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Bilaam blessed the nation in his words Mah Tovu. If he acknowledged the
uniqueness of Am Yisrael, why did he revert to his old ways, instead of
cleaving to them?

The word (how) is numerically equivalent to Hashem’s Name
with its letters spelled out. It is also equal to the gematria of the word
(man). The Torah, Hashem, and Yisrael are one. How could Bilaam
remain indifferent after discovering this amazing truth?

“You ( ) are called Man and the nations of the world are not.” The
name Man is granted to Bnei Yisrael, who constantly consider the words
of Torah and act accordingly. But the gentiles are genteel only when
it’s convenient.

The letters of the word, as cited above, can be transposed to spell
How can we understand the self-contradictory life of Bilaam Harasha? On
the one hand, he prevented the nations from a spiritual awakening and the word (truth), one of the Divine Names. There is no truth other
from doing teshuvah in the wake of Matan Torah. But on the other hand, than Torah. Only one who exerts himself in Torah study earns the quality
he recognized the qualities of the Torah, as he stated, “How goodly are of truth. Bilaam recognized the truth in Torah, but chose to live as he
your tents, O Yaakov.” Similarly, Bilaam praised the modest lifestyle of wanted. Therefore, he is called a rasha.
the Jewish people, yet nevertheless sought to make them sin with the The Torah is more precious than gold and pearls. These items fluctuate
women of Moav.
in value according to the market, whereas Torah is stable forever, due
Bilaam, the greatest prophet of the nations, recognized the existence of to its pure truth. Bilaam did not change his ways. Yet his berachah
Hashem, but refused to believe in Him because of his unbridled pride. In
How could Bilaam, who recognized the truth and cried out Mah Tovu, exists for all generations, for the kedushah of the Torah will never
seek to curse and annihilate Am Yisrael? Bilaam willingly blinded himself contrast, Moshe Rabbeinu was the greatest prophet we ever had, in the be compromised.
to the truth. Hashem pried his eyes open in order that he would be able merit of his humility.
to see the unvarnished truth. Only after Hashem forced him to see reality Hashem is faithful to reward those who fear Him, even wicked people. If
for what it was, did he bless our nation. But afterward, he returned to his Hashem paid Merodach Baladan so generously for his demonstration of
wayward ways. faith, how much more so will He reward His children, who fear Him and
cling to Him.
The Ben Ish Chai states that the word alludes to the one hundred
berachot a person is required to recite each day. These refer to the one
hundred sefirot, by means of which a person connects to his Creator. The
word refers to Torah, the only true good.