Balak: Chapter 39

The eye of David and the eye of Bilaam

Synopsis

Rabbi Elazar says that David killed the Philistine by looking at him with an evil eye, and this caused leprosy on his forehead; thus the stone was sunk into his forehead. We hear that David's eye was beautiful and gazed with love on those who feared sin, but that the wicked were afraid of him. The eye of Bilaam, on the other hand, was entirely wicked. Next Rabbi Elazar says that the punishment for all the other causes of plagues listed earlier is always leprosy. He tells Rabbi Aba how Bilaam perpetrated all these sins, and that Bilaam tried to draw the abundance of Yisrael to his own evil side.

Balaam Caves David Evil Eyes Joab Leprosy Orpah Philistines Samuel

387. Rabbi Aba said, This matter REGARDING THE PHILISTINE has not suited me, and I need to study it further. Rabbi Elazar said, It is definitely so. This Philistine was close to the lineage of David and was the son of Orpah. That is the meaning of what is written: "Out of the ranks (Heb. ma'arachot) of the Philistines" (I Shmuel 17:23). Do not pronounce "ma'arachot," but read 'from the caves (Heb. me'arot) of the Philistines,' because he caused shame to his mother, making her as a cave, because it is written: "And the Philistine cursed David by his Elohim" (Ibid. 43). David gazed at him with an evil eye and anywhere THAT DAVID was gazing with an evil eye, all kinds of leprosy flowed from the eyes of David. This is the way it was regarding Joab. As soon as David gazed at him with an evil eye, it is written: "And let the house of Joab never lack such as are afflicted with an issue, or with leprosy..." (II Shmuel 3:29).

387. אָמַר ר' אַבָּא, מִלָּה דָּא לָא אִתְיַישְׁבָא, וְאִצְטְרִיךְ לְעַיְּינָא בֵּיהּ. א"ר אֶלְעָזָר, הָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי, פְּלִשְׁתִּי דָּא קָרִיב לְיִיחוּסָא דְּדָוִד הֲוָה, וּבְרָהּ דְּעָרְפָּה הֲוָה, וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִּיב, מִמַעַרְכוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים, אַל תִּקְרֵי מִמַעַרְכוֹת, אֶלָּא מִמְּעָרוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים, דְּשַׁוְיוּהָ לְאִמֵּיהּ כִּמְעַרְתָּא דָּא. וְכֵיוָן דִּכְתִּיב וַיְקַלֵּל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אֶת דָּוִד בֵּאלֹהָיו, אִסְתָּכַּל בֵּיהּ דָּוִד בְּעֵינָא בִּישָׁא. וּבְכָל אֲתָר דַּהֲוָה מִסְתַּכֵּל בְּעֵינָא בִּישָׁא, כָּל זִינֵי צָרַעַת אִתְמַשְּׁכָן מְעֵינֵיהּ דְּדָוִד. וְהָכִי הֲוָה בְּיוֹאָב, כֵּיוָן דְּאִסְתָּכַּל בֵּיהּ דָּוִד בְּעֵינָא בִּישָׁא, מַה כְּתִיב, וְלֹא יִכָּרֵת מִבֵּית יוֹאָב זָב וּמְצוֹרָע וְגוֹ.'

David Evil Eyes Forehead Lepers Leprosy Philistines Samuel Stone

388. Here with this Philistine, as soon as he cursed the Name, David looked at him with an evil eye and saw on his forehead that he became leprous. Immediately, "the stone buried itself in his forehead" (I Shmuel 17:49), because the leprosy was stuck to his forehead. All this was DUE TO the impression of the evil eye of the leprosy in his forehead, that this stone was actually sunk into his brow. IT IS definite that he was a leper.

388. וְהָכָא בְּפְּלִשְׁתִּי דָּא, כֵּיוָן שֶׁקִּלֵל אֶת הַשֵׁם, אִסְתָּכַּל בֵּיהּ בְּעֵינָא בִּישָׁא, וְחָמָא בְּמִצְחֵיהּ דְּאִצְטְרַע. מִיַּד וַתִּטְבַּע הָאֶבֶן בְּמִצְחוֹ, וְאִתְדַּבְּקַת הַצָרַעַת בְּמִצְחוֹ. וְכֹלָּא הֲוָה אִשְׁתָּקָעַת עֵינָא בִּישָׁא דְּצָרַעַת בְּמִצְחוֹ, וְאִשְׁתְּקָעַת אַבְנָא מַמָּשׁ בְּמִצְחוֹ, וַדַּאי מְצוֹרָע הֲוָה.

