Bamidbar 23: Poetic Justice

Chapter 23 begins with Balaam preparing to say whatever God commands. He tells Balak: “Stay here besides your offerings while I am gone. Perhaps God will grant me a manifestation, and whatever is revealed to me I will tell you” (verse 2).עֲמֹד כֹּה עַל־עֹלָתֶיךָ וְאֵלְכָה אוּלַי יִקָּרֶה ה׳ לִקְרָאתִי וּדְבַר מַה־יַּרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָךְ׃ (Numbers 23:3)Right off the bat, Balaam reminds Balak that he is at the mercy of God. God could appear to him or not and God will tell him what to say. This again shows deference to the almighty and no nefarious intentions. When God appears to Balaam, Balaam explains that he set up the proper sacrifices of bulls and rams. It seems as if Balaam is responding to an earlier directive from God as to how Balaam can connect with God. Balaam returns and recites the first of his praising poems towards Israel. Note that he even uses a similar metaphor to the grains of sand that God promised Avraham.Balak is incensed. He demanded a curse and got a blessing. Balaam calmly responds “I can only repeat faithfully what God puts in my mouth” (verse 12).הֲלֹא אֵת אֲשֶׁר־יָשִׂים ה׳ בְּפִי אֹתוֹ אֶשְׁמֹר לְדַבֵּר׃ (Numbers 23:12)Again, Balaam faithfully defers to God. In the face of an angry king, Balaam repeats his mantra. He does not even say “I tried to curse them!” He simply follows what God tells him. Notice how it is Balak who demands that they move to a different location to try to change the vision. Balaam does not suggest it.In this next song, Balaam repeats his mantra: “My message was to bless: When [God] blesses, I cannot reverse it” (verse 20).הִנֵּה בָרֵךְ לָקָחְתִּי וּבֵרֵךְ וְלֹא אָשִׁיבֶנָּה׃ (Numbers 23:20)Balak again is furious and tells Balaam to not bless the people or curse them, hoping for a different outcome. Balaam responds, yet again, “But I told you: Whatever God says I will do” (verse 26).הֲלוֹא דִּבַּרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּר ה׳ אֹתוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂה׃ (Numbers 23:26)Four times in this chapter. Balaam tells Balak that he can only follow what God tells him. A plain reading of the text again shows a faithful Balaam. Balak is the instigator here, and Balaam only repeats that God is in control.