Balak – Peninim on the Torah

וירא פינחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן ויקם מתוך העדה ויקח רומח בידו

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5785

And Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen saw, and he stood up amid the assembly and took a spear in his hand. (25:7)

Chazal (Sanhedrin 82a) teach that Pinchas saw the moral outrage which Zimri had committed. He immediately remembered the halachah (which applies to this act). He first asked his Rebbe, Moshe Rabbeinu, “Did you not teach that one who cohabits with an aramis/pagan, zealots may strike/kill him?” If someone comes to ask a shailah concerning how he should act, however, we do not rule as such (Kanaim pogin bo, zealots may strike him.) “This concept of halachah, “this is the law, v’ein morin kein, but we do not rule in this manner,” is novel. After all, if it is the halachah,…

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וירא את הקיני... ויאמר איתן מישבך

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5785

He saw the Keini… and said, “Strong is your dwelling.” (24:21)

Rashi explains that Bilaam saw the future sons of Yisro (one of Yisro’s seven names was Keini) and was surprised at the distinction they had earned. He intimated (Midrash Tanchuma), “I wonder from where you (Yisro) became worthy of this (extraordinary honor and spiritual nachas). Were you not with me at the time we (Bilaam, Yisro, Iyov) gave advice to Pharaoh (on how to address the ‘Jewish problem’)? Yet, you have settled in the stronghold and citadel of Yisrael.” Apparently, Bilaam conveniently forgot that when he advised Pharaoh to kill the Jews, Yisro picked himself up and fled Egypt. Later…

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ויען בלעם... אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5785

And Bilaam answered… “If Balak will give me his household of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

Bilaam’s true character came to the fore as he demonstrated his implacable greed. It was all about money and honor. Chazal (Pirkei Avos 5:19) draw the distinction between the disciples of the wicked Bilaam and the disciples of Avraham Avinu. Students invariably attempt to emulate their mentor. Bilaam possessed three base qualities which represented his character; these were the distorted principles upon which he built his flawed life: ayin raah, evil eye, jealousy, begrudging the prosperity which others achieved and personal gain at the expense of others; Ruach gevohah, haughty spirit, displaying arrogance as self-importance, pride and an ability to…

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ויגר מואב מפני העם מאד

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5785

Moav became very frightened of the people. (22:3)

Were the Moavites really afraid that the Jews would overrun them? Does the Torah not exhort us, “You shall not distress Moav, and you shall not provoke war with them” (Devarim 2:9). Certainly, explains the Chasam Sofer, Moav was acutely aware that the Jews on their own would not harass them and surely not contend militarily with them. What did they fear? It was the Am, “the People” – the eirev rav, mixed multitude, who tagged along with the nation, claiming they wanted to join. It was this same eirev rav that catalyzed the Golden Calf, and it has been…

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מה טובו אהליך יעקב משכנתיך ישראל

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5784

How goodly are your tents O’ Yaakov, your dwelling places O’ Yisrael. (24:5)

Rashi explains that Bilaam was impressed by the modesty and sensitivity which the arrangement of the tents demonstrated. It indicated the importance of the family unit. Bilaam ha’rasha posits that the perpetuation of Klal Yisrael is contingent upon the preservation of the family unit, which is central to Jewish life and identity on several levels. Within Jewish families (that bond together) we transmit traditions, customs and rituals from generation to generation. The family serves as the primary setting for learning about the history – both religious and cultural – of our people. Parents, as well as grandparents, play a significant…

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לא הביט און ביעקב

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5784

He perceived no iniquity in Yaakov. (23:21)

Rashi explains (based upon a Midrash) that, even when Klal Yisrael sins, Hashem chooses not to scrutinize their sin to the full extent of their shortcomings. This does not mean that we are perfect. People sin — and some sin egregiously — but Hashem knows that, despite their nefarious behavior, their neshamah, soul, which is a part of the Divine, remains untarnished, and, as such, it can/will return. While the soul will remain pure, we are still accountable for our actions, and we must strive to live an ethical and moral life. The belief in the intrinsic purity of the…

