Balak
Numbers 22:2–25:9
Micah 5:6–6:8
Shrek, the lead character of the animated sequel that just came out in theaters, isn’t the only one with a talking donkey.
In our Torah portion this week, Bilaam has one too. And while they each serve as trusty sidekicks who help save their friends, the Eddie Murphy–voiced character is far funnier than the one mentioned in the Torah this week.
As the biblical story goes, there is a King of Moav named Balak who sets out to confront the Children of Israel as they move through the desert toward Israel. Seeing that the military offensives of other peoples have failed to destroy the Jews, he chooses another tactic: spiritual warfare. He hires the leading Gentile prophet of HaShem (HaShem is in a relationship with all people), a man named Bilaam, to cancel out Moshe’s spiritual leadership and curse the Israelites.
Balak’s messengers arrive at Bilaam’s door with an offer of riches in exchange for spiritual assault, and he defers the decision until he can consult with HaShem. The message he receives in that evening’s dream is an unequivocal “no.” After he reports the offer, HaShem says, “You shall not go with them! You shall not curse the people, for it is blessed” (22:12).
One might expect the story to end there, but motivated people rarely are so easily deterred. Balak’s messengers return with offers of greater riches and honor, and Bilaam checks back with HaShem and see if there is any room to proceed. That night’s dream contains the response that he can only go on the condition that he say exactly what HaShem directs him to say and nothing else. He gets up early in the morning, excited to perform his destructive mission, and saddles his donkey.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the would-be cursing. Bilaam’s donkey sees an angel of HaShem with its sword drawn blocking its way, and refuses to budge. He beats the donkey in vain to get it to move past the obstacle that he himself cannot see, and the donkey speaks to him. “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times? … Am I not your donkey that you have ridden all your life until this day?” (22:28-30).
At this point HaShem makes Bilaam aware of the dangerous angel’s presence, and he understands that this is not his poor donkey’s fault. He continues on and ultimately makes several unsuccessful attempts to curse the people of Israel over HaShem’s warnings and objections, but HaShem switches the words in his mouth to blessing instead.
Why the talking donkey? Does it play such a critical role in the story that the rules of nature need be violated? What does a talking animal contribute to a narrative that works well on its own?
It seems to me that the answer may be found in a curious parallel. The only two animals in the Torah that talk are this donkey and the snake in the Garden of Eden. Interestingly, both appear in a story of people going and doing what they have been warned not to do, and include the vision of an angel with an unsheathed sword blocking the path that man wants to take but is not supposed to traverse (see Bereshit 3:24 for the angel and sword in Eden).
We are headstrong creatures. Bilaam has been given clear direction that he is not to wish ill upon these people, yet he pushes ahead, just as Adam and Eve knew not to eat from the tree but found a way to excuse it to themselves anyway. In both cases, temptation and greed lead the mind to tremendous rationalization.
At this point two elements enter the story: the angel with the sword as a clear warning light that the road ahead is forbidden, and the talking animal whose role it is to show that even animals can clearly see what is happening here while we human beings blind ourselves.
Whether due to stubbornness (as represented by the donkey) or temptation (the snake), we tend to push ahead once our minds are made up, ignoring the road signs that beg us to turn back.
While I don’t recommend listening to our pets for advice, we would all do well to stop for a quiet moment and ask if we are truly hearing the messages being sent our way.
Rabbi Judah Dardik is the spiritual leader at Orthodox Beth Jacob in Oakland. He can be reached at [email protected].