Drash on Balak

Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins OAM

Emanuel Synagogue

Humble Wisdom

Invincibility and fallibility go side by side in this week’s Torah, which presents the famous talking donkey – the precursor to Mr. Ed, the famous talking horse of my childhood.  Like Mr. Ed, the donkey has wisdom to share with his human masters.  And the humans we meet are the powerful king of Moab, Balak, after whom this parasha is named, and the renowned prophet, Bilaam, two seemingly invincible people.  The image of the ass as one of the dumbest of animals is used as a wonderful foil in this story, demonstrating the fallibility of king and prophet.

Balak is afraid of the people of Israel, who seem invincible on their march toward the Land of Israel, nearly 40 years since they have left Egypt.  While Israel is prepared to pass toward the Promised Land peacefully, Balak hopes to stymie their advance, calling upon Bilaam to curse the advancing Israelites, saying, “I know that he whom you bless is blessed indeed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” (Numbers 22:6) This language mimics the words God first spoke to Avram when called to be a great nation: “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you, and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.” (Genesis 12:3).  Which way will curse and blessing unfold?

Bilaam knows that as a prophet of God he can only speak the word of God.  He also knows that he can only do what God allows him to do.  God looks with disfavour on Bilaam’s decision to go to Balak, but Bilaam nevertheless proceeds.  The story continues, “Bilaam was riding on his she ass when the ass caught sight of the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand.”  (Numbers 22:23). Bilaam does not see the angel of the Lord.  Three times Bilaam beats the ass to get her to move forward.  Three times the ass refuses to move past the angel of the Lord. Then, miraculously, the ass is given the power of speech, and addresses Bilaam eloquently.  The ass, not Bilaam, has seen the angel of God; the ass needs to explain God’s presence to God’s prophet.  The angel of God gives permission for Bilaam to continue on his mission provided that “you must say nothing except what I tell you”.   (Numbers 22:35).  All of Balak’s attempts to have the Israelites cursed will fail, Bilaam cannot help but bless as God commands.  The people of Israel appear invincible.

For thousands of years, this story has been understood as an allegory, a fable, perhaps a comic moment in Torah.  An ass can perceive God better than a prophet.  Satire is used to teach lessons.  An important one for our time of human arrogance is to remember that essentially we are part of the animal kingdom and should not look at animals as lesser than us.  Right treatment of animals is so central to Judaism that it is not just one of our “613 mitzvot”, but also one of the seven obligations we believe incumbent upon all humanity.

Understanding our relationship with animals can teach us about justice, compassion and humility. The prophet Micah, whose prophecy is always read with this parasha concludes with those famous stirring words that echo those values: “What is it human that God asks of you – to do justly, act with lovingkindness and walk humbly with God.”  (Micah 6:8).  Our sense of invincibility can lead us to act precisely in opposition to these core values.  Indeed, the end of this week’s parasha shows our ancestors, four times blessed by Bilaam, succumbing to sexual immorality and idolatry.  Seeming invincibility devolves into gross and wanton fallibility. We should not be blinded by our apparent achievements and accomplishments.  The blindness of Bilaam reminds us of ours; we can always learn wisdom from “the other”, even an ass.