Parsht Ballak

Ballak the Stubborn

Throughout this week's parsha, Ballak is pushing Bilam to curse Israel. Yet, from the very first time that Bilam was approached he responded: "the Lord has refused to let me go with you" (Bemidbar 22:13).

Yet, Ballak persists with his plan and goads Bilam to curse Israel. Why doesn't he understand that God won't let Bilam do it.

By examining the conversations between Bilam and Ballak, we will see that Ballak was constantly misled by Bilam and by others, and therefore had no reason to assume that the mission would fail.

To begin with, God told Bilam the very first time: "You shall not curse the people because they are blessed" (ibid 12). However, Bilam never relates this information to Ballak. Had Bilam done so, Ballak might have given up straight away, for he knows: "whomever you bless is blessed" (ibid 6).

All Bilam said was: "Return to your country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you (ibid 13). Yet, Ballak does not even know that God does not permit Bilam to join him. All the messengers tell Ballak upon their return to Ballak is: "Bilam refuses to come with us" (ibid14).

Therefore, Ballak legitimately assumes that Bilam won't come because he has not promised enough riches. (Note: it is very possible that this was the impression that Bilam gave the messengers.) Therefore, Ballak says: "I will honor you greatly and do whatever you tell me to do" (ibid 17) and sends "dignitaries, more and higher in rank than" the previous ones.

Indeed, that is exactly what Ballak says to Bilam when they first meet. Nevertheless, even at that point, after God had spoken twice to Bilam in dreams, and then via an angel with his donkey, Bilam still does not tell Ballak that the mission is futile. He just says: "Behold I have come to you, do I have any power to say anything? The word God puts into my mouth - that I will speak" (ibid 38). Ballak has no reason to assume that God will not allow Bilam to curse Israel.

Therefore, Ballak is truly shocked when at the first attempt, Bilam blesses Israel: "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them!" (ibid 23:11).

Bilam again says: "What the Lord puts into my mouth that I must take care to say" (ibid 12). Bilam, however, still does not say that Israel is blessed. Therefore, Ballak, with his pagan outlook, believes that if he brings many offerings to God, than God can be persuaded to change His mind.

And so, Ballak builds another seven altars, offers the sacrifices in order to tempt God. So, when Bilam returns from his meditation to God, Ballak asks: "What did the Lord speak?" (ibid 17). Bilam responds: "God is not a man that He should lie, nor is He a mortal that He should relent (ibid 19). He then proceeds to again bless Israel.

However, Ballak still does not realize that it is a fait accompli: "Perhaps it will please God, and you will curse them for me from there" (ibid 27). He now understands that Bilam's power only comes from God, but does not yet understand that God does not change His mind. And so he tries one more time to appease Him.

If only, Bilam would have told him from the very beginning that Israel was already blessed, he could have saved everyone a lot of bother.

Last year's Sedra Short on Parshat Balak, entitled: "Bilam and his Talking Ass” appears at http://parshablog.blogspot.com/2008/07/parshat-balak-bilam-and-his-talking-ass.html.

Another Sedra Short on Parshat Balak, entitled: "Pinchas’ Legal Precedent” appears at http://parshablog.blogspot.com/2008/07/parshat-balak-bilam-and-his-talking-ass.html.

A further Sedra Short on Parshat Balak, entitled: "Balak's Fear” appears at http://parshablog.blogspot.com/2006/07/parshat-balak-balaks-fear-balak-son-of.html.

Parshat Balak

Bilam and his Talking Ass

In this week's parsha we witness a strange event which is almost unprecedented in Biblical literature, the episode of Bialm and his talking ass.

The episode is quite simple. Bilam is on a journey to curse Israel and is riding on his ass. Unbeknown to him, an angel with an outstretched sword is waiting to stop him. Seeing the angel, the ass strays from the path into an open field. Bilam is angry with his ass and hits it. They continue on journey and the angel appears again. This time they are not on open field but in avineyard ith: "with a fence on this side and a fence on that side" (Bemidbar 22:24). In order to bypass the angel, the ass is forced to squeeze up to one side of the path. In so doing, it squashes Bilam's leg up against the wall. Bilam is angry again and beats the ass again and they continue on their journey.

The angel appears again, this time on a very narrow path. There is no way of bypassing the angel and so the ass stops "it crouched down under Bilam" (ibid 27). Bilam again hits the ass. But then something strange happens. "The Lord opened the mouth of the ass" and spoke with Bilam (ibid 28).

The ass asks Bilam if had it ever been disloyal before. Bilam, rebuked can only answer with one word: "No" (ibid 30). Only then does Bilam recognize he angel.

What is going on here? What is the message of this story?

Bilam was a prophet of God, a person with extra insight and the ability to God's message to his people. The ass is the most stupid of all animals, with little insight and intellect, yet it humiliates Bilam.

• Bilam is on a journey to kill Israel with words, yet he can't even kill his own ass.
• Bilam is a prophet with prophetic sight, yet he can't see what is own donkey sees.
• He claims to be wise, but he doesn't know the basic truth that his ass does.
• Bilam has the word of God in his mouth, yet he cannot win an argument with his own ass.
• Bilam says he would kill his ass if only he had a sword, but he can't see that there is a sword nearby, in the hands of the angel.

God is trying to teach Bilam the error of his ways. If he follows the will of God, he can be a supreme being with the power of prophecy. However, if he strays from God's path, he is even lower than his own ass.

Last year's Sedra Short on Parshat Balak, entitled: "Pinchas’ Legal Precedent” appears at http://parshablog.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html.

Another Sedra Short on Parshat Balak, entitled: "Balak's Fear” appears at http://parshablog.blogspot.com/2006_07_01_archive.html.