"It pleased Hashem to bless Yisrael"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda says that Bilaam was looking for a way to curse the children of Yisrael but found nothing since there was no great wrath hanging over the world; therefore he discontinued his enchantments.

Balaam Curse Eyes Other Side

14. Another interpretation for, "as Hashem shall speak to me" (Bemidbar 22:8), IS through a messenger of the Other Side; NAMELY THE CHIEFTAIN. One might claim he also visits him by day, AS IT IS WRITTEN: "AND ELOHIM MET BILAAM" (BEMIDBAR 23:16), WHICH HAPPENED BY DAY. AND HE ANSWERS: Surely he was using enchantments, ALSO CALLED 'ELOHIM.' At that time, he was seeking a good opportunity, as it is written: "He went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments" (Bemidbar 24:1). "And Bilaam saw that it pleased Hashem to bless Yisrael" (Ibid.). HOW DID HE SEE? At that time he was searching to find a fitting time TO CURSE YISRAEL but found nothing, unlike in other times. He saw then that there was no great wrath upon the world, and knew that it is good in the eyes of Hashem to bless Yisrael. He discontinued using any of the divinations of the world and did not observe them. Hence, it is written: "he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments."

14. דָּבָר אַחֵר כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר יְיָ' אֵלָי, עַל יְדֵי דְּהַהוּא שְׁלִיחָא דְּסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא. וְאִי תֵּימָא הָא בִּימָמָא אִשְׁתְּכַח לְגַבֵּיהּ. אֶלָּא וַדַּאי בְּנַחַשׁ אִסְתַּכְּלוּתָא הֲוָה בֵּיהּ, וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא הֲוָה מִסְתַּכֵּל לְכַוְּונָא שַׁעֲתָא, הה"ד וְלֹא הָלַךְ כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם לִקְרַאת נְחָשִׁים. וַיַּרְא בִּלְעָם כִּי טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי יְיָ' לְבָרֵךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֶלָּא דְּהַהוּא יוֹמָא אִסְתָּכַּל לְכַוְּונָא שַׁעֲתָא, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּכַּח כִּשְׁאָר יוֹמֵי, וּכְדֵין חָמָא דְּהָא רוּגְזָא רַבָּא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַּח בְּעָלְמָא, כְּדֵין יָדַע כִּי טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי יְיָ' לְבָרֵךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא שָׁבִיק גַּרְמֵיהּ מִכָּל נְחָשִׁים דְּעָלְמָא, וְלָא אִסְתְּכַּל בְּהוּ, הה"ד וְלֹא הָלַךְ כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם לִקְרַאת נְחָשִׁים.

Balaam Balak Curse Evil World to Come, The

15. Come and behold: during times of wrath, the left ABOVE is roused. That evil man knew a place through which to hold to the left side, in order to curse. At that time he looked but did not find any. Then, it is written: "How shall I curse, whom El has not cursed? How shall I denounce whom Hashem has not denounced?" (Bemidbar 23:8). It therefore says: "O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Bilaam, the son of Beor answered him" (Michah 6:5). Blessed are Yisrael. Blessed is their portion in this world and in the World to Come.

15. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דִּרְתִּחָא אִשְׁתְּכַח, כְּדֵין שְׂמָאלָא אִתְּעַר, וַהֲוָה יָדַע הַהוּא רָשָׁע אֲתַר, לְאַחֲדָא בְּסִטְרָא שְׂמָאלָא, לְמֵילַט. וְאִסְתָּכַּל בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא, וְלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח. כְּדֵין מַה כְּתִיב, מַה אֶקּוֹב לֹא קַבֹּה אֵל וּמָה אֶזְעוֹם לֹא זָעַם יְיָ.' וּבְגִין כַּךְ, עַמֵּי זְכָר נָא מַה יָּעַץ בָּלָק וְגוֹ.' וּמֶה עָנָה אוֹתוֹ בִּלְעָם בֶּן בְּעוֹר זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהוֹן בְּעָלְמָא דֵּין וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.