Parashas Balak Trivia 5778

BS”D

R' Yehudah bar R' Chiya taught: G-d is not like a human doctor. When a human doctor prescribes a medicine, it will help one part of the patient's body, yet it may be harmful to another part. But G-d gave the Torah, which is a medicine that gives life to the whole body -- as it says, "And they heal his whole body." (Eruvin 54a)

FOR THE TEACHINGS OF THE TORAH ARE LIFE FOR SOMEONE WHO FINDS THEM, AND THEY HEAL HIS WHOLE BODY. (Avos 6:7)

This week’s Parasha Trivia is dedicated to the refuah of all Cholei Yisrael and in the merit of Devorah Brown, עמו"שׁ, who inspires us with her Torah Game on Facebook.

1. What was Balak’s position before becoming king of Moav?

2. Why did Hashem grant prophecy to wicked Billaam?

3. Why did Balak fear the Bney Yisrael (22:3), in view of their being forbidden by the Torah to attack Moav in the first place? Hint: See Rashi on Parashas Chukas 21:26.

4. How do we know Bilaam hated the Jews more than Balak did?

5. Why was G-d angry with Balaam for accompanying Balak's officials, when He expressly did give him permission to do so?

6. How do we know that the malach that opposed Bilaam was an angel of mercy?

7. The Mishnah (Avos 5:22) states that a disciple of Bilaam haRasha has the following three traits: ill-will towards others, arrogance, and greed. Where may these be inferred from the text of the Parasha, according to Rashi?

8. What is the meaning of Bilaam's statement that Bney Yisrael are 'a people that will dwell in solitude and not be reckoned among the nations', (23:9) according to (a) Rashi and (b) the Midrash Hagadol?

9. To promote the sin of Baal Peor, Zimri the Nasi of the tribe of Shimon endorsed it by 'bringing' (understood by the Rabbis as publicly cohabiting) Kozbi the Midianite Princess before Moshe and the assembly. Why were they stated to have been 'weeping' at the entrance of the Ohel Moed according to (a) Rashi?

10. Why did Hashem grant Bilaam's donkey the power of speech, according to the Kli Yakar?

IY”H, answers will be provided Motzaei Shabbos! Thank you for your participation on FB’s Virtual Beis Midrash for Women

1. What was Balak’s position before becoming king of Moav?

Answer: He was a prince of Midian.

See Rashi on verse 22:4 at that time: He was not entitled to the monarchy. He was one of the Midianite nobles [according to some: of the nobles of Sichon (Josh. 13:21)], and when Sichon died, they appointed him over them on a temporary basis. — [Mid. Tanchuma Balak 4, Num. Rabbah 20:4]

2. Why did Hashem grant prophecy to wicked Billaam?

Answer: So the other nations couldn't say, "If we had had prophets, we also would have become righteous."

See Rashi on verse 22:5 the land of his people: [I.e.,] Balak’s [people]. He came from there. This one [Bilaam] prophesied, telling him, “You are destined to rule.” If you ask, “Why did God bestow His Shechinah on a wicked gentile?” [The answer is] so the nations should not have an excuse to say, “Had we had prophets we would have repented.” So He assigned them prophets, but they breached the [morally] accepted barrier, for at first they had refrained from immorality, but he [Bilaam] advised them to offer themselves freely for prostitution. — [Midrash Tanchuma Balak 1, Bamidbar Rabbah 20:1]

3. Why did Balak fear the Bney Yisrael (22:3), in view of their being forbidden by the Torah to attack Moav in the first place? Hint: See Rashi on Parashas Chukas 21:26.

Answer: According Rashi (to 21:26- on Parashat Chukas), Balak feared Bney Yisrael because some of the lands ruled by Moav did not come under the Torah's ban, as they took them from the Emorim in battle.

See Rashi on verse 21:26 and he had fought: Why was it necessary to write this? For it says,“Do not distress the Moabites” (Deut. 2:9), and Cheshbon belonged to Moav, Scripture writes that Sichon had taken it from them, and through him it was made permissible for Israel. — [Chul. 60b]

4. How do we know Bilaam hated the Jews more than Balak did?

Answer: Balak wanted only to drive the Jews from the land. Bilaam sought to exterminate them completely.

