Shishi
- The tour and meal: Balak takes Balaam [on a tour of Moav to] Kiryat Chutzos. Balak sacrificed cattle and flock and sent it to Balaam and the dignitaries [to eat].
- Balaam’s first attempt to curse turns to blessings:
- The next morning: In the morning, Balak took Balaam to a cliff and looked at the Jewish encampment from there.
- The sacrifices: Balaam instructed Balak to build seven altars and bring seven cows and seven rams as sacrifices. Balak did as he was instructed and offered the animals on the altar. Balaam told Balak to stand ground by the altar while Balaam goes to meet with Hashem to see if he can curse the Jewish people. Hashem appeared to Balaam and Balaam told Him that he has prepared seven altars and offered bulls and rams. Hashem placed words in the mouth of Balaam and instructed him to relate the message to Balak. Balaam returned to Balak and the Moavite dignitaries and told them as follows:
- The blessing: “Balak instructed me to curse the Jewish people, but I cannot curse a people who Hashem has not cursed and has not gotten angry with.”
- “They are a nation that we see from the hilltops; they dwell alone and are not counted amongst the other nations.”
- “Who can count the dust of Yaakov and Yisrael, and may I die a death like theirs.”
- Balak’s response: Balak admonished Balaam for blessing the Jewish people instead of cursing them. Balaam replied that he already forewarned Balak that he must say what Hashem tells him.
- Balaam’s second attempt to curse turns into blessings:
- Balak took Balaam to a second area from which only part of the Jewish people could be seen, to try to curse the Jewish people from there.
- The sacrifices: They built seven altars and offered a cow and ram as a sacrifice on the altar. Balaam told Balak to stand guard by the altar while Balaam goes to meet with Hashem to see if he can curse the Jewish people. Hashem places the following words in the mouth of Balaam and instructed him to relate the message to Balak:
- The blessing: Balaam returned to Balak and the Moavite dignitaries and was asked by Balak as to what Hashem told him. Balaam told Balak to stand while he relays the prophesy:
- “Hashem is not a man who speaks lies and that regrets what He says. If He says something, He will fulfill it. Hashem blessed the Jewish people, and He will not retract it”
- “He does not see sin in Yaakov, or iniquity in Israel”
- “He took them out of Egypt”
- “There is no sorcery in Yaakov or Yisrael, and He tells them what they need to know”
- “They are a nation that wake up like a lioness, and do not sleep until they eat their spoils and drink the blood of the slain.”
- Balak’s response: Balak admonished Balaam for blessing the Jewish people instead of cursing them and tells him that if he can’t curse them then at the very least he should not bless them. Balaam replied that he already forewarned Balak that he must say what Hashem tells him.
Q&A on Rashi
📘 Rashi Q&A — Bamidbar 22:39–23:12
22:39 — Kiryat Chutzot
Q1. What does “קרית חוצות” mean?
A. It means a city full of marketplaces with many people gathered outside, meant to make Bilaam feel pity and not want them to be destroyed.
22:40 — Balak’s Offering
Q2. What did Balak send to Bilaam?
A. Only a small amount, one ox and one sheep.
Q3. What does this show?
A. Despite promising great honor, Balak initially gave very little.
22:41 — Heights of Baal
Q4. What is “במות בעל”?
A. A high place dedicated to the idol Baal.
Q5. Why did he bring him there?
A. So Bilaam could see part of Israel and try to curse them.
23:1–2 — Seven Altars
Q6. Why were seven altars built?
A. Bilaam tried to match the seven altars built by the Patriarchs, attempting to compete with their merit.
Q7. How many offerings were brought?
A. A bull and a ram on each altar.
23:3 — Bilaam Goes Alone
Q8. Why did Bilaam go alone?
A. Because Hashem usually appeared to him only at night, so he hoped for a rare daytime encounter.
Q9. What does “שפי” mean?
A. It means he went in isolation, quietly by himself.
23:4 — Hashem Appears
Q10. What does “ויקר” mean?
A. A temporary, reluctant, and degrading type of communication.
Q11. Why did Hashem appear to him anyway?
A. Only to show His love for Israel.
Q12. What did Bilaam claim about the altars?
A. He said he built as many altars as all the Patriarchs combined.
Q13. Why mention “the seven altars”?
A. He was comparing his actions to their past merit, trying to override it.
23:7 — Balak’s Request
Q14. Why mention both “Jacob” and “Israel”?
A. To ensure that no aspect or name of the nation would be left unmentioned in the curse.
23:8 — First Prophecy
Q15. Why can Bilaam not curse Israel?
A. Because Hashem has not cursed them.
Q16. What examples show this?
