Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who was Balak in the Torah?
A: Balak was the king of Moab who feared the Israelites after seeing their victory over the Amorites. He is known for hiring the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites, as described in Numbers 22-24. According to Rashi, Balak's fear stemmed from seeing how powerful the Israelites had become.
Q: Why was Balak afraid of the Israelites?
A: Balak feared the Israelites because he saw how they had defeated the Amorites (Numbers 22:2). The Midrash explains that Balak and the Moabites were terrified because they knew the Israelites were blessed by Hashem and had won battles against powerful enemies. This fear led him to seek Balaam's help to curse them.
Q: What is the significance of the Amorites in this verse?
A: The Amorites were a powerful nation that the Israelites defeated (Numbers 21:21-35). Their defeat demonstrated Hashem's protection over Israel. Rashi explains that Balak took notice of this victory and saw it as a sign of Israel's divine favor, which is why he sought supernatural means (through Balaam) to oppose them.
Q: How does this verse connect to the story of Balaam?
A: This verse sets the stage for the story of Balaam (Numbers 22-24). After seeing Israel's victory over the Amorites, Balak hired Balaam to curse them. However, as the Talmud (Berachot 7a) teaches, Hashem turned Balaam's intended curses into blessings, showing that no human can thwart Hashem's plans for Israel.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Balak's reaction?
A: Balak's fear and attempt to curse Israel teach us that when people oppose the Jewish people, their plans will ultimately fail if Hashem wills otherwise. The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 5:1) explains that true success comes from aligning with divine will, not through schemes against the righteous.
Context of the Verse
The verse appears in Bamidbar (Numbers) 22:2, introducing the narrative of Balak, king of Moab, who seeks to curse the Israelites after witnessing their military victories. This occurs after Bnei Yisrael's triumph over the Emori (Amorites), as recorded in the previous chapter (Numbers 21:21-35).
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) comments on this verse, explaining that Balak observed the miraculous nature of Israel's victories. He notes that Balak saw how Israel defeated Sichon and Og, two mighty kings, despite their formidable strength. Rashi emphasizes that Balak recognized this was not merely a natural military success but a divinely assisted conquest, as promised by Hashem to the Israelites.
Midrashic Insights
The Midrash Tanchuma (Balak 1) elaborates that Balak and the Moabites were terrified because they saw how Israel had defeated the Emori, who were previously invincible. The Midrash highlights that Balak understood the Emori had been protected by divine decree until their time of judgment arrived—paralleling how Hashem had previously restrained Avraham from conquering their land (Bereshit 15:16). When Israel triumphed, Balak realized their power came from Hashem.
Rambam's Perspective
Rambam (Maimonides) in Moreh Nevuchim (Guide for the Perplexed) discusses the broader theme of divine providence in warfare. He explains that nations who witnessed Israel's victories should have recognized Hashem's hand in history. Balak, however, instead of submitting to divine will, sought to counteract Israel's success through sorcery (as seen in his hiring of Balaam).
Key Lessons