Love, Hate and Freedom

Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. Moab became terrified of the people, for they were numerous, and Moab became disgusted because of the children of Israel. [Numbers 22:2-3]

Moab was a small nation conquered by Amori. Then, Amori made war on Israel and the Jews captured that nation including much of Moab, situated along the eastern bank of the Jordan River. Moab was so frightened of Israel that it hired a hated Midianite, Balak, to become king. Balak must have come a long way as Midian was located south of Edom, believed today to be east of the Gulf of Aqaba.

In several places in the Torah, the Children of Israel were admonished by G-d not to make war on Moab and to avoid upsetting his brother Amon. So, why was Moab so frightened and why did they hate the Jews so much that they turned their country over to an enemy alien?

The most reasonable scenario, other than that in this week’s Torah portion of Balak, would have been the opposite: Moab should have sucked up to the Israelites and said, “Hi. Remember us? We are your long-lost cousins through your father Abraham. Now that you have defeated Amori, can we have our country back?”

Instead, Balak, a master magician, hires his compatriot Balaam to curse the Israelites. The king’s reason: the leader of the Jews is Moses, who has a close relationship with G-d. Balaam was appointed by the Almighty to be the prophet of the gentiles, and there are plenty more of us than them.

To understand fear, one must examine hate. Both Midian and Moab were related to Israel, but both have problematic roots. Moab was the product of an incestuous union between Lot and his two daughters. After the divine destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the girls thought the world had been destroyed and they were the only ones left. They got their father drunk, and in two successive nights conceived and gave birth to two sons.

The older daughter was proud of her baby and called him Moab, Hebrew for “from my father.” The younger one was more modest and called her son Ben-Ami, or “the son of my nation.” Lot’s uncle Abraham was so ashamed of the incest that he moved far away from his nephew.

Years late, Midian was one of the sons of Abraham’s second wife, Ketura, a union that took place after the death of Sarah. It is unclear whether Abraham fathered Midian and his four brothers, or merely raised them. Like Moab, Midian couldn’t have been pleased with his dubious family.

So, when Moab and Midian watched Abraham’s love for his son Issac, the resentment and hate overflowed. And centuries later when the Israelites, Abraham’s descendants, approached the Jordan River, Moab was scared and ashamed.

Balak’s choice of Balaam as the antidote to the Jewish threat was more desperate than daring. G-d had selected Balaam to counter the argument of the gentiles that had they been given a prophet, they, too, would have served G-d. In many ways Balaam appeared superior to Moses. The sages say Moses never knew when or what G-d would say to him. Balaam operated by a firm schedule and was never off guard.

On the other hand, Moses could stand and speak face-to-face with G-d. The divine spirit entered Balaam only at night, and the uncircumcised messenger was literally floored in G-d’s presence.

But perhaps the biggest difference was the roles of the two prophets: Moses’ mission was to use his powers to turn bad into good, curses into blessings. Balaam was the opposite: He sought to find opportunities to damn the enemies of those who hired him. Indeed, Balaam was instrumental in Sihon’s recent defeat of Moab. He was a carpetbagger, always open for business.

And so, Balak took Balaam from location to location looking for the best spot to curse Israel. The magician king refused to believe Balaam’s refrain that he was hopeless without G-d’s consent, although the prophet thought that he could find a way to manipulate the Almighty. Balak merely concluded that his fellow Midianite was looking for more money.

“So now, please come and curse this people for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will be able to wage war against them and drive them out of the land, for I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed.” [Numbers 22:6]

After several comical failures, Balaam looked at the Israelites from on high, and G-d ensured that his hate would turn into admiration. The prophet knew that the Jews had no evil design on Moab or any of its neighbors. The former slaves simply wanted to return to the Land of the Patriarchs. Balaam was struck by this peace-loving people who attracted hundreds of thousands of Egyptians and others to follow them through the desert.

And that was the biggest threat: That the Moabites would leave Balak and join the Israelites. Unlike his gentile counterparts, Moses did not operate death squads against his enemies. He was modest, merciful and open to criticism. Israelite society was a meritocracy rather than an aristocracy. Justice and truth rather than wealth were the most important values.

Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of G-d rested upon him. [Numbers 24:2]

What was most impressive to this hired hand was how the Jews lived. They respected each other’s privacy. Not one tent faced the entrance of another. There were no informers, no regime monitoring. This was freedom that the illegitimate ruler Balak was scared that Moab would demand — because what people wouldn’t want freedom?

Finally, Balaam did something that Moses could never do — predict the end of days when Israel will finally be free. Israel’s longtime enemies, including Moab, will be destroyed. The worst of the enemies, Edom, will collapse despite its huge navy; its capital Rome decimated by the Messiah.

Balaam arose, went, and returned home, and Balak went on his way. [Numbers 24:25]