See Rashi on verse 22:11 and drive it out: of the world. Balak said only, “and I will drive him out of the land” (verse 6). [His intention was:] I want only to get them away from me, but Bilaam hated them more than did Balak. — [Midrash Tanchuma Balak 5, Bereishis Rabbah 20:9]

5. Why was G-d angry with Balaam for accompanying Balak's officials, when He expressly did give him permission to do so?

Answer: G-d's giving Bilaam permission to accompany Bilaam was: (a) According to Rashi, because He acknowledged that the call came under the heading of 'for you' (22:20) - that Bilaam stood to gain financially, and He did not wish to deprive him of a good business opportunity. He made it clear, however, that he was to do just and exactly as G-d instructed him (ibid). It was Bilaam's enthusiasm and zeal to curse Bney Yisrael - expressed by he himself carrying the menial journey preparations that he would normally leave to his servants, that provoked Hashem’s wrath.

Rashi on verse 22:20 If these men have come to call for you: If the calling is for you, and you expect payment for it, arise and go with them.

but: In spite of yourself, “the word I speak to you-that you shall do.” Nevertheless, “Balaam went.” He said, Perhaps I can persuade Him and He will consent [to my cursing them].

6. How do we know that the malach that opposed Bilaam was an angel of mercy?

Answer: It mercifully tried to stop Bilaam from sinning and destroying himself.

See Rashi on verse 22:22 to thwart him: It was an angel of mercy [as the Name YKVK denotes the attribute of mercy], and he wanted to prevent him from sinning, for should he sin, he would perish. — [Midrash Tanchuma Balak 8, Bereishis Rabbah 20:13]

Answer: According to Rashi, his: (a) ill-will (literally - 'evil eye') towards others (in this case, Bney Yisrael) is learnt from the tradition of 'Bilaam lifted up his eyes' (24:2), meaning that he wished to invoke the evil eye (ill-will) on Bney Yisrael (b) arrogance is implied in the way he dismissed Balak's first group of messengers. In saying that G-d refused him permission to go 'with you' (22:13), he arrogantly wished to convey the meaning that they were not of high enough rank - G-d might well change His mind if more important people were put on the job (c) greed is suggested by the words of 'would Balak give me his house full of silver and gold' (22:17) - that he longed for that extraordinary sum of wealth…

Answer: Bney Yisrael are 'a people that will dwell in solitude and not be reckoned among the nations', means, according to (a) Rashi, that they will never suffer the ultimate destruction that will be the long term of empires and civilizations and (b) that they are destined to be a nation that is separate and distinct from all other nations.

Rashi on 23:9 It is a nation that will dwell alone: This is [the legacy] their forefathers gained for them-to dwell alone, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders it [it is a nation that is alone destined to inherit the world].

and will not be reckoned among the nations: As Targum [Onkelos] paraphrases, they will not perish along with the other nations, for it says, “for I shall make an end of all the nations…” (Jer. 30:11); they will not be reckoned with the rest. Another interpretation: When they rejoice, no other nation rejoices with them, as it says, “G-d alone will guide them [to future happiness]” (Deut. 32:12). And when the nations prosper, they will receive a share with each one of them, but it will not be deducted from their account, and this is the meaning of, “and will not reckoned among the nations.” - [Midrash Tanchuma Balak 12, Bereishis Rabbah 20:19]

Answer: (a) According to Rashi, the Torah had been openly and willfully transgressed in the flagrant manner of publicly cohabiting with a Midianite idolatress. They were weeping because they could not remember whether 'the zealous might slay him' - whether they might be killed without due process of Torah law. (G-d caused Moshe to forget so that Pinchas might act out of zeal and be worthy of His blessing and entry into the priesthood.)

See Rashi on verse 25:6 while they were weeping: The law [that anyone cohabiting with a non-Jewish woman is to be executed by zealots] eluded him. [Therefore,] they all burst out weeping. At the incident of the golden calf Moshe [successfully] confronted six hundred thousand as it says, “He ground it until it was powder…” (Exod. 32:20), yet here he appeared so helpless? However, [this happened] so that Pinchas should come and take what was due to him. — [Midrash Tanchuma Balak 20]

10. Why did Hashem grant Bilaam's donkey the power of speech, according to the Kli Yakar?

Answer: Hashem gave Bilaam's donkey the power of speech to teach the following lesson. The ass had been enabled to speak only for the honor of Israel, and he, Bilaam, had been granted prophecy on the same terms as that ass. He was not worthy of being a prophet, but he was, like the ass, a mere tool of Hashem to let Bney Yisrael receive His Blessings. ~ Kli Yakar