RR Parasha Balak by Jeffery Freeman
Shabbat Shalom,
Parshah Balak gets its name from the king of Moab, who plays a significant, albeit negative part in this weeks’ reading. Numbers 22:2-3 – When Balak son of Zippor realized all that Bnei-Yisrael had done to the Amorites, Moab became terrified. The bulk of the parshah deals with Balak hiring Balaam, who apparently is a diviner of some renown, to curse the Israelites and Balaam’s various failings in doing so. The parshah ends with the Moabites successfully luring many young Israelite men into sacrificing to the Moabite god when Balaam suggested they use their young women as bait for the young men (Numbers 31:16). This results in 24,000 dying from a plague.
Balaam is an interesting character. As a diviner and non-Israelite prophet, he seems to follow several pagan gods (probably demons). Apparently, his association with these gods has given him a significant level of success in cursing others. However, we do get some other interesting verses that allude to him also following God. After Balak’s representatives ask Balaam to come and curse the Israelites we get this statement from Balaam:
Numbers 22:8 …Spend the night here. I will give you an answer just as ADONAI speaks to me.
Note: ADONAI is the LORD’s formal name…yod-hey-vav-hey.
The LORD does answer Balaam, telling him not to go with Balak’s men. After being informed of this, Balak’s men leave. They come back with an even more lucrative offer. Balaam initially answers:
Numbers 22:18…Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot cross beyond the mouth of ADONAI my God, to do anything small or great.
Balaam says ADONAI my God. Again, this is the LORD’s formal name (yod-hey-vav-hey) followed by elohay – my God or my Supreme One.
Despite Balaam’s assertions that HaShem is his God, his actions are not in line with these assertions. Along the road to meet with Balak, Balaam is hindered by his donkey, which Balaam beats. After the third beating, the donkey speaks to Balaam, and the angel of ADONAI reveals himself. The angel lets Balaam pass but gives him a stern warning to only say or do things as the LORD directs.
Balaam does appear to say only that which the LORD has instructed him. He really ticks off Balak by repeatedly blessing the Israelites. Greed eventually overcomes Balaam and he advises Balak to use the young women to lure the young Israelite men into sinning (Numbers 31:16).
What lesson is there for us in this? Jude 1 discusses ungodly people – those doing things intentionally that are in violation to the LORD’s commandments. Verse 11:
Woe to them. For they went the way of Cain; they were consumed for pay in Balaam’s error.
2 Peter 2:15 adds this for those living in sin and enticing others to join them:
They have abandoned the straight way. They have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor.
Yeshua spoke very clearly on this topic.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord!” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you. Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
Ouch! These are people claiming to be following Yeshua but are not following the will of HaShem. You know, the ones who edit out parts of the Bible or use novel readings to support their ungodly desires. These will come up short when they stand before Yeshua. So, what is the will of the Father? Simply put, Torah.
Will anyone of us be able to keep Torah perfectly? No. If we could, Yeshua would be redundant. But we are expected to do our best lest we be labeled as a “worker of lawlessness.” Praise HaShem that he gave us His Torah so we would know what we should do, and that he sent Messiah to cover us when we fall short. Baruch HaShem! Shabbat Shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat27-Jun-202612th of Tamuz, 5786 Parashat Chukat-Balak
Nu 23:27-25:9Mic 5:6-6:82 Pe 2:14-22; 3:17-18
Parshah Balak gets its name from the king of Moab, who plays a significant, albeit negative part in this weeks’ reading. Numbers 22:2-3 – When Balak son of Zippor realized all that Bnei-Yisrael had done to the Amorites, Moab became terrified. The bulk of the parshah deals with Balak hiring Balaam, who apparently is a diviner of some renown, to curse the Israelites and Balaam’s various failings in doing so. The parshah ends with the Moabites successfully luring many young Israelite men into sacrificing to the Moabite god when Balaam suggested they use their young women as bait for the young men (Numbers 31:16). This results in 24,000 dying from a plague.
Balaam is an interesting character. As a diviner and non-Israelite prophet, he seems to follow several pagan gods (probably demons). Apparently, his association with these gods has given him a significant level of success in cursing others. However, we do get some other interesting verses that allude to him also following God. After Balak’s representatives ask Balaam to come and curse the Israelites we get this statement from Balaam:
Numbers 22:8 …Spend the night here. I will give you an answer just as ADONAI speaks to me.
Note: ADONAI is the LORD’s formal name…yod-hey-vav-hey.
The LORD does answer Balaam, telling him not to go with Balak’s men. After being informed of this, Balak’s men leave. They come back with an even more lucrative offer. Balaam initially answers:
Numbers 22:18…Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot cross beyond the mouth of ADONAI my God, to do anything small or great.
Balaam says ADONAI my God. Again, this is the LORD’s formal name (yod-hey-vav-hey) followed by elohay – my God or my Supreme One.
