Balak: Chapter 16

"Even the sparrow has found a home"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon says that the souls of the just are God's beloved, and He makes dwellings below and above for them. We hear a description of the three outer walls of the Garden of Eden, and Rabbi Shimon tells his son that some spirits are allowed to see a hidden chamber in the palace where the crowns are stored for Messiah in the time to come. The importance of having holy sons who study the Oral and Written Torahs is emphasized. Finally we hear that Balak saw a vision and knew that he would fall into the hands of Yisrael after they had first fallen into his hands.

Balak Birds David Nest Tzipor

212. "And Balak...saw" (Bemidbar 22:1): Rabbi Elazar said, Certainly what Rabbi Chiya said ABOUT THIS VERSE: "BALAK THE SON OF TZIPOR (LIT. 'BIRD')" is a concealed matter. However, it is written: "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself" (Tehilim 84:4). HE ASKS: Did King David then say this about a mere PHYSICAL bird?

212. וַיַּרְא בָּלָק וְגוֹ.' רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר, וַדַּאי מַה דְּאָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, מִלָּה סְתִימָא הֲוָה. אֲבָל כְּתִיב, גַּם צִפּוֹר מָצְאָה בַיִת וּדְרוֹר קֵן לָהּ וְגוֹ.' וְכִי דָּוִד מַלְכָּא, עַל צִפָּרָא בְּעָלְמָא, הֲוָה אָמַר מִלָּה דָּא.

Dwellings Righteous Soul, The

213. HE RESPONDS: It is only as we were taught, how beloved are the souls to the Holy One, blessed be He. If you say all the souls, it is not so. It is only the souls of the righteous whose dwellings are with Him. Their dwellings are above and their dwellings are below, as we were taught. "Even the sparrow has found a home" refers to the spirits of the righteous.

213. אֶלָּא, כְּמָה דְּתָנֵינָן, כַּמָה חֲבִיבִין נִשְׁמָתִין קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. אִי תֵּימָא כָּל נִשְׁמָתִין דְּעָלְמָא. לָאו הָכִי. אֶלָּא אִינּוּן נִשְׁמָתֵהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּתַמָּן מָדוֹרֵיהוֹן בַּהֲדֵיהּ, מָדוֹרֵיהוֹן לְעֵילָּא, וּמָדוֹרֵיהוֹן לְתַתָּא. וְהָכִי אִתְּמַר. גַּם צִפּוֹר מָצְאָה בַיִת, אִלֵּין רוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא.

Eden Eyes Fragrance Garden of Eden Righteous Soul, The Walls

214. We were taught that there are three outer walls to the Garden of Eden. Between each one of them, many spirits and souls walk about there and derive pleasure from the fragrance enjoyed by the righteous that are inside the Garden of Eden, although they themselves did not earn the merits to enter WITHIN. However, it is written of the enjoyable pleasure of the just that are inside: "Neither has the eye seen, that Elohim, beside You" (Yeshayah 64:3).

214. תָּנֵינָן, תְּלַת שׁוּרִין אִינּוּן לג"ע, וּבֵין כָּל חַד וְחַד, כַּמָה רוּחִין וְנִשְׁמָתִין מְטַיְּילִין תַּמָּן, וְאִתְהֲנָן מֵרֵיחָא דְּעִנּוּגִין דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא דִּלְגוֹ, אע"ג דְּלָא זָכוּ לְמֵיעָאל. אֲבָל עִנּוּגָא דְּרוּחֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא דִּלְגוֹ, עַיִן לֹא רָאָתָה אֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ.'

Birds Morning Walls Year

215. There are designated days during the year, which are the days of Nissan and Tishrei, when these spirits wander and visit the place they should. Even though there are lots of occasions when they wander, these days are marked and are visible on the outer walls of the Garden, each one individually in a depiction of chirping birds, regularly each morning.

215. וְיוֹמִין רְשִׁימִין אִית בְּשַׁתָּא, וְאִינּוּן יוֹמֵי נִיסָן, לְיוֹמֵי תִּשְׁרֵי, דְּאִינּוּן רוּחִין מְשַׁטְטָן וּפַקְדָן לַאֲתָר דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. וְאע"ג דְּזִמְנִין סַגִּיאִין מְשַׁטְטָן, אֲבָל יוֹמִין אִלֵּין רְשִׁימִין אִינּוּן, וְאִתְחָזוּן עַל גַּבֵּי שׁוּרִין דְּגִּנְתָּא, כָּל חַד וְחַד כְּחֵיזוּ דְּצִפָּרִין מְצַפְצְפָן, בְּכָל צַפְרָא וְצַפְרָא.

