Parashat Balak / פרשת בלק
Numbers 23:27-24:13 (17 p'sukim)
Numbers 23:27-24:13 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
27 Balak said to Balaam, “Come with me to another place. Perhaps it will be pleasing to God and you may curse them for me from there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
29 Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”
30 Balak did just as Balaam said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
24 When Balaam realized that it was pleasing in the eyes of Adonai to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorceries as at the other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 Lifting up his eyes, Balaam saw Israel dwelling by tribes. The Ruach Elohim came over him. 3 He uttered his oracle and said:
“This is the oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
and the oracle of a strong man whose eye has been opened,
4 the oracle of one hearing God’s speech,
one seeing Shaddai’s vision,
one fallen down, yet with open eyes:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
and your dwellings, O Israel!
6 Like valleys they are spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by Adonai,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from his buckets,
his seed by abundant water.
His king will be greater than Agag,
his kingdom will be exalted.
8 God is bringing him out of Egypt.
like the strong horns of a wild ox.
He devours nations hostile to him.
He will crush their bones.
His arrows will pierce them.
9 He crouches like a lion or a lioness—
who would rouse him?
He who blesses you will be blessed,
and he who curses you will be cursed.”
10 Then Balak became furious at Balaam, and struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but look, you have blessed them these three times! 11 Now, go home! I said I would reward you, but see, Adonai has kept you from reward!”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I indeed tell your messengers whom you sent to me saying: 13 ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the mouth of Adonai, to do good or bad from my own heart? Whatever Adonai may speak, I will speak!’
27 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם לְכָה־נָּא֙ אֶקָּ֣חֲךָ֔ אֶל־מָק֖וֹם אַחֵ֑ר אוּלַ֤י יִישַׁר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקַבֹּ֥תוֹ לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃
28 וַיִּקַּ֥ח בָּלָ֖ק אֶת־בִּלְעָ֑ם רֹ֣אשׁ הַפְּע֔וֹר הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃
29 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־לִ֥י בָזֶ֖ה שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים׃
30 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
24 וַיַּ֣רְא בִּלְעָ֗ם כִּ֣י ט֞וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְלֹא־הָלַ֥ךְ כְּפַֽעַם־בְּפַ֖עַם לִקְרַ֣את נְחָשִׁ֑ים וַיָּ֥שֶׁת אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר פָּנָֽיו׃
2 וַיִּשָּׂ֨א בִלְעָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֹׁכֵ֖ן לִשְׁבָטָ֑יו וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֖יו ר֥וּחַ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
3 וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם בִּלְעָם֙ בְּנ֣וֹ בְעֹ֔ר וּנְאֻ֥ם הַגֶּ֖בֶר שְׁתֻ֥ם הָעָֽיִן׃
4 נְאֻ֕ם שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אִמְרֵי־אֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַחֲזֵ֤ה שַׁדַּי֙ יֶֽחֱזֶ֔ה נֹפֵ֖ל וּגְל֥וּי עֵינָֽיִם׃
5 מַה־טֹּ֥בוּ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
6 כִּנְחָלִ֣ים נִטָּ֔יוּ כְּגַנֹּ֖ת עֲלֵ֣י נָהָ֑ר כַּאֲהָלִים֙ נָטַ֣ע יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲרָזִ֖ים עֲלֵי־מָֽיִם׃
7 יִֽזַּל־מַ֙יִם֙ מִדָּ֣לְיָ֔ו וְזַרְע֖וֹ בְּמַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים וְיָרֹ֤ם מֵֽאֲגַג֙ מַלְכּ֔וֹ וְתִנַּשֵּׂ֖א מַלְכֻתֽוֹ׃
8 אֵ֚ל מוֹצִיא֣וֹ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם ל֑וֹ יֹאכַ֞ל גּוֹיִ֣ם צָרָ֗יו וְעַצְמֹתֵיהֶ֛ם יְגָרֵ֖ם וְחִצָּ֥יו יִמְחָֽץ׃
9 כָּרַ֨ע שָׁכַ֧ב כַּאֲרִ֛י וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֣י יְקִימֶ֑נּוּ מְבָרֲכֶ֣יךָ בָר֔וּךְ וְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָ אָרֽוּר׃