Balaam Colors David Eyes Fear Love Sin Wicked Wickedness

389. The wicked man Bilaam's eye was the opposite of David's eye. David's eye was embroidered in all kinds of colors, and there was no eye in the world as beautiful as David's. All the colors in the world sparkled in it and it was filled with love towards anyone who feared sin, as it is written: "They who fear You will see me and be glad" (Tehilim 119:74). That is, they became happy when they looked at him and all those wicked USED TO BE fearful of him.

389. רָשָׁע חַיָּיבָא דְּבִלְעָם, עֵינָא דִּילֵיהּ, הֲוָה בְּהִפּוּכָא מֵעֵינָא דְּדָוִד עֵינָא דְּדָוִד הֲוָה מְרֻקָּמָא מִכָּל זִינֵי גַּוְונִין, לָא הֲוָה עֵינָא בְּעָלְמָא שַׁפִּירָא לְמֵחֱזֵי, כְּעֵינָא דְּדָוִד. כָּל גַּוְונִין דְּעָלְמָא מְנַצְצָן בֵּיהּ, וְכֹלָּא בִּרְחִימוּ לְמַאן דְּדָחִיל חַטָאָה, דִּכְתִּיב יְרֵאֶיךָ יִרְאוּנִי וְיִשְׂמָחוּ. חַדָּאן כַּד חָמָאן לִי. וְכָל אִינּוּן חַיָּיבִין דַּחֲלִין מִקַמֵיהּ.

Balaam David Evil Eyes Flame Wicked Wickedness

390. However, the eye of the wicked Bilaam was evil in every way. Anywhere he gazed was destroyed as with a flame, since there does not exist such an evil eye in the world as the eye of that wicked one, which was the opposite of David's eye.

390. אֲבָל עֵינוֹי דְּבִלְעָם חַיָּיבָא, עֵינָא בִּישָׁא בְּכֹלָּא, בְּכָל אֲתָר דַּהֲוָה מִסְתַּכָּל, כְּשַׁלְהוֹבָא שָׁצֵי לֵיהּ. דְּהָא לֵית עֵינָא בִּישָׁא בְּעָלְמָא, כְּעֵינָא דְּהַהוּא רָשָׁע, דְּאִיהוּ בְּהִפּוּכָא מְעֵינוֹי דְּדָוִד.

Crowns Destruction Head Incest Leprosy Stones Zion

391. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE PUNISHMENT for incest IS LEPROSY? It is written REGARDING INCEST: "Therefore Hashem will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion" (Yeshayah 3:17). It is written REGARDING LEPROSY: "And for a swelling, and for a scab..." (Vayikra 14:56). AS IT REFERS TO LEPROSY, HERE TOO IT REFERS TO LEPROSY. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT ONE CONTRACTS LEPROSY for thievery? Because it is written: "'I have now produced it,' says Hashem Tzva'ot, and it shall enter into the house of the thief...and shall consume it with the timber of it and the stones of it..." (Zecharyah 5:4). What is it that destroys timbers and stones - leprosy, as it is written: "And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and its timber" (Vayikra 14:45).

391. עַל גִּלוּי עֲרָיוֹת, דִּכְתִּיב וְשִׂפַּח יְיָ' קָדְקוֹד בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן. וּכְתִיב וְלַשְׂאֵת וְלַסַּפַּחַת. עַל הַגְּנֵבָה, דִּכְתִּיב הוֹצֵאתִיהָ נְאֻם יְיָ' צְבָאוֹת וּבָאָה אֶל בֵּית הַגַּנָּב וְגוֹ' וְכִלַּתּוֹ וְאֶת עֵצָיו וְאֶת אֲבָנָיו. מַאן הוּא מִלָּה דִּמְכַלֶּה עֵצִים וַאֲבָנִים. דָּא צָרַעַת. דִּכְתִּיב, וְנָתַץ אֶת הַבַּיִת אֶת אֲבָנָיו וְאֶת עֵצָיו.

Aaron Camp Evil Leprosy Miriam Moses Plagues War

392. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT ONE COONTRACTS LEPROSY for the evil tongue? Because it is written: "And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses..." (Bemidbar 12:1) and it is written further: "And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and behold, she was leprous" (Ibid. 10). For false testimony, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT ONE CONTRACTS LEPROSY? We find that Yisrael testified falsely and said, "These are your Elohim, Yisrael" (Shemot 32:4) in a loud voice, as it is written: "There is a noise of war in the camp" (Ibid. 17). Thus, "they put out of the camp everyone with leprosy and everyone that has an issue..." (Bemidbar 5:2). BOTH CASES THE TERM OF "CAMP" IS USED TO INDICATE AN ANALOGY BETWEEN THEM.

392. עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, דִּכְתִּיב וּתְדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַהֲרֹן בְּמֹשֶׁה וְגוֹ,' וּכְתִיב וַיִּפֶן אַהֲרֹן אֶל מִרְיָם וְהִנֵּה מְצוֹרָעַת. עַל עֵדוּת שֶׁקֶר, בְּגִין דְּסָהִידוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁקֶר, וְאָמְרוּ אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּקַל תַּקִּיף, דִּכְתִּיב קוֹל מִלְחָמָה בַּמַּחֲנֶה. בּג"ד, וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ וְכָל זָב וְגוֹ.'

Abraham Balaam Blossom David Evil Eyes Fear Fire Forehead Judgment Leprosy Pharaoh, The Sarah Torah Uzziah Wicked Wickedness

393. About a judge who distorts justice, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT ONE CONTRACTS LEPROSY? Because it is written "As the fire devours the stubble, and as the chaff...and their blossom shall go up as dust ..." (Yeshayah 5:24). What is the reason? "Because they have cast away the Torah of Hashem Tzva'ot" (Ibid.). And 'blossom' means none other than leprosy, as it is written: "And if the leprosy breaks (lit. 'blossoms') out abroad" (Vayikra 13:12). If one infringes on boundary rights of his neighbor, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT ONE CONTRACTS LEPROSY? From Uzziah, who infringed on the rights of the priesthood, as it is written: "The leprosy broke out on his forehead" (II Divrei Hayamim 26:19). HOW DO WE KNOW THAT someone who incites strife among brothers CONTRACTS LEPROSY? Because it is written: "And Hashem plagued Pharaoh" (Beresheet 12:17), BECAUSE he caused quarrel between Abraham and Sarah. About an evil eye, HOW DO WE KNOW? This is as we already studied THAT DAVID'S EVIL EYE WAS INFLICTING WITH LEPROSY THOSE WHO DID NOT FEAR HASHEM, SO WE HAVE PROOF THAT THE EVIL EYE CAUSES LEPROSY. All this was applicable to the wicked Bilaam.

393. עַל דַּיָּין דִּמְקַלְקֵל דִּינָא, דִּכְתִּיב כֶּאֱכוֹל קַשׁ לְשׁוֹן אֵשׁ וַחֲשַׁשׁ וְגוֹ' וּפִרְחָם כָּאָבָק יַעֲלֶה וְגוֹ,' מַאי טַעֲמָא. כִּי מָאֲסוּ אֵת תּוֹרַת יְיָ' צְבָאוֹת. וְאֵין פִּרְחָם, אֶלָּא צָרַעַת. דִּכְתִּיב, וְאִם פָּרוֹחַ תִּפְרַח הַצָּרַעַת. עַל דְּעָאל בִּתְחוּמָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ מִנַּיִן. מֵעוּזִיָּהוּ. דְּעָאל בִּתְחוּמָא דִּכְהוּנָה. דִּכְתִּיב, וְהַצָּרַעַת זָרְחָה בְמִצְחוֹ. וְעַל דִּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים. דִּכְתִּיב וַיְנַגַּע יְיָ' אֶת פַּרְעֹה, דְּאִיהוּ שָׁלַּח מְדָנִים בֵּין אַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה. וְעַל עֵינָא בִּישָׁא, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר. וְכֻלְּהוּ הֲווֹ בֵּיהּ בְּהַהוּא רָשָׁע דְּבִלְעָם.

Balaam Evil Eyes Other Side Peace Rivers Zeir Anpin

394. Come and see that it is written: "To Petor, which is by the river" (Bemidbar 22:5). What is the meaning of "by the river?" HE RESPONDS: He set his evil eye on the river that is in Yisrael, WHICH IS YESOD IN ZEIR ANPIN, as it is written: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river" (Yeshayah 66:12). Bilaam came upon Petor, WHICH IS MALCHUT OF THE OTHER SIDE, and was provoking them.

394. ת"ח, מַה כְּתִיב, פְּתוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר עַל הַנָּהָר. מַאי עַל הַנָּהָר. דְּיָהַב עֵינָא בִּישָׁא, עַל הַהוּא נָהָר, דְּקַיְּימָא בְּהוּ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. דִּכְתִּיב הִנְנִי נוֹטֶה אֵלֶיהָ כְּנָהָר שָׁלוֹם. וְהוּא אָתָא בְּהַהוּא פְּתוֹרָא, וְאִגְרֵי בְּהוּ.

