Balak’s Ten Commandments’ Moment

You shall not bring up the name of the Lord, your God, for a falsehood, because the Lord will not make one innocent who will bring up His name for a falsehood.

Exodus 20:7

The Torah Portion Balak has this assertion: “Because I know that whoever you’ll bless will be blessed, and whoever you’ll curse will be cursed.” Numbers 22:6. Whoever was told this must have been powerful. Who was it? And, what makes blessings and curses a Ten Commandments’ concern?

The Answers

God would be a good answer to the initial question as to who guarantees success with blessings and curses. After all, it was the Lord who famously designated Abraham with the “chosen people” label. For the Israelite Patriarch, the Lord declared: “And I’ll bless those who bless you, and those who affront you I’ll curse. And all of the families on earth will be blessed by you.” Genesis 12:3.

The answer, however, is incorrect. It is Balaam son of Beor who was ascribed with the “certainty” label as far as blessings and curses. He, a non-Israelite Prophet, is the main figure within the Torah Portion Balak. Balaam son of Beor’s significance extends beyond his story from the Torah Portion. Arguably, he may be the earliest bible prophet with extra-scriptural reference. In 1967, Jordanian archaeological findings included a plaster inscription referring to the prophet. Biblearcheology.org

Blessings

The Torah describes certain individuals are tasked with the capacity to bless. Prior to the Portion Balak, the Israelite Priests were assigned to bless the Children of Israel in the Book of Numbers.

In Numbers, the Priestly Blessing was introduced. The blessings’ words were: “May the Lord bless you and watch over you. May the Lord make His face shine to you and be gracious to you. May the Lord raise His face to you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26.

For this post’s purposes, it is important to note that the blessing evokes the Lord’s name.

The Portion Balak

In the Prophet Balaam’s case, the Moabite King Balak requests for him to curse the Children of Israel. This request immediately becomes controversial. God confronts Balaam. God warns him: “You shall not go with them, You shall not curse the people, because it is blessed.” Numbers 22:12. Note: This divine exchange evidences Balaam’s prophetic status as well as God’s universal nature.

One must speculate that Balaam’s curse would have likely evoked the Lord’s name to execrate Balak’s enemies- the Israelites. In doing so, however, he would be evoking the Lord’s name in vain. His evocation would have been contrary not only to the Ten Commandments but to the Lord’s instructions.

Balaam eventually comes to the point at which he was supposed to provide a curse. Rather, in the portion’s arguably peak moment, Balaam sees that it was good in the Lord’s eyes to bless Israel. At that point, he uttered famous words.

Within Balaam’s pronouncement, he evokes the Lord as he is one who hears God’s sayings and his visions. Numbers 24:4.

Balaam’s words were not only recorded in the Torah but they continue to present day to be recited in daily prayers. “How good your tents are, Jacob.” Numbers 24:5. To this day, the “Ma Tovu” is chanted at the beginning of many Jewish services.

Conclusion

In sum, the Portion Balak illustrates how the blessings and curses are subject to the Lord’s name in vain Commandment. As the Lord’s name is evoked within either a blessing or curse, such expressions fall within the Decalogue’s purview.

Be well!!

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