Daily Chumash Wednesday Balak – Balaam’s first attempt to curse turns to blessings

Revi’i 

• 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].

2. 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.