Parshas Balak:
A Blessed Nation can not be Cursed
By Chaya Mushka and Nechama Dina Krimmer
There are several parshas in the Torah named after famous figures in early Jewish history: Noach. Sara, Yisro, Korach. Balak. Pinchas. Two of these six famous figures are Gentiles. Yisro (Jethro) and Balak. One righteous, one wicked.
Yisro, the priest of Midian, was, at heart, a truth seeker. He immersed himself in the study of scientific and spiritual lore and possessed a deep understanding of both. According to the commentary of Rashi, Yisro had knowledge of every idol in the land and had worshipped them all.
Hearing the rumors of the miracles that Hashem had performed on behalf of the Jewish people, Yisro traveled to their encampment. He was greeted warmly by Moshe and learned at Moshe's feet.
Acknowledging Hashem's eminence Yisro said to Moshe, "Now I know that Hashem is greater than all gods" (Shemos 18:11). Yisro's recognition of Hashem's greatness transformed the darkness of his idolatrous past into a G‑dly light that only one who experienced this darkness could reveal.
Balak, the wicked king of Moav, on the other hand, did not have the humility and insight that Yisro possessed. What he did have, however, was a deep hatred for the Jewish people.
In this week's parsha, as the Jewish people edged closer to the border of Moav, Balak summoned a powerful magician named Bilaam in order to curse the Jews. And Bilaam was no slouch. The Midrash teaches that Bilaam was as great a prophet as Moshe! As Hashem created the world in balance, everything positive has a negative counterpart; this was the relationship between Moshe and Bilaam.
Balak had faith in Bilaam's ability to effect change through his charms and incantations. He pleaded with Bilaam, saying, "Please come and curse this nation for me…for I know that he whom you bless is then blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed" (Bamidbar 22:6).
That night, Bilaam had a vision of Hashem. He asked Hashem whether he should honor Balak's request to go to Moav to curse the Jewish people. Hashem told Bilaam that a blessed nation can not be cursed.
When Bilaam relayed this message to Balak, Balak offered Bilaam riches to entice him to change his mind. Bilaam's own hatred of the Jews, however, was enticing enough.
The next night, Hashem again appeared to Bilaam. Going on the imperative that Hashem leads a person on the path he or she wants to go, Hashem tells Bilaam he may go to Moav but with one caveat: Bilaam must only speak the words that Hashem puts in his mouth.
When Bilaam reached Moav, he was greeted by Balak and they traveled to a place that overlooked the encampment of the Jews. Hashem again appeared to Bilaam, filling his mouth with words.
Not curses, but words of praise and blessings for the Jewish people tumbled out of Bilaam's mouth. As Hashem told Bilaam earlier, a blessed nation can not be cursed.
Balak became angry that his plans had failed and he ordered Bilaam to leave. Before Bilaam departed, however, Hashem placed a final blessing in Bilaam's mouth.
Bilaam's voiced resounded with a boom. "I see it, but not now; I observe it, but not in the near future. A star will rise from Yaakov, and a ruler will be appointed from Yisroel" (Bamidbar 24: 17).
Amazingly, Bilaam's last blessing predicted the coming of Moshiach. According to our Sages, "a star will rise from Yaakov" refers to Dovid HaMelech and "a ruler will be appointed from Yisroel" refers to Moshiach.
Although Balak's quest to curse the Jewish people failed, we may wonder why this parsha is named after the nefarious and corrupt king who wanted nothing more than to destroy the Jewish people.
In hindsight, the story of Balak is a vision of things to come. In the Messianic Era, the physical world will be transformed into a place of revealed goodness. Similar to Balak, there will be no curses, only blessings.
And, ironically, Balak himself has a direct connection to Bilaam's prophecy of the Messianic Era. Shockingly, perhaps, the lineage of Moshiach descends from Balak. The Moabite convert Ruth is a direct descendant of Balak and Dovid HaMelech is a descendant of Ruth. Moshiach, of course, descends from the House of Dovid.
The Chassidic Masters explain that the end is wedged in the beginning and the beginning is wedged in the end. In the Messianic Era, as Isaiah prophesied, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword upon nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:4)
In essence, we will be back to the innocence of Eden but, this time, there will be no serpent, as evil itself will be annulled.
