Parshat Balak Rabbi Chaim Brovender

Let us learn a posuk with Rashi

"For there is no divination in Yaakov; no sorcery in Yisrael…" (23: 23).

Bilam has accepted that his function is to bless the people of Yisrael and to explain to Balak and his wise men why his curses could not have an effect on the nation. Rashi explains: "They are deserving of blessing, because there are no diviners or sorcerers among them." Bilam understands at this point that the culture of the people of Yisrael is radically different than that of other peoples.

The leaders who come to Bilam desire his help in manipulating Heaven in their favor. His words themselves, they thought, had power to twist reality such that even undeserving groups could defeat communities that are faithful and attentive to the Divine demands. Yisrael, they hoped, could be placed at a disadvantage. Their reasoning was not all wrong: as long as everyone plays by these rules-trying to come out ahead by chance- the system takes on a kind of efficacy.

Balak told Bilaam: "For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed..." (22: 6). Rashi explains: "Balak knew this from the war of Sichon against Moav. Bilam assisted the side of Sichon."

It is true that the desire to curse the people of Yisrael was thwarted by Heaven. Instead of cursing them, Bilam blessed them, repeatedly. However, both Bilam and Balak thought that there was a way in which to overcome even the obvious desire of Heaven to bless the people. They kept moving and setting up the altars in different places in order to find the most beneficial spot. They both believed that manipulation was possible. The revelation by Bilam in our pasuk changed that assumption.

The people are not under the sway of accidental events connected to the ill-speaking wise of the nations. The manipulations that Bilam used proved irrelevant. This is because there is no sorcery in Yisrael. They have taken themselves out of the fate based on accidental influences, accidents that originate in Heaven, and have accepted that their success or failure must be the result of the principle of reward and punishment. The machinations of Bilam can have no effect on such a people. This was Bilam's real revelation.

Gut shabbos,
Chaim Brovender

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