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The Talmud in Avodah Zorah (25b) states that yeshorim (righteous) refers to the Patriarchs. Why is the reference here in describing the Patriarchs as yeshorim in contrast to other applications for describing the righteous, such as, “chasidim or “tzaddikim”? The Netziv Zt”l explains the difference between these two descriptive words. In Parashas Haazinu (32:4) the posuk states that Hashem is “The Rock, perfect in His working…righteous and straight is He”. The Netziv explains the word “yashar” (straight) as referring to the declaration of our belief, which helps explain the severe punishment meted out during the destruction of the Second Temple….

  Rashi says, Hashem said to Bilam – “wicked one, their father Avrohom has already preceded you.” This refers to Avraham’s rising early and personally saddling the donkey in preparation for Akeidas Yitzchok. It is necessary to explain the relationship between Bilaam’s act and Avraham’s act, and the significance of Avrohom having preceded Bilam. We learn from here that Hashem demands of us to exert at least the same effort in performing His Will, as the wicked exert in opposing His Will. Bilam specifically rose early in the morning and personally saddled his donkey to show his supreme devotion to…

The Zohar tells why the Torah mentions Balak’s father, and not the patrlineage of the other kings. He explains that Balak, was the only descendant of Yisro who refused to convert to Judaism, and was therefore crowned as king by the Moabites as a gesture of gratitude for his defiance. His father’s name is emphasized to indicate his lack of royal lineage, because he was king of the Moabites only at that time. The statement of the Zohar may be further explained by applying the words of the Chovas Halevavos regarding the yetzer hora’s (evil inclination) various methods of enticing…