Aliya Summary:: Bilaam leaves together with the Moabite dignitaries.
G‑d sends an angel with a drawn sword to block Bilaam's path. While
Bilaam couldn't see the angel, the she-donkey he was riding did, and
refused to move onwards, causing Bilaam to strike her. The donkey
miraculously speaks, admonishing Bilaam for striking her. Eventually,
G‑d "opens Bilaam's eyes," and he sees the angel. A conversation between
Bilaam and the angel ensues, wherein Bilaam is chastised for his
behavior towards his donkey, and again he is reminded only to say what
G‑d dictates to him. After this humbling episode, Bilaam arrives in Moab
where he is greeted by Balak.
If G-d gave Bilaam
permission to go to Balak, why did He send an angel to stop him, and why
was He angry that Bilaam was going (Passuk/Verse 22)? Midrash explains
that Bilaam woke up early and saddled the donkey himself (unusual)
because he hated the Jews so, and was excited at the possibility of
being able to curse them. So even though he hadn't actually cursed the
Jews, and even though G-d knew that he ultimately wouldn't, he was still
wrong for intending to do something bad, and that's what G-d was angry
about. Luckily, though, we don't get punished for improper acts unless
we actually commit them.
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