Page 450 - BAMIDBAR

Therefore, his eyesight was limited, and he had to be chastised by his own
Why did Balak specify that Am Yisrael left Egypt? Why did he say that
Am Yisrael covered the land, when they were actually a small nation?
Why did Balak need Bilaam’s services altogether, humbling himself in the
process? And how did Balak imagine that Hashem would allow Bilaam,
a prophet, to curse His Chosen People?
The sefer Shema Yisrael explains that when Bnei Yisrael were enslaved
in Egypt, the abomination of the land and hotbed of immorality, they
covered their eyes in order that they should not observe obscene scenes.
Balak knew that immorality drives away the Shechinah. Therefore, he
wished to cause Bnei Yisrael to sin in matters of immorality. But he did
not know how to go about this, as Bnei Yisrael were punctilious in
protecting their eyes.
Balak felt his powers were too limited to control Bnei Yisrael, bringing
them to sin so severely. He therefore recruited Bilaam into his service. He
thought that the one blind eye of Bilaam, which had remained unsullied,
would be powerful enough to fight the Jewish nation.
Why did Balak ask for Bilaam’s advice, when he already knew that
Hashem despises immorality? He also knew that Hashem would never
agree to His nation being cursed. Balak assumed that even if Bilaam ended
up blessing them, it would arouse the accusation on High that Bnei Yisrael
were not worthy of blessing. In his warped mind, even blessing the nation
would effectively bring them harm.
Hashem placed fear in the heart of Balak, who was a master of impurity
in secrecy. His motives became public knowledge, thereby removing any
measure of blessing which settles upon something that is hidden from
sight.
Who suggested the idea to sin with the daughters of Moav? Balak
mentioned it originally, but Bilaam brought it into action.
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animal.
Chazal ask why the animals were created before man, who is the crown
of Creation. It is in order to teach man that if he goes in the ways of the
Torah, he is the beauty and purpose of the entire world. But if he corrupts
his ways, he is inferior to the animals, which were created before him.
Bilaam prayed to die the death of the righteous. But he never bothered to
live the life of the righteous. His request was obviously refused. The way
to really live is to erect clear boundaries, distinguishing between the
primary and the peripheral, distancing oneself from materialism and
becoming sanctified by that which is permitted to us.
The dog is known for its brazen nature. Nevertheless, when it stands
before Hashem in song, it proclaims, “Come! Let us prostrate ourselves
and bow, let us kneel before Hashem.” It is capable of understanding that
when it stands before Hashem, it must remove the cloak of brashness and
become submissive.
A person is born with animalistic features. Chazal teach us that we can
learn from the characteristics of each animal. One should have the ability
to know when to be bold as a leopard or strong as a lion, etc., and when
to disregard these traits and simply humble himself to Hashem’s will.
When a person adopts the appropriate characteristics, he is eligible for the
title Crown of Creation.
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