Why Do We Compare? Chukat-Balak

apples to oranges? are two seminal events within torah portion chukat-balak connected?

we are often told that moses was barred from entering the promised land as as result of him defiantly striking a rock to deliver water to the children of israel. is this a message from chukak-balak?

in this same portion, we are told of the tale of balaam. balaam, son of beor, a seer of the gods, is employed to “curse” the children of israel.

prior to this moses is embroiled in water controversy. the torah provides that “the lord spoke to moses, saying: “take the staff and assemble the congregation, you and your brother aaron, and speak to the rock in their presence so that it will give forth its water. you shall bring forth water for them from the rock and give the congregation and their livestock to drink. moses took the staff from before the lord as he had commanded him. moses and aaron assembled the congregation in front of the rock, and he said to them, “now listen, you rebels, can we draw water for you from this rock?” moses raised his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, when an abundance of water gushed forth, and the congregation and their livestock drank.”

after this event, “the lord said to moses and aaron, “since you did not have faith in me to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly to the land which i have given them.”

balaam’s story, which occurs after that event reports that after being employed to do the curse that “god said to balaam, “you shall not go with them! you shall not curse the people because they are blessed.””

balaam, however, defies god and proceed with the journey to curse as requested by balak. on the way, he has problems with his donkey who has was subject to angelic influence and became uncooperative on the travel.

it is said that “balaam said to the she-donkey, “for you have humiliated me; if i had a sword in my hand, i would kill you right now.” the she-donkey said to balaam, “am i not your she-donkey on which you have ridden since you first started until now? have i been accustomed to do this to you?” he said, “no.”

at that point, ” the lord opened balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a sword drawn in his hand. he bowed and prostrated himself on his face. the angel of the lord said to him, “why have you beaten your she-donkey these three times? behold, i have came out to thwart you, for the one embarking on the journey has hastened against me. when the she-donkey saw me, it turned aside these three times. had she not turned aside before me, now also I would also have killed you and spared her [the she-donkey]. balaam said to the angel of the lord, “i have sinned, for i did not know that you were standing on the road before me. now, if it displeases you, i will return.”

the master of the universe did not accept balaam’s offer. he had other plans in mind. after this, balaam said to balak, “behold I have come to you, do i have any power to say anything? the word god puts into my mouth-that I will speak.” thus, rather than curse the children of israel, he blesses them. in doing so, he offered the following words: “how goodly are your tents, o jacob, your dwelling places, o israel!” [מַה־טֹּ֥בוּ אֹֽהָלֶ֖יךָ יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל]

in the end, we are left with stories of two highly respected individuals, moses and balaam, who were both instructed to perform tasks on behalf of the master of the universe. they both initially defied of their instruction. likewise, they both repeatedly struck an object to address their pressing matter. further, they both made declarations. moses, unlike balaam, went off of script. his words “now listen, you rebels, can we draw water for you from this rock?” placed the master of the universe in a bad light. moses’ words did not credit the master. thus, was it moses’ words, rather than the striking of the rock, that caused him to lose favor? in contrast, although balaam displayed cruelty towards his animal, his words have become the staple of prayer books and are recited on a daily basis.

be well!!

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