Shabbat Parashat Balak - 5785

Shabbat Parashat Balak - 5785

Rabbi Hal Miller

  God came to Bilaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" [Bamidbar 22:9]

Did God not actually know who the men were who were with Bilaam? What was the purpose of God's question? Further, Bilaam did not actually answer the question, rather he told only who had sent those men. How is that a reply?

First, who were the men? In 22:5, Balak sends messengers, but the Torah does not directly specify who it was that he sent. In 22:7, the Torah tells us that "elders of Moav and elders of Midian went" and that "they came to Bilaam and spoke to him the words of Balak." At first glance it would appear that Balak sent all of them, but it gets hazy in verse 22:8. After Bilaam tells this crew of elders to stick around until morning, the Torah tells us that the elders of Moav did so, which seems to say that the elders of Midian did not. It is entirely possible that Bilaam did not actually know who was still there, and may never have had their names. What he could do is tell God who it was that sent them. In fact, Yakult Shimoni says exactly this. It was as clear as Bilaam could be replying to God's question.

But why did God ask? Certainly He knew who they were, and He knew whether Bilaam had an answer or not.

Sforno seems to think that God was trying to lead Bilaam through a thought process on what, if anything, he should be doing for Balak. Sforno comments "Who are these people with you on account of whom you went to the trouble to receive prophetic messages in order to know what to do for them? Have they really come to you to inquire about matters which will occur in the future and you want to know about the future in order to give them guidance? Or have they stayed with you to enlist your help to pronounce curses over someone and you are now asking My permission to fulfill their request?" The implication is that God was telling Bilaam, think this out before you act. What do you know of these folks that you're willing to go so far to assist them in what they want to do? You know that I do not choose to curse Israel. You should reject them. Saadiah Gaon and Ibn Ezra seem to be on this path, that like with Kayin, God was trying engage Bilaam in conversation to give him the opportunity to back down. Rav Hirsch sees similarities with Avimelech and Lavan where unexpected messages from God were to restrain a non-Jew from some intended action.

Rashi explains that "God came to give Bilaam room to err", meaning to allow Bilaam to convict himself. Because of this question, Bilaam thought that there are times when not everything is revealed before God, so he would find a time when he will be able to curse Israel and God will not be paying attention to stop him.

God gives man what he asks for. If man asks for something for a good reason and will use it that way, God is pleased. But if man has negative intent, God will prefer that the man not act in that way, but will still provide him with whatever he needs to follow his chosen path.