Below is a collection of Parashat Balak resources created by The Lookstein Center staff or contributed to the site by Jewish educators.
This is a growing collection. Check back soon or write to us at content@lookstein.org if you didn’t find what you’re looking for.
Parasha Points
- Balak, king of Moav, fears Israel. He hires the Midianite sorcerer, Bilam, to curse Israel. Bilam consults with God, who tells him that Israel is blessed and not to be cursed. When Balak refuses to take “No” for an answer, Bilam is given the go-ahead by God, but on the condition that he say only what God instructs.
- On the road to Balak, an angel repeatedly appears to Bilam’s donkey, who veers from the path each time and is struck each time by Bilam. After the third time, the donkey miraculously speaks with Bilam, challenging him. Only then does Bilam see the angel blocking the path, who reminds him to only say what God tells him to say.
- Despite Bilam’s insistence to Balak that he has no power to curse Israel without God’s authorization, Balak tries three times to get him to curse them, and each time Bilam utters their praise rather than a curse. Frustrated, Balak sends Bilam home. Before leaving, Bilam issues a final series of blessings for Israel and curses for Israel’s enemies.
- Moabite women cavort with Israelite men and seduce them to engage in idolatry. Moses is frozen by the brazenness, especially when Zimri, leader of the tribe of Simon, publicly parades his Midianite consort. Pinhas, grandson of Aaron, picks up a spear and impales both Zimri and his Midianite consort. Twenty-four thousand people died in the plague, which Pinhas stopped through his action.
Educational Themes
- Blessings and curses are not in the hands of people, only in the hands of God.
- While Israel may have been afraid of the surrounding nations, the other nations were even more afraid of Israel. Reality isn’t always as it appears on the surface.
- Zealotry has its place but can be dangerous if abused or untempered.
Notable Quotes
- The donkey speaks –
ויפתח ה’ את פי האתון - Bilam’s proclamation to Balak –
הדבר אשר ישים אלהים בפי אותו אדבר - Bilam’s third blessing to Israel (including in the daily prayer) –
מה טובו אוהליך יעקב משכנותיך ישראל - Bilam’s final blessing to Israel (cited as inspiration for the Bar Kokhba rebellion) – דרך כוכב מיעקב
DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Question #1: In Parashat Balak we read about Bilaam who tried to curse the Jewish people but blessed them instead. One of the characters in the story is Bilaam’s donkey who refuses to take him on his mission to the king. Bilaam beats him and the donkey speaks to him in a complaint. Do you think animals have language? Do you believe that Bilaam’s donkey used words or another way to convey his message?
Look inside the text (Bemidbar 22:28):
וַיִּפְתַּח ה’ אֶת פִּי הָאָתוֹן וַתֹּאמֶר לְבִלְעָם מֶה עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ כִּי הִכִּיתָנִי זֶה שָׁלשׁ רְגָלִים – But God was incensed at his going; so a messenger of God took a position in his way as an adversary. He was riding on his donkey, with his two servants alongside
Question #2: In this parasha, Bilaam the magician is hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Jewish people because he is afraid of them. Bilaam agrees, but instead of cursing the Jews, he blessed them. Among his blessings are the words we say in our prayers every morning: He blesses the tents (homes) of the Jewish people! What do you think is a good blessing for a home -what makes it a good place to be?
Look inside the text (Bemidbar 24:5):
מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ יַעֲקֹב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל – How fair are your tents, Jacob, Your dwellings, Israel!
Question #3: Bilaam clearly tells Balak, many times, that he cannot curse the Israelites as God will not permit it. Despite those repeated proclamations, it later becomes clear that Bilaam is involved in a different plot to undermine the Israelites. What kinds of motivations drive us to do things which we know are clearly wrong? How do we feel after we’ve done them?
Question #4: After having seen the Israelites destroy the powerful nations of the Emorites and the Bashan, Balak sends for the sorcerer Bilaam to curse the Israelites. Success can sometimes backfire, as it builds envy or fear in others. Should we let that stop us? Is it possible to be too successful? Can we mitigate the fear that others have of our success?