Bilam was an arrogant man who craved honor and prestige. He despised Bnai Yisrael even more than Balak did and very much wanted to place a curse upon them. Therefore, when Hashem told him, “Don’t go with them,” Bilam heard, “Don’t go with these men whom Balak sent to you, but go with more distinguished figures when he sends them to you!” Bilam heard not what Hashem actually told him but, rather, what he wanted Hashem to tell him.
The Gemara in Masechet Gittin (45a) tells the story of Rabbi Ilish, who was being held captive together with another man. One day, a raven came and began chirping. Rabbi Ilish turned to his fellow captive and asked if he understood the language of the birds. The man answered in the affirmative and explained that the bird was saying, “Ilish, escape!” Rabbi Ilish realized that the bird was informing him that it was safe for him to run away from captivity. However, he knew that ravens cannot be trusted, so he did not try to escape. Sometime later, a dove came and began chirping. Once again, the Rabbi’s fellow inmate told him that the bird was urging him to escape. Rabbi Ilish followed the dove’s advice and escaped safely.
A number of commentators note that undoubtedly, Rabbi Ilish also understood the language of the birds. It is inconceivable, these commentators write, that this random inmate had more wisdom than the great Rabbi Ilish. The question, then, arises: Why did Rabbi Ilish ask the other fellow to interpret the birds’ chirping? If he understood what the birds were saying, why did he consult with his cellmate?
Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz (1902-1979) explained that Rabbi Ilish didn’t trust his own interpretation. He very much wanted to hear the birds telling him that this was an auspicious time to escape from captivity, so he feared that he would hear what he wanted to hear and not what the birds were actually saying. He therefore consulted with his fellow inmate to get an objective explanation of the birds’ chirping.
This is an important lesson about honesty and objectivity. The only way we will grow is if we live with the openness to hear the truth, even when it makes us uncomfortable or when it challenges our previous opinions and beliefs. Refusing to accept the truth is a quality associated with the wicked Bilam, whose passionate hatred for Bnai Yisrael prevented him from properly understanding G-d’s message. We are to do just the opposite – to live with the humility and honesty to hear what Hashem tells us and surrender to His will.
RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
RABBI ELI MANSOUR