Despite Balaam’s assertions that HaShem is his God, his actions are not in line with these assertions. Along the road to meet with Balak, Balaam is hindered by his donkey, which Balaam beats. After the third beating, the donkey speaks to Balaam, and the angel of ADONAI reveals himself. The angel lets Balaam pass but gives him a stern warning to only say or do things as the LORD directs.
Balaam does appear to say only that which the LORD has instructed him. He really ticks off Balak by repeatedly blessing the Israelites. Greed eventually overcomes Balaam and he advises Balak to use the young women to lure the young Israelite men into sinning (Numbers 31:16).
What lesson is there for us in this? Jude 1 discusses ungodly people – those doing things intentionally that are in violation to the LORD’s commandments. Verse 11:
Woe to them. For they went the way of Cain; they were consumed for pay in Balaam’s error.
2 Peter 2:15 adds this for those living in sin and enticing others to join them:
They have abandoned the straight way. They have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor.
Yeshua spoke very clearly on this topic.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord!” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you. Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
Ouch! These are people claiming to be following Yeshua but are not following the will of HaShem. You know, the ones who edit out parts of the Bible or use novel readings to support their ungodly desires. These will come up short when they stand before Yeshua. So, what is the will of the Father? Simply put, Torah.
Will anyone of us be able to keep Torah perfectly? No. If we could, Yeshua would be redundant. But we are expected to do our best lest we be labeled as a “worker of lawlessness.” Praise HaShem that he gave us His Torah so we would know what we should do, and that he sent Messiah to cover us when we fall short. Baruch HaShem! Shabbat Shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat27-Jun-202612th of Tamuz, 5786 Parashat Chukat-Balak
Nu 23:27-25:9Mic 5:6-6:82 Pe 2:14-22; 3:17-18
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
Recent
Archive
2026
January
RR Psalm 42:12(11) Part 8RR Psalm 43:1 Part 1RR In Praise of Milk By David HarwoodRR Psalm 43:2 Part 2RR Psalm 43:3 Part 3RR Psalm 43:4 Part 4RR Psalm 43:5 Part 5RR Psalm 44:1-5(1-4) Part 1RR “The Priority & Power of Relationship” by Jerry MillerRR Favor on top of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:6-9(5-8) Part 2RR Psalm 44:10-13(9-12) Part 3RR Psalm 44:14-17(13-16) Part 4RR Psalm 44:18-22(17-21) Part 5RR The Throne By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:23-27(22-26) Part 6RR Psalm 45:1-3(1,2) Part 1RR PPsalm 45:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 45:5(4) Part 3RR Psalm 45:6(5) Part 4RR Psalm 45:7(6) Part 5RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Doubting Favor by David HarwoodRR Psalm 45:8(7) Part 6RR Psalm 45:9(8) Part 7RR Psalm 45:10(9) Part 8RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 9RR Favor and Calling By David HarwoodRR YESHUA BEYOND THE BIBLE By Dr. Raymond Finney RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 10
February
RR Psalm 45:14-16(13-15) Part 11RR Psalm 45:17,18(16,17) Part 12RR Psalm 46:1,2(1) Part 1RR Psalm 46:3,4(2,3) Part 2RR Charismata - Signs of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 3RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 5RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) – Part 4RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 6RR Psalm 46:9-12(8-11) Part 7RR THE ONE AND ONLY YOU (Part 1) The Amazing Mystery of Light and You By Dr. Raymond FinneyRR Favor and Sanctity by David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:9-12 (8-11) Part 8RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 1RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 2RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 3RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 4RR Gratitude for Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 47:6(5) Part 5RR Psalm 47:7(6) Part 6RR Psalm 47:9(8) Part 8RR Psalm 47:10(9) Part 9RR Psalm 48:1-3 Part 1RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 3” by Jerry MillerRR Some Favorite Verses (1) By David HarwoodRR Psalm 1:1 Part 1 (rerun)
March
RR Psalm 48:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 5RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 4RR Psalm 48:5-7 Part 3RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 6RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 7RR Some Favorite Verses (2) Generosity and Enabling Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 48:13-15 Part 8RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 1RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 2RR Psalm 49:6(5) – Part 3RR Some Favorite Verses (3) Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:7-9(6-8) Part 4RR Psalm 49:10,11(9,10) Part 5RR Psalm 49:12(11), 13(12) – Part 6RR Psalm 49:14(13) Part 7RR Manifestations of Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 9RR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 8RR Psalm 49:19-21(18-20) Part 11RR Psalm 49:17,18(16,17) Part 10RR Psalm 50:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 50:3 Part 2RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 5” by Jerry MillerRR Yeshua’s Enriched Speech and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 50:5 Part 4RR Psalm 50:4 Part 3RR Psalm 50:6 Part 5RR Psalm 50:6 Part 6RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 7
April
RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 8RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 9RR Yeshua Provides a Pattern By David HarwoodRR Pasach 3 Torah Lesson – Exodus 33-12-34:26 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Let's Celebrate Yom HaBikurimRR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 10RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 11RR Sh’mini Torah lesson – Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Psalm 50:22,23 Part 13RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 12RR Yeshua Grew By David HarwoodRR Psalm 51:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 51:3 Part 2