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Parashat Balak

26 June 2010
Numbers 22:2-25:9

Micah 5:6 - 6:8
1 Cor.1:20 - 31

Here are some of the points from BALAK:
Balaam, was the Prophet of the Nations
G-D impedes Balaam’s path
Balaam’s donkey speaks
Balaam was granted prophecy by G-D, but not to curse Israel
Balaam’s first blessing
Balak was very angry
Balaam’s second blessing
Balak was angry again, and thought that if G-D is forcing Balaam to bless instead of curse, then he should not do either
Balaam’s third blessing
Balaam’s last prophecy was given

In this final series of prophecies regarding Israel, Moab and their neighbors, Balaam revealed to Balak that G-D hates immorality.  The people of G-D, Israel are on their way into the last journey before crossing the River Jordan into the Promised Land.  As they pass through the country of Moab, Balak, the king, wants to attack the Jewish people. He realizes that they are powerful. To physically attack them would be to no avail, as he has heard how G-D has protected them and defeated every other nation who came against them.  Since they knew that they were a people governed by spiritual laws, he reasoned that the only way to defeat them was with spiritual power. Therefore he sent for Balaam who was considered to be the master of the non-Jewish world in regards to spiritual matters.

Balak wanted Balaam to use his metaphysical powers against the Jewish people. Instead, Balaam could only pronounce blessings upon G-D’s chosen people. His final comment was that G-D hates immorality. This will impact G-D’s people from this time forward.

Shavuah Tov

Rabbi Z.

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