Parshah Balak
This week’s Torah portion “Balak” refers to Balak, the king of Moab, and is found in Numbers 22:2. As the Israelites are passing by Moab on their way to the Promised land, King Balak heard how the Israelites had defeated the Amorites that had attacked them. King Balak is now afraid and summons the prophet Balaam in order to hire him to curse the Israelites.
On his way to meet King Balak, Balaam is berated by his donkey who refuses to move forward on the road because he is being blocked by an angel of the Lord. Despite the Lord telling prophet Balaam not to go curse the children of Israel, he attempts to do it three times, from three different vantage points, but only blessings come forth from Balaam’s lips.
Does King Balak’s name and title relate to how he is reacting to the Israelites?
The L-rd tells Balaam not to go curse the Israelites. Why does he still attempt to curse them three times?
Does Balaam’s name give us a clue as to why he does this?
Also, why was Balaam taking different vantage points to view the Israelites?
Does this story relate to us today, in our daily lives?
Meeting ID: 876 0593 4104
Passcode: 974030