10 וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיִּסְפֹּ֖ק אֶת־כַּפָּ֑יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בָּלָ֜ק אֶל־בִּלְעָ֗ם לָקֹ֤ב אֹֽיְבַי֙ קְרָאתִ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּה֙ בֵּרַ֣כְתָּ בָרֵ֔ךְ זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֥שׁ פְּעָמִֽים׃
11 וְעַתָּ֖ה בְּרַח־לְךָ֣ אֶל־מְקוֹמֶ֑ךָ אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ כַּבֵּ֣ד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ֔ וְהִנֵּ֛ה מְנָעֲךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה מִכָּבֽוֹד׃
12 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר בִּלְעָ֖ם אֶל־בָּלָ֑ק הֲלֹ֗א גַּ֧ם אֶל־מַלְאָכֶ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥חְתָּ אֵלַ֖י דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי לֵאמֹֽר׃
13 אִם־יִתֶּן־לִ֨י בָלָ֜ק מְלֹ֣א בֵיתוֹ֮ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָב֒ לֹ֣א אוּכַ֗ל לַעֲבֹר֙ אֶת־פִּ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת טוֹבָ֛ה א֥וֹ רָעָ֖ה מִלִּבִּ֑י אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃
In today's pesukim we find the infamous blessing which has become one of the most widely pesukim of the Torah to be used as a liturgical song within our Jewish tradition. Pesuk 5 says: "Ma Tovu Ohalecha Yakov, Mishkenotecha Yisrael! "How lovely are your tents oh Jacob, your dwelling places Oh Israel." While these pesukim are very near and dear to our hearts as Jews and Messianic believers, we are nonetheless drawn to the significance of its introduction and how this "prophet" is described...
First, Balaam is called by the Torah: "strong man whose eye has been opened". It is noteworthy to mention the Hebrew word here for "man" - as some Biblical English translations just says "man". However, the Hebrew is more specific: גֶּבֶר "Gever" which is more defined as: "properly a valiant man or warrior". (Strong's #1397). This is the same root for Gibor "Great".
So it's not just a "man" but Balaam is described as a strong man! Certainly, we know that Balaam was a heathen prophet, and he was a sorcerer. Something that really doesn't sit well with Adonai. We also know at that time, Balaam was considered one of the greatest heathen prophets which is why Balak hired him in the first place; and promised him great reward for his services.
The phrase "eyes have been opened" means that as a false prophet who practiced divination and sorcery, now he sees and hears clearly from the mouth of the One True Almighty God, instead of demons. Even pesuk 1 of chapter 24 describes him this way: "Balaam realized that it was pleasing in the eyes of Adonai to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as at the other times"...
So we know this time he was not dabbling in magic arts or some kind of false trickery that he had traditionally been accustomed to for his own financial gain; which is what really made him a "Strong Man" Gever.
In other words, a strong man as described here refers to one who is great in false spirituality, sorcery, magic arts, divination, and all other kinds of demonic practices. It is really a "negative" description. Strong Man = False Prophet. But on this one occasion, he is really being used as a True Prophet, remarkably, and miraculously!
If we understand the label "Strong Man" this way, we can get greater understanding of the spiritual reality that was taught by the Master Yeshua Hamashiach...
Mark 3:22 The Torah scholars who came down from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by beelzebul,” and, “By the ruler of demons He drives out demons.”
23 He called them and began speaking to them in parables: “How can satan drive out satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but his end has come.
27 “But no one can enter a strong man’s house to ransack his property, unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he will thoroughly plunder his house.
The context of what is being discussed here regarding the "strong man" is this title Beelzebul. Who and what is Beelzebul?
