Bileam was a giant of history. A man endowed with mystical powers based on a valid understanding of the hidden layers of Creation. He was a true prophet, a non-Jewish prophet. Many know his lyric praises of the Jewish nation, found in Parshat Balak: "Behold, it is a nation that will dwell in solitude and not be reckoned among the nations." (BaMidbar 23:9) "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel." (BaMidbar 24:5)
The import of Bileam's proclamations extends far beyond their literal meaning. The words form a code, relaying secrets of the process of redemption, secrets that Bileam understood in a unique fashion. The Aramaic translation of Onkelos gives a glimpse.
Bileam uttered four proclamations. The first of the above verses is the central message of Bileam's first proclamation, which, as we shall see, sets the stage for the other three. Onkelos translates as follows: "Behold, a people that is singled out to inherit the world in the future and that will not be condemned to annihilation together with the nations." If this sounds radical, know that Rashi confirms that this is what the verse means, and points out the similarity to Jeremiah 30:11: "For I will effect annihilation among all of the nations where I have dispersed you, but you I shall not annihilate."
The Haftara for Parshat Balak is quite unambiguous also. Here are its first verses:
"And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, like dew from HaShem, like raindrops upon grass, that hopes not for a man and anticipates not the soul of a man. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the forest animals, like a lion among the flocks of sheep, which, if it passes through, tramples and sunders, and there is no rescuer. Your hand shall be raised over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut down." (Micah 5:6-5-8)
The remnant of Jacob shall be. The Jews are not immune to punishment, but there will be a Jewish remnant. And this remnant will be strong as a lion. Why? Because it is the remnant that "hopes not for a man," it is the remnant that totally relies on G-d, and longs for Him. That is what gives it its strength. That is the secret of the Lion of Judah. It is this lion that appears in Bileam's other proclamations, in what seems to be one big warning to the nations of the year 2003, from the mouth of the ancient non-Jewish prophet.
In Bileam's second and third proclamations, we read (following Onkelos): "Behold! A people who arises like an awesome lion, and raises itself like a lion, it will not rest in its land until it kills its prey, and it will inherit the properties of the nations." (BaMidbar 23:24) "He will rest and he will dwell like a lion, like an awesome lion. Who can stand up to him?" (BaMidbar 24:9)
This describes a world revolution after Israel returns to G-d (arises like a lion) and before it finally rests in its land. The full restoration of Jewish life in the land will trigger the fall of Israel's enemies. It may be that the lion in the last verse refers to the Almighty. In this view, it is He who will rest and dwell in the land, and the nations are warned that he who fights Israel, fights G-d, and who can stand up to Him?
From the fourth and final proclamation, we learn the perimeters of the Divine revenge that will be. Bileam prophesizes explicitly about the destruction of Israel's enemies (following Onkelos): "I will tell you what these people will do to your people in the End of Days"; "Edom shall be a conquest"; "The head of battles against Israel was the Amalekite and his end is eternal destruction." (BaMidbar 24:14,18,20) The Amalekite forces perpetually fight the Jews for no reason, and entice mankind to follow suit, and that is why their eternal destruction is goodness and justice.
In his final words, Bileam cries out (following Onkelos): "Oy, to the guilty who will live when the Almighty will do these things." (BaMidbar 24:23) The outcry, formulated in unusual Hebrew, is loaded with personal emotion, as Bileam prophetically saw the complete destruction of Midian, and thus, his own death. Midian was destroyed because it was a bedfellow of Amalek. Our sages expound Bileam's outcry as follows: "Oy, to the nation that will stand in the way in the hour that the Almighty will bring redemption to his sons, and to he who will throw his cover between two lions in the hour that they come together to mate." (Sanhedrin 106)
In other words, destruction awaits those that forget their shame just to prevent the Redemption. This is indeed what the Midianites did when they followed the advice of Bileam and sacrificed their women's honor, for the sole reason of trying to bring separation between the G-d of Israel and His people. Rashi (BaMidbar 31:2) gives another reason why Midian was destroyed: Midian interfered in a conflict that was not theirs. What they did was not in their own interest in any objective way. In short, Midian was annihilated because its anti-Israel behavior was an expression of incurable ideological antagonism.
Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schroeder, Colin Powell, Kofi Anan, Vladimir Putin, why do you want that Palestinian state so much? Why do you want to chase Jews from their houses on the hills of Israel? How is this your business? Where is your shame? Do you think you can stand up against people that trust in the G-d of Israel? Do you think you can stand up against the Almighty?
