Bs”d
Parshas Balak (5760)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
I have always found this Parsha to be one of the most puzzling. The tremendous contrast between the presentation of Bilaam from the simplicity of the text of the Chumash that seems so positive and complimentary and the image of him transmitted to us by the Chazal that is painted with such a repulsive negativity. From the beginning of the episode the behavior of Bilaam seems to be of the highest quality.
To the initial request of Balak in pasuk 5; I shall do only as Hashem shall tell me.
In pasuk 13 he replies: Return to your land for Hashem has vetoed my going. In pasuk 17 when Balak offered Bilaam anything he wanted he answered: Even if you reward me by filling the house with silver and gold I cannot transgress in a small or big way the will of HaShem.
In Pasuk 8 he was told to go and speak only as instructed. He went with enthusiasm, knowing full well that he might have to say things not in his interest.
In pasuk 38 when Balak questioned Bilaam about his delay and hesitation in coming his reply was: Can I say anything except for the words that HaShem puts in my mouth?
From pasuk 7-10 he was loyal to the text of the blessing to Klal Yisroel. And when criticized by Balak he exclaimed that he could only speak the word of HaShem.
Again in pasukim 18-24 he so eloquently verbalized the precious blessings that are a part of our Rosh HaShana davening. When criticized, again he repeated his declaration of loyalty to the word of HaShem.
Every one of these proper, positive utterances is shown by Rashi to be really selfish and destructive. In the first two statements he was complaining that the emissaries should be of higher stature so that he could receive more honor. The third statement reflects the tremendous greed he had for others’ riches. In the next statement, though he was to act against his will and ‘was up against the wall’, he still had hopes of campaigning to curse, not to relinquish his evil intent. What is this big case being built up against this Bilaam who is seemingly such an innocent soul?
The first point that has to be made clear is that the quality and insight that Bilaam had as a prophet was on an extremely high level. The Chazal tell us in the Medrash 20:6 that when Bilaam so honestly and so innocently answered HaShem’s inquiry as to the nature of his visitors, the title that he was crowned and complimented with was ‘urinal’—“karon shel mai raglayim”. Instead of describing his callers he should have declared: Hashem who nothing can be hidden from, why are You making this inquiry? Someone of his stature of true insight should have made this exclamation. In the same line of reasoning but on an even simpler level, when one considers what was actually transpiring here, it is really mind boggling. Bilaam, approaching Hashem, seriously considered the possibility that he could convince, achieve or petition a curse against Klal Yisroel– the beloved children of Hashem, the chosen nation, the most cherished and loved, the only nachas Hashem has from His whole creation. We have had wicked enemies who made attempts to harm us using avoda zara or kochos hatumah, but the thought of harming Klal Yisroel through HaShem–how absurd.
This brings us to one of the most basic issues and perplexities. How is it possible for anyone with any understanding and insight into Hashem ever able to do anything against His will? Starting from Adam who probably had the greatest realization of His Presence down the generations to us, how do we understand ourselves capable of ever transgressing His Will? It is the miracle of free will which is one the greatest miracles in the creation.
Bilaam took this too far as explained, and with this perspective we can understand the lowness of every one of his steps, which was the true view of Chazal which Rashi presents.
“HaShem, distance us from what You hate, and bring us close to what You love”.