According to Dr. David Stern, "Ba'al-Zibbul or Ba'al-z'vuv (the manuscripts differ); usually seen in English as "Beelzebul" and "Beelzebub": derogatory names for the Adversary (see 4:1 N). The latter is the name of a Philistine god (2 Kings 1:2) and in Hebrew means "lord of a fly." The Ugaritic root z-b-l means "prince," making the former name imply that the Adversary has a measure of status and power; but in post-biblical Hebrew the root z-b-l means "dung," with "Ba'al-zibbul" meaning "defecator." Other interpretations are possible."
In other words the context of this discussion in Mark 3 is regarding Hasatan (the Satan). Furthermore, if we go back to the context of our pesukim in today's Torah reading and that of this entire Parasha this week, we see it is clearly a Spiritual Battle taking place between the evil (Satanic) forces of Balak & Balaam and the God of Israel, who defends His chosen Nation.
The lesson for us is that this entire Parasha Hashuvah is all about Spiritual Warfare, and just about everything in the life of Messianic believers is about this struggle.
The Good News is this. While we do struggle against these same evil and demonic forces (all you have to do is look at the world and the amount of evil, murder and violence and Anti-Semitism), the ultimate victory has already been achieved, by the Messiah Himself. As we are taught by the Shaliach Shaul who was one of the greatest Shaliachim who himself was taught by Rabban Gamaliel...
Colossians 2:11-15 - וּבוֹ גַם־נִמַּלְתֶּם מִילָה שֶׁלּא בְיָדָיִם בְּהַפְשָׁטַת גּוּף הַבָּשָׂר (הַחוֹטֵא) הִיא מִילַת הַמָּשִׁיחַ׃[12] כִּי נִקְבַּרְתֶּם אִתּוֹ בַּטְּבִילָה אַף־קַמְתֶּם אִתּוֹ בַּתְּחִיָּה עַל־יְדֵי הָאֱמוּנָה בִּגְבוּרַת אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר הֱעִירוֹ מִן־הַמֵּתִים׃[13] גַּם־אֶתְכֶם הַמֵּתִים בַּפְּשָׁעִים וּבְעָרְלַת בְּשַׂרְכֶם הֶחֱיָה אִתּוֹ בִּסְלֹחַ לָכֶם אֶת־כָּל־פִּשְׁעֵיכֶם׃[14] וַיִּמְחַק אֶת־הַשְּׁטָר הַמֵּעִיד בָּנוּ בְּחֻקֹּתָיו וַיִּשָׂאֵהוּ מִתּוֹכֵנוּ וַיִּתְקָעֵהוּ בַּצְּלוּב׃[15] וַיַּפְשֵׁט אֶת־הַשָׂרִים וְהַשַּׁלִּיטִים וַיִּתְּנֵם לְרַאֲוָה בָּם רַבִּים וַיּוֹלִיכֵם בּוֹ שֶׁבִי׃
Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision done not by hand, in the stripping away of the body of the flesh through the circumcision of Messiah. 12 You were buried along with Him in immersion, through which you also were raised with Him by trusting in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him when He pardoned us all our transgressions. 14 He wiped out the handwritten record of debts with the decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 After disarming the principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross.
Let's rely on the Victory we have inherited from our Messiah, and continue to resist the Strong Man, bind him up with the authority we've been given by Yeshua, and be more than a conqueror in this struggle!
Amen.
Pesukim פסוקים are the "verses" of Scripture divided into Parashaot (Portions) read in the synagogue each week. On Monday's & Thursdays there are 3 divisions of the week's Parasha read and on Shabbat all 6 are read including a Maftir (added), which makes up the final Pesukim (verses) of the Parasha totaling (7) Aliyot each week. Rabbi Eric will give a short d'rash on each of the daily Pesukim that make up the week's Parasha for a good daily dose of Torah. For more explanation on how the Torah is read and divided daily and weekly in the Synagogue see the following links:
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