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Numbers 22:21 - Bil'am's defiant morning journey

Numbers 22:21 - במדבר 22:21

Hebrew Text

וַיָּקָם בִּלְעָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ אֶת־אֲתֹנוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ עִם־שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב׃

English Translation

And Bil῾am rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Mo᾽av.

Transliteration

Vayakam Bilam baboker vayachavosh et atono vayelech im sarei Moav.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיָּ֤קׇם בִּלְעָם֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַֽיַּחֲבֹ֖שׁ אֶת־אֲתֹנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ עִם־שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃
וַיָּ֤קׇם בִּלְעָם֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וַֽיַּחֲבֹ֖שׁ אֶת־אֲתֹנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ עִם־שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Bil'am's Early Morning Departure

The verse states that Bil'am rose early in the morning to saddle his donkey and accompany the Moabite officials. Rashi (Bamidbar 22:21) notes that Bil'am's haste demonstrates his eagerness to curse the Jewish people, as he was motivated by hatred and the promise of reward from Balak. The Midrash Tanchuma (Balak 4) further emphasizes that Bil'am's actions reveal his wickedness, as he personally saddled his donkey—an act typically performed by servants—showing his excessive zeal to fulfill Balak's request.

The Significance of Saddling His Donkey

Ramban (Bamidbar 22:21) explains that Bil'am's saddling of his donkey himself, rather than delegating the task, highlights his arrogance and self-importance. The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 4b) contrasts this with Avraham Avinu, who also saddled his donkey (Bereishit 22:3) but did so out of love for Hashem's command. Bil'am's action, however, stemmed from his desire to oppose Hashem's will.

  • Contrast with Avraham: The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 20:10) draws a parallel between Bil'am and Avraham to highlight their opposing natures—Avraham acted with humility and devotion, while Bil'am acted with arrogance and malice.
  • Divine Intervention: The Zohar (Balak 195a) teaches that Hashem allowed Bil'am to proceed to demonstrate the futility of his efforts, as no curse could prevail against Bnei Yisrael when they were in Hashem's favor.

The Role of the Moabite Princes

Ibn Ezra (Bamidbar 22:21) observes that the presence of high-ranking Moabite officials accompanying Bil'am underscores the importance Balak placed on this mission. The Kli Yakar adds that their presence was meant to pressure Bil'am into compliance, ensuring he would not hesitate to carry out the curse.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 105b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about Balaam's character and his actions, highlighting his eagerness to curse the Israelites.
📖 Avodah Zarah 4b
The verse is mentioned in a discussion about the nature of idolatry and the behavior of Balaam, emphasizing his negative traits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Bil'am saddle his own donkey instead of letting his servants do it?
A: Rashi explains that Bil'am saddled his own donkey because his hatred for the Jewish people made him overly eager to curse them. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 105b) teaches that this shows how passion can make even important people act hastily and perform tasks beneath their dignity.
Q: What is the significance of Bil'am going with the Moabite princes in the morning?
A: The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 20:12) notes that wicked people like Bil'am are eager to do evil early in the day, contrasting with righteous people like Avraham who rose early to serve Hashem. This teaches us about the different motivations behind our actions.
Q: Why does the Torah mention such details about Bil'am preparing for his journey?
A: The Ramban explains that these details show Bil'am's determination to go against Hashem's initial command. Despite being told not to go, he rushed to join Moab's princes, teaching us about the dangers of stubbornness when pursuing improper goals.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Bil'am's actions in this verse?
A: The Sforno teaches that this verse demonstrates how personal desires can blind people to proper conduct. Even though Bil'am was a prophet, his eagerness to curse Israel made him act improperly, teaching us to examine our motivations carefully.
Q: Why is Bil'am's donkey mentioned specifically in this verse?
A: Rashi notes that this prepares us for the miracle that follows, where the donkey speaks. The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 4b) explains that Hashem sometimes uses humble creatures to teach important lessons to arrogant people like Bil'am.