Person Connected to the Parsha Bilaam

Person Connected to the Parsha: Bilaam

BILAAM ben BeOR

• The Midrash says that Bilaam was the pre-eminent philosopher of the world.
• Bilaam was the last of the prophets among the nations. His knowledge of the occult surpassed that of Moshe Rabeinu. Each was superior to the other in certain traits.
• Bilaam spoke with ruach hakodesh.
• Bilaam was jealous of Moshe; Bilaam thought that he would be the one to take the People of Israel out of Egypt and give them the Torah.
• Bilaam was lame in 1 leg and blind in 1 eye.
• Some identify Bilaam with Lavan. Targum Yonasan says that they were one and the same. Others see remarkable similarities in their personalities and actions. HaShem appeared to each of them in a dream and warned them in similar terms not to harm Yaakov (the person and the nation). Both were "Torah giants" who misused Torah, attempting to wield it as a weapon. Consequently, both were doomed to failure. Both contributed to Judaism. Also, Bilaam "gave us" MA TOVU OHALECHA. Lavan gave us the practices of not marrying off a younger daughter before an older one, consulting a girl and receiving her agreement before marrying her off, the concept of not mixing Simchas, and the blessing with which we send all Jewish brides to the Chupa.
• Bilaam was one of the senior advisors to Paroh, together with Iyov and Yisro. Some of the harshest decrees of Paroh are attributed to Bilaam.
• HaShem was never needed at Israel's side, so to speak, as when Bilaam was against us.
• In a certain way, the brachos we received from Bilaam were greater than those of Yaakov and Moshe, since those were accompanied by harsh reproach; Bilaam's were straight, pure blessings.
• HaShem did not get angry with the People of Israel during the time Bilaam was pitted against us. The combination of HaShem's anger and Bilaam's cursing would have been devastating to us.
• Bilaam taught us to value the quality of modesty that we demonstrated, and he recognized, concerning the orientation of our tents. He said that it made us worthy of the Divine Presence within our midst.
• Bilaam has no share in the World to Come. However, the Mekubalim state that Bilaam was later reincarnated as the donkey of Reb Pinchas ben Yair. This donkey was unusual as a strict follower of Mitzvos. This indicates that Bilaam was rectified though this donkey.

BALAK ben TZIPOR

• When Sichon was killed, Balak ascended the throne.
• Balak was a descendant of Lot and grandfather of Ruth. He merited being an ancestor of Rus because of the 42 sacrifices he offered to HaShem at the command of Bilaam.
• Balak was an accomplished wizard, superior to Bilaam.
• Although superior to Bilaam, Balak lacked the gift of eloquent speech that was Bilaam's strong point.

The Gemara in Bava Basra: "Moshe wrote his book, the portion of Bilaam, and the book of Iyov". Rabbi Yaakov Auerbach z"l explains that the Gemara is telling us that HaShem gave Moshe a special prophecy concerning Bilaam and Balak providing us with an understanding about "what goes on behind enemy lines." In addition to Parshas Balak (Bilaam), we are offered glimpses into the thinking processes of Lavan, Eisav, Paroh, and others who have had “private” designs against us.