Balak: Chapter 40

"Of him who has an evil eye"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yosi says that Balak realized that he and his people would fall into the hands of Yisrael because he 'saw' this. Bilaam's knowledge was of the kind that was only understood at night when the lower Sfirot and the asses of the Klipot have dominion.

Balaam Balak Bread Evil Eyes Tzipor

397. "And Balak the son of Tzipor saw..." Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion with the verse: "Do not eat the bread of him who has an evil eye" (Mishlei 23:6). That applies to Bilaam, WHO WAS EVIL-EYED, and he blessed Yisrael. "Nor desire his dainties" (Ibid.) applies to Balak, for whose burnt offerings that he offered before Him, the Holy One, blessed be He, had no desire.

397. וַיַּרְא בָּלָק בֶּן צִפּוֹר וְגוֹ.' רִבִּי יוֹסֵי פָּתַח, אַל תִּלְחַם אֶת לֶחֶם רַע עָיִן וְגוֹ.' דָּא בִּלְעָם, דְּבָרִיךְ לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאַל תִּתְאָו לְמַטְעַמּוֹתָיו, דָּא בָּלָק, דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לָא אִתְרְעֵי לְאִינּוּן עִלָּוָון דְּאַתְקִין קַמֵּיהּ.

Balaam Balak Curse Hands Midyan Og Sihon Wisdom

398. Come and see, when Balak saw that Sihon and Og were killed and their country was taken, he saw ONE MORE THING. HE ASKS: What did he see THAT THE SCRIPTURE says, "saw?" It is only that he saw in his wisdom he and the five top chiefs of Midian and his people were falling into the hands of Yisrael. He saw, yet did not know CLEARLY. Therefore, he first approached Bilaam, whose power was in his mouth TO BLESS AND CURSE, like Yisrael, whose power is in their mouth.

398. ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּחָמָא בָּלָק דְּהָא סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג אִתְקְטָלוּ, וְאִתְנְסִיבַת אַרְעֲהוֹן, חָמָא מַה חָמָא, דְּאִיהוּ אָמַר וַיַּרְא. אֶלָּא חָמָא בְּחָכְמְתָא דִּילֵיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ, וַחֲמִשָּׁה עִלָּאֵי דְּמִדְיָן, וְעִמֵּיהּ, נַפְלִין בִּידָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. חָמָא, וְלָא יָדַע, וְעַל דָּא אַקְדִים לְבִלְעָם, דְּחֵילֵיהּ בְּפוּמֵיהּ, כְּגַוְונָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל דְּחֵילֵיהוֹן בְּפוּמֵיהוֹן.

Balaam Balak Donkeys Klipot (Shells – Negativity) Shells (Klipot)

399. Bilaam was even more loathsome than Balak. Whatever he knew, he knew only at night. These lower Sfirot and the asses OF THE KLIPOT prevail only at the first watch of the night. AND ON THE FIRST WATCH, A SHE-MULE BRAYS. Therefore, he had a she-mule of that side, so the donkeys could join with her in the beginning of the night.

399. וַאֲפִילּוּ בִּלְעָם תָּאִיב הֲוָה יַתִּיר מִבָּלָק. וְהַהִיא יְדִיעָא דְּאִיהוּ הֲוָה יָדַע, בְּלֵילְיָא הֲוָה יָדַע, בְּגִין דְּאִינּוּן כִּתְרִין תַּתָּאִין וַחֲמָרֵי, לָא שְׁכִיחוּ אֶלָּא בְּמִשְׁמָרָה רִאשׁוֹנָה דְּלֵילְיָא, וְעַ"ד הֲוָה לֵיהּ אֲתָנָא, דְּהַאי גִּיסָא, לְאִתְחַבְּרָא חֲמָרֵי בַּהֲדָהּ בְּרֵישָׁא דְּלֵילְיָא.

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