Questions – Parshah Balak
Numbers Chapter 22:2 -41
“Balak saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.” Saw or heard? From who?
Why is Moab alarmed, dreaded, said… Is this meant to be Balak? If so, why not use his name. If it means the people of Moab, then why not say that. Could it mean the chieftains of Moab? Why does Moab speak to the elders of Midian? Is this an argument in favor of saying that Moab should be read as “the chieftains of Moab”?
Why is the most fearsome images that Moab conjures of the danger that the Israelites pose that they will, “Lick up the grass of the field”? The Israelites are called a horde (human? Locusts), but the horde is said to be “as an ox.” a singular ox. Is this like the plague of (a) frog in Egypt.?
Why does Balak get the full genealogical introduction for a second time? Could verses 3-4 be an insertion from elsewhere? If so, from where and from what type of text?
What are possible meanings of Balaam’s father's name and the place of his origin? Who is Balaam’’s grandfather? (Different answers)
Are there so few prophets that Balak needs to send to Mesopotamia for one? Or is Balak’s reputation that good? Where is Balaam? Is he by the Euphrates or closer to Balak? Does the phrase “the land of his kinfolk apply to Balak or Balaam?
Balak knows that the Israelites have come out of Egypt. How much else does he know of their history and genealogy?
New JPS translates Yoshev in verse 22:5 as “settled.” Does Balak believe that the Israelite intention is to stay near Moab?
How do curses work in Torah? Why does Balak want the curses to come from Balaam?
Is the number of Israelites the thing that Balak really fears most?
Why do the elders of Moab and Midian verses in divination agree to go as messengers to Balak? Do they have any skill in divination themselves? If so, did they not foresee any of what would come? Are they in any way like Pharaoh’s magicians?
God needs no diviner. Why then does God ask Balak what the men want of him?
When he sends the second group of messengers, Balak has given up on his diviners and chosen status as a message. What does this tell us about the diviners? The diviners repeated Balak’s concerns verbatim as the message. The second group carries a personalized message to Balak and he responds differently. What does this tell us about Balak’s decision making process?
Why does God change the direction that God gives to Balaam? Why then does God become incensed with Balaam? Could Balaam have turned around and gone home? Would God have allowed that? How much of what happens in this story is really about Balaam and how much is this about God’s intentions? Does God improvise?
Balaam’s donkey talks to him and Balaam doesn’t bat an eye? Is this because he is in a state of excitement or is this sort of thing just not all that surprising to him?
Why does the Malakh relent and let Balaam pass?
When Balak meets Balaam he asks him “Am I really unable to reward you?” This has been a theme when the Israelites doubt God. Is this a parodic element, or is this just a normal argument in the speech of ancient kings>
Balaam says to Balak, “hive I the power to speak freely?” He goes on to tell Balak that God constrains his speech, but is there more to this utterance than that?
Balak makes a sacrifice. Is it made to Baal? Why doesn’t the text say so?
Chapter 23
Balaam has Balak set up seven altars for sacrifice. Who does Balaam intend for the sacrifices to go to? Is he tricking Balak or is he just playing the field?
In his first discourse Balaam says (verse 23:10) “May I die the death of the upright/ May my fate be theirs.” Is Balaam upright? As a prophet, has he received moral guidance from God?
