Isurei Be'ah 19:56), he did not hesitate to act, because Hashem declared him a Kohen only after killing Zimri. Hence, at that time he could absolutely not be accused of conflict of interest.

"Pinchas, the son of Elazar, son of Aharon the Kohen, saw, and he stood up from amid the assembly and took a spear in his hand... And pierced both of them." (25:7-8)

QUESTION: Pinchas guided himself by the halachah that if a person publicly violates the prohibition against having relations with a gentile, "kana'im pogim bo" � "zealots may slay him." Of this law the Gemara (Sanhedrin 82a) says, though it is the halachah, "ve'ein morin kein" � when one inquires if he may slay the violator "we do not rule it."

If it is halachah, why don't we so rule? If we do not so rule, in what sense is it the halachah?

ANSWER: A zealot is one who reacts to a situation instantly. Upon seeing wrongdoing, he takes immediate action. In certain instances, the Torah has approved and legalized such behavior. However, if a person sees a heinous crime being committed and before taking immediate action he runs to the Rabbis to ask if he is permitted to act, obviously he is not a true zealot.

Hence, when one's instinct directs him to take immediate action, he may do so and it is within the parameters of the halachah, but once one comes to ask a "she'eilah" � "a question" � this halachah is not ruled for him, because he has proven himself not to be a zealot.