Why didn’t Balak mention Yisrael by name? And why did he ask Bilam to come to Moav? Couldn’t he have cursed them from where he was in Pesor?
Harav Shlomo Kluger expaliend: The Gemara (Brachos 34a) explains that one who prays for his friend does not need to mention him by name. But the poskim write that the words of the Gemara apply when his friend is present, but if he is not present with him, he should mention his name. (Magen Avraham 119 1 in the name of the Mahari”l)
Because Balak knew that “the name of Yisrael is very great and holy” which would prevent his curse from taking hold, he did not want to mention them by name, and he said “Hinei am yatza miMitzrayim, behold a nation has emerged from Egypt.” But because without mentioning their name the curse would not take hold, unless the one cursing was facing them, like one who prays for a friend, therefore he said to Bilam: “Go please and curse for me this nation” – in the place where I am, because “vehu yoshev muli” – the nation is sitting across from me, and when you will face them your curse will be able to take hold even if you do not mention their name.
