Parshas Balak

Q1: What is the name of the Torah portion discussed here?

A1: Parshas Balak.

Q2: How many verses (pesukim) are there in Parshas Balak?

A2: 104 verses.

Q3: What is the siman (mnemonic) for Parshas Balak?

A3: מנוח.

Q4: What is the Haftorah for Parshas Balak?

A4: Micha 5:6-6:8.

Q5: How many mitzvos are found in Parshas Balak?

A5: There are no mitzvos in Parshas Balak.

Q6: Who was Balak?

A6: Balak was the son of Tzippor and the king of Moav at the time.

Q7: Why was Moav afraid of the Jewish people?

A7: They saw what the Jewish people had done to other nations and feared they would be overrun.

Q8: With whom did Moav consult regarding the threat of the Jews?

A8: The elders of Midian.

Q9: Whom did Balak hire to curse the Jewish people?

A9: Balaam the son of Beor.

Q10: What did Balak believe Balaam could do?

A10: He believed that whomever Balaam blessed was blessed, and whomever he cursed was cursed.

Q11: How did Balaam respond to the first group of messengers?

A11: He asked them to stay the night while he consulted with Hashem.

Q12: What was Hashem’s response to Balaam’s inquiry about cursing the Jews?

A12: Hashem told Balaam not to go and not to curse the Jewish people because they are blessed.

Q13: What did Balaam tell the messengers in the morning?

A13: He told them he could not go with them because Hashem did not permit it.

Q14: What did Balak do after Balaam refused the first request?

A14: He sent a second, more distinguished group of messengers.

Q15: What did the second group offer Balaam to entice him?

A15: They offered him great honor and said they would do whatever he asked, if only he would curse the Jews.

Q16: What was Balaam’s reply to the second delegation?

A16: Even if offered a house full of gold and silver, he could not go against Hashem’s word.

Q17: Did Balaam consult Hashem a second time?

A17: Yes, he told the delegation to stay the night while he consulted Hashem again.

Q18: What did Hashem tell Balaam the second time?

A18: Hashem allowed Balaam to go, but told him he could only say what Hashem commanded.

Q19: How did Balaam travel to Moav?

A19: He saddled his donkey and went with the Moavite dignitaries.

Q20: What happened on Balaam’s journey?

A20: An angel blocked his path three times, and his donkey tried to avoid the angel, causing Balaam to beat her.

Q21: What miraculous event happened with Balaam’s donkey?

A21: Hashem opened the donkey’s mouth and she spoke to Balaam.

Q22: What did the donkey ask Balaam?

A22: “What have I done to you that you hit me three times?”

Q23: What did Balaam answer the donkey?

A23: He said she mocked him and that if he had a sword, he would kill her.

Q24: What did Hashem do after the donkey spoke?

A24: He opened Balaam’s eyes so he could see the angel with a drawn sword.

Q25: What did the angel tell Balaam?

A25: The angel reproved Balaam for hitting his donkey and said the donkey had saved his life by swerving away.

Q26: What did Balaam say to the angel after realizing his error?

A26: He admitted his sin and offered to turn back if the angel wished.

Q27: Did the angel let Balaam continue?

A27: Yes, but only to speak the words Hashem would place in his mouth.

Q28: Who came to greet Balaam upon his arrival in Moav?

A28: Balak met Balaam at the border of Arnon.

Q29: What did Balak ask Balaam?

A29: Why had he not come sooner?

Q30: What was Balaam’s reply to Balak’s question?

A30: He was limited and could only speak the words Hashem put in his mouth.

Q31: Was Balaam allowed to continue his journey?

A: Yes, but only to speak the words Hashem would place in his mouth.

Q32: Where did Balak first take Balaam after greeting him?

A: To Kiryat Chutzos for a tour and a meal.

Q33: What did Balak prepare for Balaam and the dignitaries?

A: He sacrificed cattle and flock and sent it to Balaam and the dignitaries to eat.

Q34: Where did Balak meet Balaam upon his arrival?

A: Balak met Balaam by the border of Arnon.

Q35: What did Balaam instruct Balak to do before attempting to curse the Israelites the first time?

A: Balaam instructed Balak to build seven altars and offer seven cows and seven rams.

Q36: What was the outcome of Balaam’s first attempt to curse the Israelites?

A: Instead of cursing, Balaam blessed the Israelites.

Q37: How did Balak react to Balaam’s first blessing?

A: Balak admonished Balaam for blessing the Israelites instead of cursing them.

Q38: What was Balaam’s reply to Balak’s complaint after the first blessing?

A: He reminded Balak that he could only speak what Hashem told him.

Q39: From where did Balak take Balaam for the second attempt to curse the Israelites?

A: To a second area where only part of the Israelites could be seen.

Q40: What did Balaam declare about Hashem during the second attempt?

A: That Hashem is not a man who lies or changes His mind, and that His blessings are steadfast.

Q41: What did Balaam say about the Israelites’ relationship with Hashem?

A: That Hashem sees no sin or iniquity in Israel and leads them out of Egypt.

Q42: How did Balak respond after the second attempt?

A: Balak asked Balaam not to bless them if he couldn’t curse them.

Q43: Where was the third attempt to curse the Israelites made?

A: At Rosh Peor.

Q44: What was different about Balaam’s third approach compared to the previous ones?

A: He did not seek omens as before but directly faced the desert and received Hashem’s spirit.

Q45: What is one of the notable lines from Balaam’s third blessing?

A: “How good are the tents of Yaakov, the dwelling places of Israel.”

Q46: How did Balak react after the third set of blessings?

A: Balak became enraged, clapped his hands, and dismissed Balaam.

Q47: What reason did Balaam give for being unable to curse the Israelites?

A: He insisted he must say only what Hashem tells him, regardless of reward or bribes.

Q48: What did Balaam prophesy before leaving?

A: He delivered a prophecy about a star arising from Jacob and the future downfall of Moav, Edom, and other nations.

 

Q49: What led to Hashem’s anger against the Israelites in Shitim?

The Israelites became involved with the daughters of Moav, engaging in immorality and participating in idolatrous practices, specifically worshipping the Peor idol, which provoked Hashem’s anger.

50: What instructions did Hashem give to Moshe regarding the punishment for this transgression?

Hashem instructed Moshe to gather the leaders and publicly execute those who had sinned, as a way to extinguish His wrath from the people of Israel.

51: Who are Zimri and Kozbi, and what role did they play in this incident?

Zimri was a member of the Israelites who brazenly brought Kozbi, a Midyanite woman, before Moshe and the congregation, which symbolized defiance and deepened the crisis.

Q54: How was the plague that struck the Israelites eventually stopped?

Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron the Kohen, intervened by killing Zimri and Kozbi with a spear, which ended the plague among the Israelites.

Q55: How many people lost their lives due to the plague resulting from the sin with the daughters of Moav?

A total of 24,000 Israelites died in the plague that followed this episode.

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