Day: June 29, 2018

Parshas Balak 5778

Bs”d

Parshas Balak (5778)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

A tremendous ‘peleh’ in the parsha 20.22–Balak makes a second request of Bilaam , Hashem commands Bilam: Kum Lech Itam.  This is followed immediately by Hashem’s anger for Bilam’s going.  This is so difficult to understand after specific instructions to go.  Bilam’s reply seems to superficially fair enough, stay over and wait for the Heavenly reply.  At this point Bilam was guilty of a terrible sin that goes unnoticed.  When the repeated request to Bilam was made there was no basis of consideration of a change.  Bilam’s reaction had to be a  very clearly and outspoken negative reply; it would be a great sin even to think of making a second request to harm Klal Yisroel.

At this point he was given the Divine order to go with them followed by the Divine anger for his going.  This is totally confusing which we can say was the beginning of the Divine punishment placed on him.  Perhaps the episode being held guilty for striking the donkey, something he couldn’t have seen was also part of this punishment.

We should always pray for clarity from Hashem.