A. Even when they deserved punishment, they were not cursed directly, only aspects like anger were criticized.
Q17. What limits Bilaam’s power?
A. He can only act during a moment of divine anger, but Hashem was not angry at all during this time.
23:9 — A Unique Nation
Q18. What does “מראש צורים” mean?
A. It refers to their strong roots in the Patriarchs and Matriarchs.
Q19. What does “עם לבדד ישכון” mean?
A. Israel will remain separate and distinct from other nations.
Q20. What does “ובגוים לא יתחשב” mean?
A. They are not counted among other nations and will not be destroyed with them.
23:10 — Blessing Israel
Q21. What does “עפר יעקב” mean?
A. It refers either to their great number or to the many mitzvot connected to the earth that they perform.
Q22. What is “רבע ישראל”?
A. It refers to one quarter of Israel or to their offspring and growth.
Q23. What does Bilaam ultimately wish?
A. To die like the righteous of Israel.
23:11–12 — Balak’s Complaint
Q24. What is Balak’s reaction?
A. He is upset that instead of cursing, Bilaam has blessed Israel.
Q25. How does Bilaam answer?
A. He says he can only speak what Hashem places in his mouth
📘 Rashi Q&A — Bamidbar 23:13–26
23:13 — A New Location
Q1. Why does Balak take Bilaam to another place?
A. He hoped that if Bilaam saw only part of Israel, a curse might take effect more easily.
Q2. What does “וקבנו לי” mean?
A. It is a command meaning “curse them for me.”
23:14 — Field of Lookouts
Q3. What is “שדה צופים”?
A. A high lookout point used to watch for approaching enemies.
Q4. Why bring Bilaam there?
A. Balak thought there was a sign of future misfortune there, since Moshe would die in that region, and hoped the curse would succeed from that spot.
Q5. What did they build again?
A. Seven altars with offerings, repeating the same attempt as before.
23:15 — Waiting for Prophecy
Q6. What does “אקרא כה” mean?
A. That Hashem would “happen” to meet him there reluctantly.
23:16 — Forced Message
Q7. What does it mean that Hashem “placed a word in his mouth”?
A. Hashem forced Bilaam to return and speak, even against his will, like controlling an animal with a hook.
23:17 — Fewer Dignitaries
Q8. Why are only some Moabite leaders present now?
A. Some had already given up hope and left.
Q9. What does Balak mean by “What did Hashem say?”
A. He is speaking mockingly, suggesting Bilaam lacks control.
23:18 — Bilaam Rebukes Balak
Q10. Why does Bilaam say “Arise, Balak”?
A. To show authority and force Balak to stand respectfully for Hashem’s message.
23:19 — Hashem Does Not Change
Q11. What is the main message here?
A. Hashem is not like humans; He does not lie or change His decisions.
Q12. What promise is being referred to?
A. The promise to bring Israel into the land cannot be cancelled.
23:20 — Blessing Cannot Be Reversed
Q13. What does Bilaam admit?
A. That he has been commanded to bless and cannot reverse it.
Q14. What is the meaning of “וברך ולא אשיבנה”?
A. Hashem has blessed Israel, and Bilaam cannot undo it.
23:21 — Hashem’s Relationship with Israel
Q15. What does “לא הביט און ביעקב” mean?
A. Hashem does not focus on Israel’s sins.
Q16. What does “עמל” mean here?
A. It refers to sin or wrongdoing.
Q17. What does “ה’ אלוהיו עמו” teach?
A. Hashem remains with them even when they sin.
Q18. What is “תרועת מלך בו”?
A. It refers to Hashem’s presence and closeness among them.
23:22 — Strength from Hashem
Q19. What is emphasized about leaving Egypt?
A. Israel did not leave on their own; Hashem brought them out.
Q20. What does “כתועפות ראם” mean?
A. It refers to great strength and power from Hashem.
23:23 — No Need for Divination
Q21. Why is Israel deserving of blessing?
A. Because they do not rely on sorcery or divination.
Q22. How do they receive guidance?
A. Directly from Hashem through prophets or the Urim and Tumim.
23:24 — Like a Lion
Q23. What does “עם כלביא יקום” mean?
A. Israel rises with strength and eagerness to perform mitzvot.
Q24. How are they protected at night?
A. Through tefillah and Shema, placing their trust in Hashem.
Q25. What future event is hinted here?
A. The defeat of enemies, including Bilaam’s own death.
23:25 — Balak’s Frustration
Q26. What does Balak tell Bilaam?
A. If he cannot curse them, he should at least not bless them.
23:26 — Bilaam’s Response
Q27. How does Bilaam reply?
A. He repeats that he can only do what Hashem commands.