This sheet on Numbers 24 was written by Thalia Halpert Rodis for 929 and can also be found here
Balaam, a non-Israelite diviner, has been commissioned by the King of Moab to curse the Israelites. Balaam looks out at the Israelites from a mountain, ready to deliver a curse. Instead, something shifts and he can only utter a blessing. This transformation happens after Numbers 24:2 where we read, “Balaam lifted up his eyes and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe, and the spirit of God rested upon them.” So why is this the turning point for Balaam?
The Hebrew used in this verse is a formula that is repeated in the Torah during important moments of conflict. This formula leads the character out of that moment and into a space of openness, awareness, and peace. The formula is this: “____ lifted up his eyes and saw ____.”
We see it during a fight that Lot picks with his uncle Abraham about ownership of territory. Abraham does not want to fight and tells Lot that he can settle anywhere he likes. After this, “Lot lifted up his eyes and saw” the place that he wanted to settle in, and there was no more fighting to be had.
We see this Hebraic formula during the binding of Isaac. An angel calls out to Abraham, stopping him from slaying his son. The angel’s voice is a clarion call, underscored by the verse that comes right after it which reads, “Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw a ram.” Abraham becomes aware of what he’s doing and sacrifices the ram instead of Isaac.
This formula is used again when Jacob and Esau are reunited for the first time after Jacob stole Esau’s blessing, and it’s used when Joseph meets his brother Benjamin for the first time.
Now Balaam, too, lifts up his eyes and sees the Israelite people. Once he has seen them, he cannot curse them. Instead, he offers them a blessing: “Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, Mishkenotecha Yisrael” -- “Oh how good are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel!” Balaam, like Lot and Abraham, Esau and Joseph, lifted up his eyes to see beyond himself and the job that he has been commissioned to do.
Seeing beyond our own narrow perspectives can be difficult to do and takes a great deal of work. But once we do, we can find an awareness of self. We can see the beauty in others. Then, our mouths will utter blessings.
The Hebrew used in this verse is a formula that is repeated in the Torah during important moments of conflict. This formula leads the character out of that moment and into a space of openness, awareness, and peace. The formula is this: “____ lifted up his eyes and saw ____.”
We see it during a fight that Lot picks with his uncle Abraham about ownership of territory. Abraham does not want to fight and tells Lot that he can settle anywhere he likes. After this, “Lot lifted up his eyes and saw” the place that he wanted to settle in, and there was no more fighting to be had.
We see this Hebraic formula during the binding of Isaac. An angel calls out to Abraham, stopping him from slaying his son. The angel’s voice is a clarion call, underscored by the verse that comes right after it which reads, “Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw a ram.” Abraham becomes aware of what he’s doing and sacrifices the ram instead of Isaac.
This formula is used again when Jacob and Esau are reunited for the first time after Jacob stole Esau’s blessing, and it’s used when Joseph meets his brother Benjamin for the first time.
Now Balaam, too, lifts up his eyes and sees the Israelite people. Once he has seen them, he cannot curse them. Instead, he offers them a blessing: “Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, Mishkenotecha Yisrael” -- “Oh how good are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel!” Balaam, like Lot and Abraham, Esau and Joseph, lifted up his eyes to see beyond himself and the job that he has been commissioned to do.
Seeing beyond our own narrow perspectives can be difficult to do and takes a great deal of work. But once we do, we can find an awareness of self. We can see the beauty in others. Then, our mouths will utter blessings.
Thalia Halpert Rodis is in her fourth year of rabbinical studies at HUC-JIR in New York.
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