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Balak
Numbers 22:2-25:9
The parashah of Balak points the camera away from the Israelites wandering in the wilderness and toward the foreign nations that occupy the territories east of the Jordan River. The story recounts an attempt to destroy the nation of Israel without its awareness.
Balak is a king of the Moabites who turns to Balaam of Midyan to curse the “people coming out of Egypt” in order to bring about their downfall. (Numbers 22:5) They had just witnessed the complete destruction of two of the region’s superpowers, King Og and King Sichon, and Balak understood that they could not overcome the threat using conventional warfare. Therefore, he turned to the supernatural.
Rashi, the foremost Medieval commentator, fills in some of the history of these two nations (See Rashi on Numbers 22:3). Moab and Midyan were not generally on the same team. In fact, in the Book of Genesis we find that they waged war against one another. (Genesis 36:35) Rashi makes it clear that in this instance they were willing to join forces because they faced a common enemy. Rashi further elaborates, “Why would Moab seek advice from Midyan? Since they saw that Israel was winning in a way that defied the natural order, they said that the leader of these people was raised in Midyan. ‘Let’s ask them what he is all about!’ They told the Moabites that his (Moses’) power is in his mouth. They said, ‘So we should also approach them with one whose power is in his mouth.’”
Balaam had a reputation for being able to curse effectively. In fact, Balak tells him, “And now go and curse this nation for me for they are more powerful than I, perhaps I can then smite them and drive them out from the land for I have known that those that you bless are blessed and those that you curse are cursed.” (Numbers 22:6) The text tells us that when emissaries from Moab and Midyan both went to call on Balaam, they brought charms for sorcery with them. They knew that this was going to be a battle involving the mystic arts.
As the story continues, it becomes clear that Balaam had a relationship with God. Balaam knows that ultimately he needs to get God’s agreement in order for him to successfully attack the Israelites with his curses. He tries repeatedly, but each time God thwarts his plans and transforms his speech from words of condemnation to those of praise. What was Balaam thinking? If he really knows that God does not want him to succeed, why would he keep trying? It seems that human nature is such that one can be presented with reality and still hold onto hope that their version of events might still unfold. He so badly wants to hurt the Israelites that he tries three times and fails spectacularly each and every time.
We have recently witnessed a modern-day existential threat to the State of Israel. Iran had been on pace to achieve a nuclear weapon with which to threaten Israel. Israel managed to attack in a brilliant display of strategy and technology that overwhelmed the aerial defenses of Iran. But Iran was undeterred and attacked with missiles, some of which managed to penetrate the Israeli defense systems with horrific results. One can ask the same question of the supreme leader of Iran? What was he thinking? Did he really think that he could win this war? What about all the miracles that were witnessed in the first 24 hours alone? When an enemy is so bent on total destruction and annihilation, there is little room for rational behavior. Iran did not want to be wrong and certainly did not want to lose a war. Balaam was coming from a similar place.
Unfortunately, in the case of Balaam, the Divine protection that was awarded to the Israelites was also subject to a vulnerability. Balaam leaves the scene with a final fatal shot at the people. “The God of this people hates promiscuity!” Balaam advises Balak and the Moabites to have their daughters seduce the Israelite men so that they can turn them to worship their idols. (Tractate Sanhedrin, 106b) The plan worked and ultimately God Himself sent a plague to punish the Hebrews for committing harlotry with the daughters of Moab and Midyan.
Similarly, when the enemies of Israel see that they cannot wipe out the Jewish state using weapons, they turn to other means. In the court of public opinion, they try to shame and attack Israel with all sorts of accusations and sanctions. Israel must remain vigilant in its pursuit of law and justice despite the challenges it faces. As always, we need God on our side.