Balaam Beasts Daughter Idolatry Judgment Peor Testimony

395. Rabbi Aba said, Certainly all these things applied to Bilaam, but how do we know that he, BILAAM, was also involved in sexually indecent behavior? HE REPLIES: Because it says, "Behold, these caused the children of Yisrael, through the counsel of Bilaam, to revolt against Hashem..." (Bemidbar 31:16). We have here idol worship OF PEOR and sexual immorality OF KOZBI, DAUGHTER OF TZUR. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT false testimony APPLIED TO BILAAM? Because it is written: "And knows the knowledge of the most High" (Bemidbar 24:16) and yet he did not know even the thoughts of his beast, BECAUSE HE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY HIS SHE-MULE DETOURED FROM THE ROAD. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT the distortion of justice ALSO APPLIED TO BILAAM? Because it is written: "Come therefore, and I will advise you" (Ibid. 14), for it was still debated AND IMPENDS ON judgment IF YISRAEL IS GUILTLESS OR NOT. Yet he gave bad advice to harm YISRAEL, and that is a perversion of justice, SINCE HE counseled harmful things to them without any remorse.

395. א"ר אַבָּא, כָּל הָנֵי מִלִּין הֲווֹ וַדַּאי בְּבִלְעָם. אֲבָל גִּלוּי עֲרָיוֹת מִנַּיִן, דִּכְתִּיב, הֵן הֵנָּה הָיוּ לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּדְבַר בִּלְעָם לִמְסָר מַעַל בַּיְיָ' וְגוֹ.' הָא הָכָא עֲ"ז וּגְלוּי עֲרָיוֹת. סַהֲדוּתָא דְּשִׁקְרָא, דִּכְתִּיב וְיוֹדַע דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן, וְדַעַת בְּהֶמְתּוֹ לָא הֲוָה יָדַע. קִלְקֵל יַת דִּינָא, דִּכְתִּיב לְךָ אִיעָצְךָ. דְּהָא בְּדִינָא קַיְּימָא, וְיָהַב עֵיטָא בִּישָׁא לְאַבְאָשָׁא, וְסָטֵי מִן דִּינָא, וְאַמְלִיךְ בִּישִׁין עָלַיְיהוּ.

Altar Balaam Curse Evil Eyes Heaven Holy Name Offering Priests Rivers Sacrifice Seven Zeir Anpin

396. He infringed on what was beyond his boundary rights. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT ABOUT BILAAM? Because it is written: "And I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram" (Bemidbar 23:4) and it is written: "I have prepared the seven altars" (Ibid.). YET THE OFFERING OF SACRIFICES BELONGED TO THE PRIESTS AND NOT TO HIM. And inciting strife between brothers APPLIED TO HIM AS WELL, BECAUSE HE CAUSED STRIFE between Yisrael and their Father in heaven. Evil tongue APPLIED TO HIM, since no one in the world was A MASTER OF THE EVIL TONGUE as he was, SINCE ALL HIS POWER WAS IN HIS MOUTH. The curse of the Holy Name APPLIED TO HIM, as it is written: "While I go to the meeting yonder (Heb. coh)" (Ibid.), WHICH MEANS THAT HE WISHED TO UPROOT MALCHUT CALLED COH FROM YISRAEL. All these things were in him, and the evil eye as we learned, and everything was directed against the river of Yisrael THAT IS YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN. He set his eyes on it to provoke it, TO BEND ITS ABUNDANCE TO HIS OWN EVIL SIDE. "To the land of the children of his people" (Bemidbar 22:5): HE ASKS: Don't we know that this was the land of the children of his people? HE RESPONDS: That is only the secret meaning, that which all the members of his people were attached to it, as we have studied already.

396. עָאל בִּתְחוּמָא דְּלָאו דִּילֵיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב וָאַעַל פָּר וְאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ, וּכְתִיב אֶת שִׁבְעַת הַמִּזְבְּחוֹת עָרַכְתִּי. מְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לַאֲבִיהֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. לָשׁוֹן הָרָע, לָא הֲוָה בְּעָלְמָא כְּגִינֵיהּ. קִלְּלַת הַשֵּׁם, דִּכְתִּיב וְאָנֹכִי אִקָּרֶה כֹּה. וְכֻלְּהוּ הֲווֹ בֵּיהּ. עֵינָא בִּישָׁא כְּמָה דְּאִתְמַר. וְכֹלָּא עַל הַהוּא נָהָר דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יָהַב עֵינוֹי לְאִתְגָּרָא בֵּיהּ. אֶרֶץ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹ, וְכִי לָא יְדַעְנָא דְּאֶרֶץ בְּנֵי עַמוֹ הִיא. אֶלָּא רָזָא דָּא, דְּכָל בְּנֵי עַמּוֹ מִתְדַּבְּקָן בֵּיהּ וְהָא אִתְּמַר.

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