Birds Garden of Eden Praise Prayer Precepts Walls

216. That chirping is praise to the Holy One, blessed be He, and a prayer about the lives of the human beings in this world, because in these days, Yisrael are involved in the precepts and commandments of the Master of the Universe. Then, these birds appear chirping happily and they chirp and whisper praises and gratitudes and pray for the living of this world on the walls at the Garden of Eden.

216. וְהַהוּא צִפְצוּפָא שְׁבָחָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּצְלוֹתָא עַל חַיֵּי בְּנֵי נָשָׁא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא. בְּגִין דְּאִלֵּין יוֹמִין, יִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלְּהוּ מִתְעַסְּקִין בְּמִצְוֹת, וּבְפִקּוּדִין דְּמָארֵי עָלְמָא. וּכְדֵין בְּחֵדוּ אִתְחֲזָן צִפָּרִין מְצַפְצְפָן, וע"ג שׁוּרִין דְּע"ג מְצַפְצְפָן מְשַׁבְּחָן וְאוֹדָן וּמְצַלָּן עַל חַיֵּי דְּהַאי עָלְמָא.

Eyes Freedom Light Nest Soul, The

217. Rabbi Shimon said, Elazar, you certainly spoke well, since these spirits are definitely there. But what would you say IN THE EXPLANATION OF THE VERSE: "And the swallow (Heb. dror) a nest for herself?" He said, This is what I was taught: that refers to the holy soul, WHICH IS CALLED 'DROR,' IT BEING THE LIGHT OF BINAH, WHICH IS FREEDOM (HEB. DROR) that rises above and ascends to a hidden and concealed area, where "neither has the eye seen, that Elohim, beside You..."

217. אר"ש, אֶלְעָזָר וַדַּאי שַׁפִּיר קָאַמָרְת, דְּוַדַּאי אִינּוּן רוּחִין תַּמָּן. אֲבָל מַה תֵּימָא וּדְרוֹר קֵן לָהּ. אָמַר, הָכִי אוֹלִיפְנָא, דָּא הִיא נִשְׁמְתָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּסַלְּקָא לְעֵילָּא, וְסַלְּקָא לַאֲתָר טָמִיר וְגָנִיז, דְּעַיִן לֹא רָאָתָה אֱלֹֹהִים זוּלָתְךָ וְגוֹ.'

Birds Dwellings Garden of Eden

218. Rabbi Shimon said, Elazar, you certainly spoke well and that is lovely. However, all this is in the lower Garden of Eden, and it is as you said, and most definitely so: "Even the sparrow has found a home" refers to the holy spirits that deserved afterwards to enter and leave, following their wanderings WITHOUT ANY PLACE TO SETTLE. They are depicted as birds and these spirits have now found a dwelling place. Each individual surely has a specified residence within.

218. א"ר שִׁמְעוֹן, אֶלְעָזָר וַדַּאי שַׁפִּיר קָאַמָרְת, וְשַׁפִּיר אִיהוּ. אֲבָל כָּל דָּא בְּג"ע דִּלְתַּתָּא הִיא, וּכְמָה דְּאַמְרַת הוּא, וְהָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי, גַּם צִפּוֹר מָצְאָה בַיִת, אִלֵּין רוּחִין קַדִּישִׁין, דְּזָכוּ לְמֵיעָאל וּלְמֵיפָּק לְבָתַר, בְּגִין דִּמְשַׁטְטָן וְאִתְחָזוּן כְּחֵיזוּ דִּצִפּוֹרִין, וְאִלֵּין רוּחִין מָצְאָה בַיִת. וַדַּאי כָּל חֲדָא וַחֲדָא אִית לוֹן מָדוֹרִין יְדִיעָאן לְגוֹ.

Birds Chambers Crowns Eyes Freedom Messiah, The Nest Righteous Year

219. In spite of all this, ALL THESE SPIRITS get burned from the canopies of their neighbors, from these that have freedom and liberty of all. And the Holy One, blessed be He, shows them one hidden chamber that is stored away, which "neither has the eye seen, that Elohim, beside You." That chamber is called 'bird's nest' and from there come crowns that are adorned for Messiah in the future to come, because on designated days, three times a year, the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to delight in these righteous and show them that chamber that is hidden and stored away. It is not recognized by all the righteous that are there.

