Balak and Lot

The alliance that developed between Moav and Midyan was significant from the perspective of the story of Lot and his two daughters.

Balak was the King of Moav, but was also a descendant of an individual named Moav. He was the son of the older daughter of Lot, who was not ashamed to announce that her son was Moav. In Hebrew the word means, “from father.”

Rav Kook pointed out that although Lot’s two daughters actually believed that they were the only ones left in the world, and they had children with their father for altruistic purposes, this incestuous act brought טומאה, impurities to the world.

Nevertheless, Moshe Rabbeinu was commanded not to lay siege or make a war with Ammon or Moav. There was a certain degree of protection given in the merit of Lot’s loyalty to Avraham. Lot’s younger daughter was more modest and named her son, Ben-Ami, who was the father of Amon.

It is interesting to note that Moshe eventually waged war against Midyan. He did not fight against Moav, as commanded. The Midyanites acted in a more provocative manner, and deserved to be defeated.

The Torah hinted to the Halacha that only a Moabite or Ammonite male is forbidden from entering the congregation of Hashem.( meaning they cannot marry a born Jewess.)

Perhaps it is for this reason that Ruth of Moav was able to marry Boaz and live to see her descendants David and Shlomo become kings. (The Midrash says that Ruth lived more than 300 years and she sat on a throne near Shlomo.)

Na’ama was a descendant of Ammon, who also converted to Judaism. She had a son named Rechavam, who was the king after Shlomo’s death.

Somehow, we see how the biblical stories are somehow intertwined. The battle with Balak and Moshe took place many years after the incident of Lot and his daughters, but there were still details related to that incident that were still relevant.