Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did King Balak send more important princes to Balaam the second time?
A: According to Rashi (Numbers 22:15), King Balak thought that Balaam refused the first delegation because they weren't important enough. By sending more honorable princes, Balak hoped to show greater respect and convince Balaam to curse the Israelites.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Balak repeatedly sending messengers to Balaam?
A: The Midrash teaches that this shows how determined Balak was in his hatred of the Jewish people. However, the Talmud (Makot 10b) also uses this as an example that one shouldn't persist in a wrong path - if Hashem refused the request the first time, sending more important messengers wouldn't change the divine will.
Q: How many times did Balak send messengers to Balaam?
A: According to the Torah's account, Balak sent two delegations - first in Numbers 22:5-7 and then this more honorable group in 22:15. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 105a) discusses these events in detail, showing Balak's persistence.
Q: Why does the Torah specify that the second group of princes was more honorable?
A: The Ibn Ezra explains that the Torah emphasizes this to show Balak's growing desperation and his mistaken belief that Balaam's refusal was about honor rather than obedience to Hashem's command. The higher status of these princes made Balaam's eventual sin of going with them more severe.
Q: How does this verse relate to the concept of 'derech eretz' (proper conduct)?
A: The Talmud (Berachot 20a) learns from here that showing honor to others is important, as even Balak understood this principle. However, the Maharal notes that true honor must be aligned with truth - Balak's honor was superficial since his intentions were evil.
Balaq's Persistent Efforts to Enlist Bil'am
The verse (Bamidbar 22:15) describes Balaq's continued attempts to persuade Bil'am to curse Bnei Yisrael by sending a more distinguished delegation after his initial request was refused. Rashi explains that these princes were "greater in rank and more honorable" than the first group, indicating Balaq's escalating desperation to secure Bil'am's services.
Hierarchy of the Delegations
The Midrash Tanchuma (Balak 5) elaborates that the first delegation consisted of lower-ranking officials, while the second comprised Moav's most esteemed leaders. This demonstrates:
Bil'am's Stubbornness vs. Divine Will
Rambam (Hilchos Avodah Zarah 1:3) cites this episode as proof that even a wicked prophet like Bil'am couldn't override Hashem's will. Despite Balaq sending increasingly prestigious delegations, Bil'am was constrained by Divine command (as stated in verse 20). The Or HaChaim notes that Balaq's tactic of sending more honorable princes reflects a common human error - believing that greater earthly honor can influence spiritual realities.
Spiritual Significance of the "Honorable" Princes
The Kli Yakar offers a deeper interpretation: these "honorable" (נִכְבָּדִים) princes represent the yetzer hara's tactics - it first approaches with subtle temptations (first delegation), then returns with more "honorable" or appealing enticements when initially resisted. This mirrors Balaq's strategy of escalating his appeals to Bil'am's ego and desire for honor.