219. ועכ"ד, כֻּלְּהוּ נִכְוִין מֵחוּפָּה דְּחַבְרַיְיהוּ. אִינּוּן דְּאִית לוֹן דְּרוֹר, וְחֵירוּ מִכֹּלָּא. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַחְזֵי לוֹן הֵיכָלָא טְמִירוּ חֲדָא גָּנִיז, דְּעַיִן לֹא רָאָתָה אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתְךָ, וְהַהוּא הֵיכָלָא אִקְרֵי קַן צִפּוֹר. וּמִתַּמָּן מִתְעַטְּרִין עִטְרִין לְמָשִׁיחַ בְּזִמְנָא דְּאָתֵי, וּבְיוֹמִין רְשִׁימִין, תְּלַת זִמְנִין בְּשַׁתָּא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא בְּאִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, וְאַחְזֵי לוֹן הַהוּא הֵיכָלָא טְמִירָא גָּנִיז, דְּלָא יַדְעִין וְלָא אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָן בֵּיהּ, כָּל צַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּתַמָּן.

Altar Merit Righteous Torah Written Law

220. "Where she may lay her young. Your altars" (Tehilim 84:4). These are the righteous, who laid their foundations with holy sons that merited the Written Torah and Oral Torah in this world. THE WRITTEN TORAH AND ORAL TORAH are considered two altars, AND THESE RIGHTEOUS get adorned before the Holy King, because the merits of their sons in this world protect them, and they get decorated there. Which spirit deserves all this? The one that lays her young to teach "Your altars," WHICH ARE THE TWO TORAHS, AS MENTIONED. From here on, speak your words, so I will appear there without shame BECAUSE OF THE MERIT OF A SON LIKE YOU WHO STUDIES BOTH TORAHS.

220. אֲשֶׁר שָׁתָה אֶפְרוֹחֶיהָ אֶת מִזְבְּחוֹתֶיךָ, אִלֵּין אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא, דְּאִשְׁתָּכְלָלוּ בִּבְנִין קַדִּישִׁין, דְּזָכוּ לַתּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב, וְלַתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה בְּהַאי עָלְמָא. וְאִלֵּין אִקְרוּן תְּרֵין מַדְבְּחָן. מִתְעַטְּרָן לְקַמֵּי מַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּהָא זְכוּתָא דִּבְנַיְיהוּ בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, אַגִּין עָלַיְיהוּ, וּמְעַטְּרִין לְהוּ תַּמָּן. מַאן רוּחָא זַכָּאָה לְכָל הַאי. הַאי דְּשָׁתָה אֶפְרוֹחֶיהָ, לְאוֹלְפָא לְמִזְבְּחוֹתֶיךָ וְגוֹ.' מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה אֵימָא מִילָּךְ, דְּהָא בְּלָא כִּסּוּפָא אִתְחֲזֵינָא תַּמָּן.

Birds Chambers Heber Jethro Lips Midyan Nest Sacrifice Samuel Saul Temple, The Torah

221. Rabbi Elazar spoke again saying, "Even the sparrow has found a home" refers to Jethro. "And the swallow (Heb. dror) a nest for herself:" That is his sons, who were in Cell of Gazith studying Torah, and decree Torah laws with their lips. "Find a home:" What is the meaning of that? HE RESPONDS: It is because they journeyed and camped in the desert at first, then traveled from the pleasures of Midian and from their sweet life there and camped in the desert. When the Holy One, blessed be He, noticed their desire for Torah, He drew them from there and gave them a place in the Cell of Gazith. "And the swallow a nest for herself" is all one and the same, because a sparrow and swallow are both one and the same bird. AND NEST (HEB. KEN) IS LIKE: "Heber the Kenite" (Shoftim 4:17), and: "And Saul said to the Kenites" (I Shmuel 15:6).

