"So he sent messengers to Bilaam"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon tells how Balak sent a message to Bilaam to ask him to curse the children of Yisrael, since Balak knew about Bilaam's high level of sorcery. We hear about the table that was prepared by the sorcerer for the defiled spirits to draw them near, and then about the table of acacia wood in the tabernacle that was made to draw the Holy Spirit from above.

Balaam Birds Curse Egypt Grades Prayer

133. "So he sent messengers to Bilaam the son of Beor" (Bemidbar 5-6). There are 28 words here, corresponding to the 28 levels of witches and magic sorcerers using a bird. We need to wonder why whoever wished to speak to Bilaam and join with him sent clear instructions immediately before approaching him, by saying, "Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt... Come now therefore, I pray you, curse me" (Ibid. 6). He should first have joined with him, ingratiated himself, bribed him and then informed him of what he wished to do.

133. וַיִשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר וְגוֹ.' הָכָא אִית עֶשְׂרִין וּתְמַנְיָא תֵּיבִין, לָקֳבֵל כ"ח דַּרְגִין דְּחַרְשֵׁי קוּסְמִין דְּצִפּוֹר. וְאִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא, מַאן דְּבָעָא לְמַלְּלָא בֵּיהּ בְּבִלְעָם, וּלְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ, אֲמַאי שָׁדַר לֵיהּ מִיַּד, עַד לָא יֵיתֵי לְגַבֵּיהּ, מִלִּין בְּפֵירוּשָׁא, דְּקָאָמַר הִנֵּה עַם יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם וְעַתָּה לְכָה אָרָה לִי, הֲוָה לֵיהּ לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְפַיְּיסָא וּלְשׁוֹחֲדָא לֵיהּ, וּלְבָתַר לְאוֹדָעָא לֵיהּ מִלּוֹי.

Balak Blessing Curse Deeds Evil Hands

134. HE RESPONDS: Yet Rabbi Yosi said that from here, it is recognizable that Balak was already aware of the desires of that evildoer, and that he wished to be apportioned great projects; his only ambition is to do evil deeds. THEREFORE, HE WAS EXALTING HIM AS IF THE REINS ARE IN HIS HANDS, AND TO WHOM HE WISHES HE CAN SEND BLESSINGS OR CURSES AND IT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED. ALSO, HE INFORMED HIM OF HIS OWN DESIRE TO CURSE YISRAEL, SINCE HE KNEW THAT HIS ENTIRE WISH WAS ONLY TO DO EVIL AND HARM.

Balaam Balak Birds Grades Moses Sorcery Witchcraft

135. בָּלָק קָסָם קְסָמִין וְעָבֵיד חַרְשִׁין וְאַתְקִין צִפָּרָא. וְיָדַע דְּדַרְגִּין דְּמֹשֶׁה עִלָּאִין וְיַקִּירִין, וְחָרָשׁ בְּחַרְשׁוֹי וְקָסָם בְּקִסְמוֹי, וְיָדַע דְּדַרְגִּין דְּבִלְעָם הֲווֹ לָקֳּבְלַיְיהוּ, מִיַּד וַיִשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר.

Aram Curse Evil Food Incense Mesopotamia Sorcery Table Witchcraft

136. Petor is a name of a place, as it is written: "From Petor of Aram Naharaim (Eng. 'two rivers') to curse you" (Devarim 23:5). Why was it called that way? Because it is written: "That set out a table for Fortune" (Yeshayah 65:11). He set a table there every day, since that is the custom of the evil sides. They set up for them a table with food and drink, performed sorcery, and smoked incense before that table. Then all the defiled spirits gathered there and informed them of whatever they wished. And all the magic and sorcery in the world were on that table, which is why the name of the place was called 'Petorah,' since a table is called 'Petora' in Aram Naharaim (Eng. 'two rivers').

136. פְּתוֹרָה: שְׁמָא דְּאַתְרָא הֲוָה. כד"א, מִפְּתוֹר אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם לְקַלְלֶךָּ. אֲמַאי אִקְרֵי הָכִי. בְּגִין דִּכְתִּיב, הָעוֹרְכִים לַגַּד שֻׁלְחָן. וּפָתוֹרָא הֲוָה מְסַדֵּר תַּמָּן כָּל יוֹמָא. דְּהָכִי הוּא תִּקּוּנָא דְּסִטְרִין בִּישִׁין, מְסַדְּרִין קַמַּיְיהוּ פְּתוֹרָא בְּמֵיכְלָא וּבְמִשְׁתְּיָיא, וְעַבְדִּין חַרְשִׁין, וּמְקַטְרִין לְקַמֵּי פְּתוֹרָא, וּמִתְכַּנְשִׁין תַּמָּן כָּל רוּחִין מִסְאֲבִין, וְאוֹדְעִין לוֹן מַה דְּאִינּוּן בָּעָאן. וְכָל חַרְשִׁין וְקוֹסְמִין דְּעָלְמָא עַל הַהוּא פְּתוֹרָא הֲווֹ, ובג"כ אִקְרֵי שְׁמָא דְּאַתְרָא הַהוּא פְּתוֹרָא. דְּהָכִי קוֹרִין בְּאֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם לַשֻׁלְחָן פְּתוֹרָא.

Acacia Balaam Bread Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Other Side Solomon Table Wicked Wickedness

137. He opened the discussion with the verse: "You shall also make a table of acacia wood" (Shemot 25:23) and: "And you shall set upon the table shewbread..." (Ibid. 30). The Holy One, blessed be He, wished to have all these holy utensils made for Him, in order to draw the Holy Spirit from above downward. The wicked Bilaam prepared similarly for the Other Side, and he prepared a table and bread that is called "disgusting bread" (Malachi 1:7). As we were taught, the Other Side follows the holiness like a monkey after people. And King Solomon cried and said, "For what can the man do who comes after the king? Even that which has already been done" (Kohelet 2:12), WISHING TO IMITATE HIM, AND BE LIKE HIM, and we were already taught this verse.

137. פָּתַח וְאָמַר וְעָשִׂיתָ שֻׁלְחָן עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים וְגוֹ.' וּכְתִיב וְנָתַתָּ עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן לֶחֶם פָּנִים וְגוֹ.' כָּל אִינּוּן מָאנֵי קוּדְשָׁא, בָּעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמֶעְבַּד קַמֵּיהּ, לְאַמְשָׁכָא רוּחָא קַדִישָׁא מֵעֵילָּא לְתַתָּא. הַהוּא רָשָׁע דְּבִלְעָם, הֲוָה מְסַדֵּר הָכִי לְסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא. וַהֲוָה מְסַדֵּר שֻׁלְחָן, וְנָהֲמָא דְּאִקְרֵי לֶחֶם מְגוֹאָל, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר. דְּהָכִי אָזִיל סְטָר אַחֲרָא בָּתַר קְדוּשָׁה, כְּקוֹף בָּתַר בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. וּשְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא צָוַוח וְאָמַר, כִּי מֶה הָאָדָם שֶׁיָּבֹא אַחֲרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵת אֲשֶׁר כְּבָר עָשׂוּהוּ. וְהָא אִתְּמַר קְרָא דָּא.