YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Balak
On the pasuk, "Another prophet like Moshe never arose in Israel, whom Hashem knew face to face" (Devarim 34:10), Chazal (Sifrei , V’zot Haberacha 357:10) derived an extremely positive appraisal: "While in Israel there was not as great as Moshe, among the nations there was Bilam." The difference is that Moshe did not know Who was speaking to him, and Bilam did know; Moshe did not know when Hashem would speak to him and Bilam did know. To put things in perspective, they explained that Bilam knew so much, just like a royal chef knows about the ins and outs of the goings on of the king’s kitchen – without being an important officer. In this vein, Moshe is uniquely described as, "in My house, he is trusted" (Bamidbar 12:7).
Bilam earned, in Rabbinic parlance, the title Bilam Harasha (the wicked). "Whoever has these three qualities is a disciple of Bilam Harasha: a bad eye (looks negatively on others), a high spirit (haughtiness), and a broad spirit (desires great pleasures) (Avot 5:19). They accuse him of involvement in immoral acts such as bestiality with his donkey (Avoda Zara 4b). On the pasuk, "Vayiker Elokim el Bilam …," the midrash sees the first word as a reference to impurity.
The most direct description used in Tanach against Bilam is found in Yehoshua (13:22) – "Bilam the son of Be’or the sorcerer (hakosem), Bnei Yisrael killed by sword." What does a kosem mean? In our "rational" world, this is a reference to one who uses sleight of hand. However, throughout history, this has referred to people who steeped themselves in an impure world of occult powers. Therefore, magic was connected to the source of impurity – to the dead. Indeed, the Torah forbids interaction with secrets from the world of the dead (Devarim 18:10-11).
Bilam increased the impurity by involving himself and those around him in promiscuity. While on the one hand he praised Bnei Yisrael for the modesty of their homes (Bamidbar 24:5), his plan succeeded in causing many in Bnei Yisrael to sin with Moavite women (see Micha 6:5). Chazal asked how he could be called a kosem if he was a prophet, and answered that he was originally a prophet, but later on was a kosem (Sanhedrin 106a).
Hashem sent His trusted servant Moshe to save His people, Bnei Yisrael, from Egyptian bondage, bring them to Sinai to accept the Torah, and then bring them into the Land to establish a moral society that could serve as a light to the nations. Hashem gave the non-Jewish world a prophet on an equally high level, Bilam. This man decided to leave the path of prophecy and purity and cling to sorcery and impurity. After choosing this path, he fell to the 50th level of impurity. After Balak invited him to curse Bnei Yisrael, he saw the purity in Bnei Yisrael and realized that the only way to "return Bnei Yisrael to Egypt" was to make them sin. That is why Bnei Yisrael had no choice but to fight Midian and kill "Bilam ben Be’or the sorcerer."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
