"And the she-mule saw the angel of Hashem"

Synopsis

When Rabbi Yitzchak wonders why the she-mule was able to see the angel and yet the supposedly wise Bilaam was not, Rabbi Yosi says the wicked should not gaze at a holy sight. They talk about Bilaam falling down before he saw his visions, and having his eyes open at the time, but as they do not know the correct interpretation of this they go to see Rabbi Shimon.

Angels Balaam Eyes Heaven Wicked Wickedness

413. "And the she-mule saw the angel of Hashem..." (Bemidbar 22:25). Rabbi Yitzchak said, How come THE SHE-MULE saw and Bilaam, who was so wise, did not see? Rabbi Yosi said, Heaven forbid that the wicked should gaze at a holy sight, THAT HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERCEIVE AN ANGEL OF HASHEM. He said to him, If so, why is it written: "Falling down, but having his eyes open" (Bemidbar 24:4)? He said to him, I have not heard anything about this, so I say nothing. He said, I heard that when he needed to see, he fell, and then saw. BY THE ANGEL, he was not ment to look AND THAT IS WHY HE DIDN'T SEE.

413. וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת מַלְאַךְ יְיָ' וְגוֹ.' אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, וְכִי אֲמַאי חָמָאת הִיא, וּבִלְעָם דְּהֲוָה חַכִּים כָּל כַּךְ לָא חָמָא. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, ח"ו דְּהַהוּא רָשָׁע יִסְתַּכֵּל בְּחֵיזוּ קַדִישָׁא. אָמַר לֵיהּ, אִי הָכִי, הָא כְּתִיב נוֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם. אָמַר לֵיהּ לָא שְׁמַעְנָא בְּהָא מִידִי וְלָא אֵימָא. אָ"ל אֲנָא שְׁמַעְנָא, דְּכַד הֲוָה אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא, הֲוָה נָפִיל וְחָמֵי. וְהַשְׁתָּא לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא.

Balaam Eyes Grades Prophets Sorcery Witchcraft

414. He said to him, If so, then BILAAM was in a higher level than all the other faithful prophets, because he was "having his eyes open," seeing and observing the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He. Didn't Rabbi Shimon say that Bilaam with his witchcraft understood the lower Sfirot below, as it is written: "Bilaam also, of the son of Beor, the soothsayer" (Yehoshua 13:22). The scripture calls him "soothsayer;" that is, soiled filth, and how could he gaze at the glory of his Master? Furthermore, didn't Rabbi Shimon say that when he beheld for a short while, as it is written: "Then Hashem opened the eyes of Bilaam," his eyes squinted and you say that he had to see with his eyes open, observing the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He.

414. אָמַר לֵיהּ, אִי הָכִי, בְּדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה יַתִּיר הֲוָה עַל כָּל נְבִיאֵי מְהֵימְנוּתָא, דְּאִיהוּ גְּלוּי עֵינַיִם, חָמֵי וְאִסְתָּכַּל בִּיקָרָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְהָא ר' שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר, בִּלְעָם בְּחַרְשׁוֹי, הֲוָה יָדַע בְּאִינּוּן כִּתְרִין תַּתָּאִין דִּלְתַּתָּא, כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב וְאֶת בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר הַקּוֹסֵם, קוֹסֵם קַרְיֵיהּ קְרָא, דְּטִנּוּפָא דְּטִנּוּפֵי, הֵיךְ יִסְתָּכַּל בִּיקָרָא דְּמָארֵיהּ. וְעוֹד, הָא אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, בְּחֵיזוּ חַד דְּחָזָא לְפוּם שַׁעֲתָא, דִּכְתִיב וַיְגַל יְיָ' אֶת עֵינֵי בִּלְעָם, אִתְעֲקִימוּ עֵינוֹי, וְאַתְּ אַמְרַת דְּהֲוָה חָמֵי בְּגִלוּי דְּעַיְינִין, וְאִסְתָּכַּל בִּיקָרָא דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Torah

415. אָ"ל, אֲנָא אַהֲדַרְנָא לָקֳבְלָךְ. דִּידִי וְדִידָךְ בָּעֵי צָחוּתָא. וַדַּאי רָזֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא עִלָּאִין, וְלָא יַכְלִין בְּנֵי עָלְמָא לְמֵיקָם עָלַיְיהוּ. בְּגִין כַּךְ אָסִיר לְאַקְדְּמָא בְּמִלָּה דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, עַד דְּיִשְׁמַע מִלָּה וְיֵדַע לָהּ עַל בּוּרְיֵיהּ. אָתוּ לְקַמֵּיהּ דר"ש אָמְרוּ מִלָּה קַמֵּיהּ.