Bilaam
Our greatest blessings were uttered not by Moses, not by David, not even by G‑d Himself.
They were uttered by a wicked sorcerer, hired to curse.
The most brilliant diamonds hide in the deepest bowels of the earth; the most intense blessings in the darkest caverns of life. (1)
TaNaKh (Bible) Reference
Numbers Chapter 22
39- Balaam went with Balak, and they arrived at Kiryath Huzoth [a city of streets].
40- Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and sent [some] to Balaam and to the dignitaries with him.
41- And in the morning Balak took Balaam and led him up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw part of the people.
Numbers Chapter 23
1- Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams."
2- Balak did as Balaam had requested, and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar.
3- Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will happen to appear to me, and He will show me something that I can tell you," and he went alone.
4- G-d chanced upon Balaam, and he said to Him, "I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar."
5- The Lord placed something into Balaam's mouth, and He said, "Return to Balak and say as follows."
6- When he returned, Balak was standing next to his burnt offering, he and all the Moabite dignitaries.
7- He took up his parable and said, "Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east [saying], 'Come, curse Jacob for me and come invoke wrath against Israel.'
8- How can I curse whom G-d has not cursed, and how can I invoke wrath if the Lord has not been angered?
9- For from their beginning, I see them as mountain peaks, and I behold them as hills; it is a nation that will dwell alone, and will not be reckoned among the nations.
10- Who counted the dust of Jacob or the number of a fourth of [or, of the seed of] Israel? May my soul die the death of the upright and let my end be like his."
11- Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them!"
12- He answered, saying, "What the Lord puts into my mouth that I must take care to say."
(2)
Behind the Blessing
(By: Zalman Posner)
Balak, king of Moab, sees the legions of Israel approach his borders, and in fright calls upon Balaam to curse and thus destroy Israel. However, instead of cursing, Balaam praises Israel with words incorporated into the daily prayers
"How goodly are your tents O Jacob, your dwelling-places O Israel."
(Numbers 24:5)
What did he mean, and do we mean the same thing when we repeat his words in prayers?
The blessing of Balaam can be a curse, because his paeans of praise may be the antithesis of Israel's spirit. The tone of Judaism is growth, constant advance in the realm of the spirit, in Torah learning, in development of character. Self-satisfaction, contentment with past achievements - these lead to stagnation.
The goodliness of Jacob's tents is to be held up as a goal, an incentive. In spiritual affairs (if not necessarily in material strivings) a goal achieved gives one a higher vantage point to see more enticing horizons ahead. The higher the attainment the greater the awareness of the task uncompleted, the profounder the appreciation of the challenge still faced.
Balaam was telling Israel they were good enough already, no need to be any better. He wished to vitiate Israel's urge to strive, to make the Jew content with what he is so that he will never progress. And the soul, Balaam knew well, never stands still. We are not the same today as yesterday. Either we go up, or we inevitably go down.
Balaam wanted Israel to believe they had reached the summit, they may rest; his intentions were that by ceasing to go forward Israel would fall.
(3)
————
(1):
(Source: 12 Tammuz 5730, sec. 9; Balak 5730, sec. 4.)
(2):
Numbers
(3):
Comments