929/Bamidbar 19-23:Bilaam, Lions and Shema

And who wrote the Bible? Moses wrote his own book and the portion of Balaam, and the book of Job. ..

(24) Lo, a people that rises like a lioness, Leaps up like a lion, Rests not till it has feasted on prey; And drunk the blood of the slain.

(1) הן עם כלביא יקום וגו׳ When they arise in the morning they are strong as a lioness and as a lion to “snatch at” the Divine precepts — to clothe themselves with the Tallith, to read the Shema and to lay Tephillin (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Balak 14). (2) לא ישכב at night on his bed until he consumes (עד יאכל) and destroys every noxious thing which comes to prey upon him (טרף). How so? He reads the Shema at his bedside and commends his spirit into the hands of the Omnipresent (Midrash Tanchuma, Balak 14). If a camp or troop comes to injure them, the Holy One, blessed be He, protects them and fights their battles and causes them (the enemies) to fall slain (חללים).

(1) One should strengthen himself like a lion to get up in the morning to serve his Creator, so that it is he who awakens the dawn. Rem"a: At least, one should not delay beyond the time when the congregation prays (Tur). ...

Rabbi Abbahu ben Zutarti said that Rabbi Yehuda bar Zevida said: The Sages sought to establish the Torah portion of Balak, as part of the twice-daily recitation of Shema. And why did they not establish it there? Because it would be an encumbrance on the congregation. Why? If you say because the exodus is mentioned, (as it is written therein: “God, who brought them forth out of Egypt” (Numbers 23:22). Let us say the portion of usury (Leviticus 25:35–38) or the portion of weights (Leviticus 19:35–37), as the exodus from Egypt is written therein as well. Rather, Rabbi Yosei bar Avin said: because it is written therein: “He couched, He lay down like a lion and a lioness; who shall rouse Him?” (Numbers 24:9). Similar to Shema: When you lie down, and when you rise.

(2) As Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him. (3) Taking up his theme, he said: Word of Balaam son of Beor,

Word of the man whose eye is true,
(4) Word of one who hears God’s speech,

Who beholds visions from the Almighty,

Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:

(5) How fair are your tents, O Jacob,

Your dwellings, O Israel!

(1) מה טבו אהליך — He saw that the entrances of their tents were not exactly facing each other (Bava Batra 60a; cf. v. 2). (2) משכנתיך means thy encampments, as the Targum has it. — Another explanation — מה טבו אהליך — How goodly are the tent of Shiloh and the Temple when these flourished, in that sacrifices were offered therein to atone for you; (3) משכנתיך How goodly are they even in ruins, because then they are a pledge (משכון) for you, and the ruins are an atonement for your souls, as it is said. (Lam. 4:11) “The Lord hath brought His fury to an end”. And by what means did HE end? “He hath kindled a destructive fire in Zion! (Tanchuma, Mishpatim 11).

Rabbi Yoḥanan says: From the blessing of wicked Balaam, you can ascertain what was in his heart. He sought to say that they should not have synagogues and study halls, but said instead: “How goodly are your tents, Jacob” (Num. 24:5). He sought to say that the Divine Presence [shekhina] will not rest upon them, but said instead: “And your dwellings [mishkenot] Israel.” ...

MISHNA: To protect privacy of co-residents in a shared courtyard, a person may not open an entrance opposite another entrance or a window opposite another window. A pre-existing small entrance may not be enlarged and a single entrance may not be supplemented with another. But if the windows or entrances faced the public domain one may do the above since there was no expectation of privacy. GEMARA: From where are these matters, i.e., that one may not open an entrance opposite another entrance? Rabbi Yoḥanan says that the verse states: “And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe” (Num. 24:2). What did Bilaam see? the entrances of their tents were not aligned with each other. And he said: these people are worthy of having the Divine Presence rest on them.

(1) Before beginning the Morning Prayers say:

(2) I hereby accept upon myself the positive commandment to love my fellow Jew. (3) upon entering the synagogue, say: (4) How good are your tents, Jacob: your dwelling places, Israel. As for me, through Your abundant kindness I will enter Your House; I will prostrate myself toward Your Holy Sanctuary in awe of You. Adonoy, I love the Dwelling, Your House, and the place where Your glory resides. I will prostrate myself, and bow, I will kneel before Adonoy, my Maker. May my prayer to You Adonoy be at a favorable time; God, in the abundance of Your kindness answer me with the truth of Your deliverance.