221. פָּתַח כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְאָמַר, גַּם צִפּוֹר מָצְאָה בַיִת, דָּא יִתְרוֹ. וּדְרוֹר קֵן לָהּ, דָּא בְּנוֹי, דַּהֲווֹ בְּלִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית, אוֹלְפֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, וְחַתְכִין מִלִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּפוּמַיְיהוּ. מָצְאָה בַיִת מַהוּ. אֶלָּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא נַטְלוּ וְשָׁארוּ בְּמַדְבְּרָא, נַטְלוּ מֵעִנּוּגָא דְּמִדְיָן, וּמִמְּתִיקוּ דְּתַמָּן, וְשָׁרוּ בְּמַדְבְּרָא. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּעַל אוֹרַיְיתָא הֲוָה כִּסּוּפָא דִּלְהוֹן, מָשִׁיךְ לוֹן מִתַּמָּן, וְאָעִיל לוֹן לְלִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית. וּדְרוֹר קֵן לָהּ, כֹּלָּא חַד. צִפּוֹר דְּרוֹר כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ חַד. חֶבֶר הַקֵּנִי. וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל הַקֵּנִי וְגוֹ.'

Balak Idolatry Jethro Midyan Tzipor

222. Come and see what is written: "And Balak the son of Tzipor saw." Why the difference that his father's name is mentioned rather than the rest of the other kings OF MIDIAN WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR FATHER'S NAMES MENTIONED? HE RESPONDS: It is only because Jethro drew himself away and was removed from idol worship, and he together with his children approached Yisrael to join with them. The whole world excommunicated him and persecuted him.

222. ת"ח, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיַּרְא בָּלָק בֶּן צִפּוֹר. וְכִי מַאי שְׁנָא דְּאַדְכִּיר שְׁמָא דַּאֲבוֹי מִשְּׁאַר מַלְכִין. אֶלָּא יִתְרוֹ אִתְמְשַׁךְ וְאִתְעֲבָר מע"ז, וְאָתָא לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, הוּא וּבְנוֹי, וְכָל עָלְמָא נִדּוּהוּ וְרַדְפוּ אֲבַּתְרֵיהּ.

Balak Crowns Hands Idolatry Jethro Midyan Moab Shechinah Tzipor

223. Balak was from the descendants OF JETHRO and deviated from the ways of his father. When the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian, who were friends in their idol worship, saw that Jethro and his descendants adhered to the Shechinah, this one distanced himself from them. They came and crowned him king over them at that time, as it is written: "And Balak the son of Tzipor was king of Moab at that time." At that time, he was the king, something that he was not before then. Therefore, it is written: "the son of Tzipor" THAT ALLUDES TO JETHRO WHO WAS CALLED 'TZIPOR' TO INDICATE that it was not proper to do so, BECAUSE HE WAS FROM THE DESCENDANTS OF JETHRO CALLED 'TZIPOR.' HE INQUIRES: It says, "And Balak...saw," but it should have said 'heard.' What is the meaning here of: "saw?" HE RESPONDS: He saw a vision and he knew that he will fall into the hands of Yisrael. Yisrael will first fall into his hands and only afterward would he fall into Yisrael's hands. That is the reason it says: "And Balak the son of Tzipor saw."

223. בָּלָק מִבְּנֵי בְּנוֹי הֲוָה, וְאִתְעֲבָר מֵאָרְחָא דְּאָבוֹי, כֵּיוָן דְּחָמוּ סָבֵי מוֹאָב וְסָבֵי מִדְיָן, דַּהֲווֹ בַּהֲדֵי הַדָדֵי בְּאָחְוָה דִּלְהוֹן בע"ז, בְּחוּלָקָא דִּלְהוֹן, דְּיִתְרוֹ וּבְנוֹי אִתְדָּבָקוּ בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא, וְדָא אִתְמְשַׁךְ מִנְּהוֹן. אָתוּ וְאַמְלְכוּהוּ עָלַיְיהוּ בְּהַאי שַׁעֲתָא, דִּכְתִּיב וּבָלָק בֶּן צִפּוֹר מֶלֶךְ לְמוֹאָב בָּעֵת הַהִיא. בָּעֵת הַהִיא הֲוָה מֶלֶךְ, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב בֶּן צִפּוֹר, מַה דְּלָא אִתְחֲזֵי לְמֶעְבַּד הָכִי. וַיַּרְא בָּלָק, וַיִּשְׁמַע מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַהוּ וַיַּרְא. רְאִיָּיה חָמָא, וְיָדַע דְּזַמִּין הוּא לְמִנְפַּל בִּידָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְמִנְפַּל בִּידוֹי בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר אִיהוּ בִּידָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וַיַּרְא בָּלָק בֶּן צִפּוֹר.

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