"And there will be a remnant on Mount Zion, and there will be holiness. And the house of Jacob will inherit its inheritance. And the house of Jacob will be fire!" (Obadia 1:17)
--------------------------------------------------------
Moshe Lerman writes from Enav, Israel.
The import of Bileam's proclamations extends far beyond their literal meaning. The words form a code, relaying secrets of the process of redemption, secrets that Bileam understood in a unique fashion. The Aramaic translation of Onkelos gives a glimpse.
Bileam uttered four proclamations. The first of the above verses is the central message of Bileam's first proclamation, which, as we shall see, sets the stage for the other three. Onkelos translates as follows: "Behold, a people that is singled out to inherit the world in the future and that will not be condemned to annihilation together with the nations." If this sounds radical, know that Rashi confirms that this is what the verse means, and points out the similarity to Jeremiah 30:11: "For I will effect annihilation among all of the nations where I have dispersed you, but you I shall not annihilate."
The Haftara for Parshat Balak is quite unambiguous also. Here are its first verses:
"And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, like dew from HaShem, like raindrops upon grass, that hopes not for a man and anticipates not the soul of a man. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the forest animals, like a lion among the flocks of sheep, which, if it passes through, tramples and sunders, and there is no rescuer. Your hand shall be raised over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut down." (Micah 5:6-5-8)
The remnant of Jacob shall be. The Jews are not immune to punishment, but there will be a Jewish remnant. And this remnant will be strong as a lion. Why? Because it is the remnant that "hopes not for a man," it is the remnant that totally relies on G-d, and longs for Him. That is what gives it its strength. That is the secret of the Lion of Judah. It is this lion that appears in Bileam's other proclamations, in what seems to be one big warning to the nations of the year 2003, from the mouth of the ancient non-Jewish prophet.
In Bileam's second and third proclamations, we read (following Onkelos): "Behold! A people who arises like an awesome lion, and raises itself like a lion, it will not rest in its land until it kills its prey, and it will inherit the properties of the nations." (BaMidbar 23:24) "He will rest and he will dwell like a lion, like an awesome lion. Who can stand up to him?" (BaMidbar 24:9)
This describes a world revolution after Israel returns to G-d (arises like a lion) and before it finally rests in its land. The full restoration of Jewish life in the land will trigger the fall of Israel's enemies. It may be that the lion in the last verse refers to the Almighty. In this view, it is He who will rest and dwell in the land, and the nations are warned that he who fights Israel, fights G-d, and who can stand up to Him?
From the fourth and final proclamation, we learn the perimeters of the Divine revenge that will be. Bileam prophesizes explicitly about the destruction of Israel's enemies (following Onkelos): "I will tell you what these people will do to your people in the End of Days"; "Edom shall be a conquest"; "The head of battles against Israel was the Amalekite and his end is eternal destruction." (BaMidbar 24:14,18,20) The Amalekite forces perpetually fight the Jews for no reason, and entice mankind to follow suit, and that is why their eternal destruction is goodness and justice.
In his final words, Bileam cries out (following Onkelos): "Oy, to the guilty who will live when the Almighty will do these things." (BaMidbar 24:23) The outcry, formulated in unusual Hebrew, is loaded with personal emotion, as Bileam prophetically saw the complete destruction of Midian, and thus, his own death. Midian was destroyed because it was a bedfellow of Amalek. Our sages expound Bileam's outcry as follows: "Oy, to the nation that will stand in the way in the hour that the Almighty will bring redemption to his sons, and to he who will throw his cover between two lions in the hour that they come together to mate." (Sanhedrin 106)
In other words, destruction awaits those that forget their shame just to prevent the Redemption. This is indeed what the Midianites did when they followed the advice of Bileam and sacrificed their women's honor, for the sole reason of trying to bring separation between the G-d of Israel and His people. Rashi (BaMidbar 31:2) gives another reason why Midian was destroyed: Midian interfered in a conflict that was not theirs. What they did was not in their own interest in any objective way. In short, Midian was annihilated because its anti-Israel behavior was an expression of incurable ideological antagonism.
Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schroeder, Colin Powell, Kofi Anan, Vladimir Putin, why do you want that Palestinian state so much? Why do you want to chase Jews from their houses on the hills of Israel? How is this your business? Where is your shame? Do you think you can stand up against people that trust in the G-d of Israel? Do you think you can stand up against the Almighty?
"And there will be a remnant on Mount Zion, and there will be holiness. And the house of Jacob will inherit its inheritance. And the house of Jacob will be fire!" (Obadia 1:17)
--------------------------------------------------------
Moshe Lerman writes from Enav, Israel.