Parshat Balak

Parshat Balak, brings us an intriguing interlude to the troubled times in the wilderness, with the story of Bilaam, a perplexing character, who ends up showering praise and splendid poetry on Bnei Yisrael. To put the story in perspective, till now the book of Bamidbar has led us through the trials and tribulations of the generation that left Egypt, still struggling with the change. We now have the new younger generation, eager to move forward, who have just shown their abilities with resounding victories over Og and Sihon. So Balak the King of Moab, is justifiably afraid and in desperation turns to the renowned prophet and orator, Bilaam, hoping to find a way to curse and damage Israel.

The Torah goes into great detail of the negotiations with two delegations sent by King Balak, and the puzzling interaction with Hashem in regards to this request. Hashem at first tells Bilaam he may go as long as he only speaks praise, but then gets angry with him when he finally does set out, and even provides his mule with a voice to humiliate him.

The Ki Yakar, who enjoys careful study of the text, helps us understand the underlying politics of what is said and often not said, and who says it. In the Kli Yakar’s opinion there were two separate groups of messengers – those sent by King Balak (Sarei Balak) and those sent by the Moabite government (Sarei Moab). The messengers sent by Balak were high ranking experienced diplomats who Balak, as a new king, had brought in to advise him. Their brief was a general one to present the request to Bilaam in a convincing manner, to summon his help. The second team, the Moabite Ministers, were sent by the Moabite government and were civil servants and bureaucrats with a brief to demand or even to bribe Bilaam to do his damnedest to give Israel a bad press.
This, fits well with developing story. The guys who wait overnight for the answer are the bureaucrats waiting to see if Bilaam will accept the bribe and agree to curse Israel. The diplomats were less concerned with the answer, that was up to Bilaam, and they were aware from Bilaam that he had to listen to Hashem the highest authority. During the night Hashem gives the green light for Bilaam to go with the King’s diplomats, as they are just recommending that Bilaam should curse but not forcing him. However, the next day he decides to go off with the Moabite civil servants, with the more lucrative offer which commits him to cursing. That is why Hashem gets very angry and asks him “who are these guys you are going with?” and later sends the angel and puts speech in the mule’s mouth.

I must admit I have been puzzling as to why Hashem chose to challenge Bilaam through his mule. This was a pretty powerful incident, even though on a one to one level, quite a unique miracle. Bilaam’s gift in life was in his power of speech and that’s why Balak went to him. Hashem gave him the chance to use it for good and he was going to misuse this gift. His mule speaks to him and tells him, what do you want from me, I have always carried out my duties properly and saved you from danger. Hashem used the power of speech channeled through the mule to remind Bilaam to use his gift of speech for the good. Each one of us have special skills, things we can do well – speaking, writing, art, cooking, music, our profession – the lesson here is to use our gift for the good. I welcome any other thoughts.

Thinking about it, various modes of transport accompany us through the Bible, Noah and his ark, Abraham on a donkey, Yakov’s sons go down to Egypt on donkeys and return from Egypt with carriages full of food, the Egyptians in their chariots, and more. We do not read anything as to how Bnei Yisrael moved in the wilderness, but there were probably carts to take their belongings and tents. Interestingly Bilaam rides on a female ass (aton) whereas Abraham rode on a male ass (chamor), maybe an individual preference, just like some of us would choose a Fiat and others a Toyota. Had Bilaam been around today, waze would have told him when there was an obstruction, but perhaps would not have recognized it was an Angel. The next generation of autonomous cars will talk to us and we will talk to

them, so Bilaam was just ahead of his time,

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