Bilams Parable According to the Rambam

Rambam explains these pesukim as four pairs of prophecy showing how the first clause of each refers to the first anointed King and the second refers to the ultimate anointed King.

• King Dovid: First anointed King
• King Moshiach: Ultimate anointed King

Four aspects of Moshiach

• “I see him, but not now”: Close in time, start the process
• “I perceive him, but he is not near”: Greater of the two; requires more effort throughout the generations; development of own personality & leadership skills
• “A star will shoot forth from Ya’akov”: Aloof star, weaker influence
• “And a staff will arise from Yisrael”: Direct, powerful leadership; influences on the Jewish people
• “He will crush the princes of Moav”: Crush only the leaders
• “He will devastate all descendants of Sheis”: Devastate and undermine all other governments; eliminating power of those nations that interfere with Torah observance
• “Edom will be possessed”: Edom only becomes a servant
• “Se’ir, his enemy will be possessed”: Se’ir inspired to serve HaShem; guide the nations of the world to serve HaShem

In summary: The Rambam paskens that we are required by halacha to believe in and wait for Moshiah. He brings proof from these pesukim that this is a basic principle of Torah that talks directly about the Geulah as a future event. He also brings more sources that Moshiach is a human being.