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ויאמר בלעם אל בלק בנה לי בזה שבעה מזבחות

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5784

Bilaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me.” (23:1)

Balak complied to Bilaam’s request and erected seven Altars upon which he offered seven cows and seven rams. He did this three times for a total of forty-two sacrifices. While Balak’s attempt to curse the Jewish people yielded no immediate effect, it did play itself out negatively generations later in the time of Elisha HaNavi. Chazal (Sotah 47a) teach that forty-two children who cursed Elisha died as a result of the Navi’s response to them. [The commentators explain that these children were products of a prohibited union which was consummated on Yom Kippur. Additionally, Elisha saw through Divine Inspiration that…

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ההסכן הסכנתי לעשות לך כה

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5784

Have I become accustomed to do such a thing to you? (22:30)

Bilaam’s arrogance was on the same level as his evil. He acted upon his base desires and thought nothing of it. Yet, he took umbrage with anyone who had the audacity to call his malevolent actions to his attention. He was Bilaam, the greatest pagan prophet. As such, he had license to do whatever he pleased. All went well until Bilaam’s donkey gave him mussar, rebuked him. The donkey refused to go forward, because it saw an angel impeding its path. Bilaam, the prophet, did not see the angel. Thus, he struck the donkey three times for its unwillingness to…

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ויפתח ד' את פי האתון ותאמר לבלעם מה עשיתי לך

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5783

Hashem opened the mouth of the she-donkey and it said to Bilaam, “What have I done to you?” (22:28)

Bilaam struck his donkey three times – unaware that it was Hashem who was impeding Bilaam’s path. The donkey just stood and refused to go forward. Bilaam was clueless to this, therefore, like most arrogant people who are incapable of accepting the truth, he lashed out at his donkey. Three words – “What have I done to you?” was all the donkey said in admonishing Bilaam. His reaction was, “If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you!” (Ibid. 22:29). All Bilaam could think of was the donkey’s impertinence to him. After all, he was the greatest…

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ויאמר אל עבדי בלק אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

Sruly Schnair In Balak, 5783

He (Bilaam) said to the servants of Balak, “If, Balak, will give me his household of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

Rashi notes that, by speaking of a houseful of gold and silver – implying that if he could transgress the word of Hashem he would accept no less – Bilaam showed his true colors. He was arrogant and greedy, obsessed with furthering his immoral lifestyle. One of the well-known Mishnayos in Pirkei Avos addresses the deficient character traits of Bilaam ha’rasha, as opposed to those of Avraham Avinu. The thought of comparing the two is ludicrous, since Bilaam was, and remains, a symbol of greed and moral profligacy, and the actions of Avraham, the Patriarch of our nations, concerning the…

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וירא פינחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן ויקם מתוך העדה ויקח רומח בידו

And Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen saw, and he stood up amid the assembly and took a spear in his hand. (25:7)

וירא את הקיני... ויאמר איתן מישבך

He saw the Keini… and said, “Strong is your dwelling.” (24:21)

ויען בלעם... אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

And Bilaam answered… “If Balak will give me his household of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

ויגר מואב מפני העם מאד

Moav became very frightened of the people. (22:3)

מה טובו אהליך יעקב משכנתיך ישראל

How goodly are your tents O’ Yaakov, your dwelling places O’ Yisrael. (24:5)

לא הביט און ביעקב

He perceived no iniquity in Yaakov. (23:21)

ויאמר בלעם אל בלק בנה לי בזה שבעה מזבחות

Bilaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me.” (23:1)

ההסכן הסכנתי לעשות לך כה

Have I become accustomed to do such a thing to you? (22:30)

ויפתח ד' את פי האתון ותאמר לבלעם מה עשיתי לך

Hashem opened the mouth of the she-donkey and it said to Bilaam, “What have I done to you?” (22:28)

ויאמר אל עבדי בלק אם יתן לי בלק מלא ביתו כסף וזהב לא אוכל לעבר את פי ד'

He (Bilaam) said to the servants of Balak, “If, Balak, will give me his household of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem.” (22:18)

YEARS

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