QUICK QUIZ: THERE ARE TWO TALKING ANIMALS in the Torah. What are they and where do they appear in the Torah (book, chapter, and verse).1, 2
THE RABBIS DELIGHT IN CASTING ASPERSIONS ON BILAAM. They should be ashamed.
All references and translations are from the Hertz/Soncino humash.
Bilaam was a prophet to whom HaShem spoke to in dreams. (Numbers 22 V. 9-12)
The rabbis take umbrage with Bilaam because once HaShem told him not to go with the messengers from Balak, they (the rabbis) think that should have ended the whole idea.
However, if anyone continues to pay attention to Bilaam and HaShem’s conversations with him, they will see that HaShem DID allow Bilaam to go to Balak and say exactly what HaShem wanted him to say . (Chap. 22 V. 20)
Consider that HaShem easily could have prevented a few messengers from visiting Bilaam again; after all, look what happened to the Egyptians, Sodom and Gemorrah, Korach, and, later, to Jericho.
The fact that HaShem allowed the messengers access to Bilaam should, but apparently fails to, tell the rabbis something about Bilaam’s relationship with HaShem.
I am confused, however, --and perhaps this is on what the rabbis base their anti-Bilaam conclusion, that HaShem’s “anger was kindled because he went (with the messenger). (Chap. 22 V.22)
Apparently HaShem’s anger – does He change his mind? – was sufficient that an angel suddenly appeared in Bilaam’s path, an angel that only the אתון could see.
Bilaam, still going under the authority of the previous night’s instructions from HaShem, “smote” the animal, apparently something he never did previously, for the animal spoke, saying “What have I done to three that thou has smitten me these three times? (Chap. 22 V 28)
Later (Chap. 22, V.32) the angel to (Bilaam): Behold I (not HaShem) am come forth … because thy way is contrary unto me.” Unto me, not HaShem.
The rabbis remind us that the Torah has no extra words.
Finally, when Bilaam meets with Balak, he tells Balak that he can say only what HaShem tells him to say.
Balak, it seems, accepts these terms, and the rest is history.
The question remains: How can a person doing what HaShem tells him to do be so denigrated by the rabbis, Does HaShem speak to them in a dream or vision? Are they prophets?
I suggest that the rabbis need to read the ENTIRE portion and weigh Bilaam’s nocturnal conversations with HaShem against a brief appearance of an angel who frightens an animal.
Sources
1. Talking animal #1: Snake – Genesis Chap. 3 V.1-5
2. Talking animal #2: Bilaam’s אתון – Numbers, 22 V. 30
*. There are other talking animals in other literature, but only two in the Torah.
PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.
Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.
