לא הביט און ביעקב (במדבר כג כא). אמר בלעם אינו מסתכל בעבירות שבידם ולא בגיאות שלהם. ה' אלהיו עמו (שם). אמרת לי לכה נא ארה לי, פרדס שאין לו שומר הגנב יכול להזיקו, או אם ישן לו השומר, נכנס הגנב, ואלו הנה לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל (תהלים קכא ד), והיאך אני יכול להזיקן, ה' אלהיו עמו, א"ל בלק הואיל ואין אתה יכול ליגע בהן מפני משה משמשן, ראה זה אחריו מה יהיה, א"ל אף הוא קשה כמותו, ה' אלהיו עמו ותרועת מלך בו, תוקע ומריע ומפיל חומה.
(Numb. 23:21:) NO ONE HAS BEHELD FALSEHOOD IN JACOB. Balaam said: He has neither paid attention to the transgressions at their hands nor at their pride.76Tanh., Numb. 7:14. (Numb. 23:21, cont.:) THE LORD THEIR GOD IS WITH HIM.77In the biblical context the HIM would normally refer to Israel, but the midrash understands this HIM in the singular throughout this paragraph. You (Balak) said to me (in Numb. 23:7): COME, CURSE <JACOB> FOR ME. If an orchard has no keeper, a thief is able to harm it; or if the keeper falls asleep, the thief will enter <it>. But in the case of these people (according to Ps. 121:4): BEHOLD, THE ONE KEEPING ISRAEL SHALL NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP. So how can I harm <Israel>? (Numb. 23:21:) THE LORD THEIR GOD IS WITH HIM (i.e., Moses). Balak said to him: Since you cannot touch them because of Moses, their minister, look at his successor. What will he be? He said to him: He also will be strong like him. (Numb. 23:21:) THE LORD THEIR GOD IS WITH HIM (i.e., Joshua); A ROYAL WAR CRY IS WITHIN HIM. He is blowing <a trumpet>, giving a war cry, and throwing down a wall.78I.e., the wall of Jericho.
2
אל מוציאם ממצרים (במדבר שם כב). אמרת לי הנה עם יצא ממצרים (שם כב ה), אינו כן אלא הוא בעצמו הוציאן.
(Numb. 23:22:) GOD BRINGS THEM OUT OF EGYPT. You said to me (in Numb. 22:5): HERE IS A PEOPLE THAT HAS COME OUT OF EGYPT. That is not so. Rather he brought them out by himself.
3
כתועפות ראם לו (שם). כך הוא מדתו, חטאו קימעא הורידן כעוף, שנאמר אפרים כעוף יתעופף כבודם (הושע ט יא), זכו מעלן ומרומם למעלה כעוף, שנאמר מי אלה כעב תעופינה (ישעיה ס ח).
(Ibid., cont.:) LIKE THE HEIGHTS79Rt.: T‘P. The word can also mean “horns” and is so translated in most English versions in order to fit the context of the next word (R’M), which is then understood to mean “wild ox.” See the following note. OF HIS LOFTINESS (R'M).80In most translations the word is understood to mean “wild ox,” but the midrash regards it as a derived from the root RWM, a verb meaning “to be high.” Such is his nature. <When> they sinned a little, he brought them down like a bird, as stated (in Hos. 9:11): EPHRAIM's GLORY SHALL FLY AWAY LIKE A BIRD. <When> they are worthy, he raises them up and exalts (rt.: RWM) them on high like a bird. Thus it is stated (in Is. 60:8): WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY LIKE A CLOUD?
לא הביט און ביעקב (במדבר כג כא). אמר בלעם אינו מסתכל בעבירות שבידם ולא בגיאות שלהם. ה' אלהיו עמו (שם). אמרת לי לכה נא ארה לי, פרדס שאין לו שומר הגנב יכול להזיקו, או אם ישן לו השומר, נכנס הגנב, ואלו הנה לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל (תהלים קכא ד), והיאך אני יכול להזיקן, ה' אלהיו עמו, א"ל בלק הואיל ואין אתה יכול ליגע בהן מפני משה משמשן, ראה זה אחריו מה יהיה, א"ל אף הוא קשה כמותו, ה' אלהיו עמו ותרועת מלך בו, תוקע ומריע ומפיל חומה.
(Numb. 23:21:) NO ONE HAS BEHELD FALSEHOOD IN JACOB. Balaam said: He has neither paid attention to the transgressions at their hands nor at their pride.76Tanh., Numb. 7:14. (Numb. 23:21, cont.:) THE LORD THEIR GOD IS WITH HIM.77In the biblical context the HIM would normally refer to Israel, but the midrash understands this HIM in the singular throughout this paragraph. You (Balak) said to me (in Numb. 23:7): COME, CURSE <JACOB> FOR ME. If an orchard has no keeper, a thief is able to harm it; or if the keeper falls asleep, the thief will enter <it>. But in the case of these people (according to Ps. 121:4): BEHOLD, THE ONE KEEPING ISRAEL SHALL NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP. So how can I harm <Israel>? (Numb. 23:21:) THE LORD THEIR GOD IS WITH HIM (i.e., Moses). Balak said to him: Since you cannot touch them because of Moses, their minister, look at his successor. What will he be? He said to him: He also will be strong like him. (Numb. 23:21:) THE LORD THEIR GOD IS WITH HIM (i.e., Joshua); A ROYAL WAR CRY IS WITHIN HIM. He is blowing <a trumpet>, giving a war cry, and throwing down a wall.78I.e., the wall of Jericho.
אל מוציאם ממצרים (במדבר שם כב). אמרת לי הנה עם יצא ממצרים (שם כב ה), אינו כן אלא הוא בעצמו הוציאן.
(Numb. 23:22:) GOD BRINGS THEM OUT OF EGYPT. You said to me (in Numb. 22:5): HERE IS A PEOPLE THAT HAS COME OUT OF EGYPT. That is not so. Rather he brought them out by himself.
כתועפות ראם לו (שם). כך הוא מדתו, חטאו קימעא הורידן כעוף, שנאמר אפרים כעוף יתעופף כבודם (הושע ט יא), זכו מעלן ומרומם למעלה כעוף, שנאמר מי אלה כעב תעופינה (ישעיה ס ח).
(Ibid., cont.:) LIKE THE HEIGHTS79Rt.: T‘P. The word can also mean “horns” and is so translated in most English versions in order to fit the context of the next word (R’M), which is then understood to mean “wild ox.” See the following note. OF HIS LOFTINESS (R'M).80In most translations the word is understood to mean “wild ox,” but the midrash regards it as a derived from the root RWM, a verb meaning “to be high.” Such is his nature. <When> they sinned a little, he brought them down like a bird, as stated (in Hos. 9:11): EPHRAIM's GLORY SHALL FLY AWAY LIKE A BIRD. <When> they are worthy, he raises them up and exalts (rt.: RWM) them on high like a bird. Thus it is stated (in Is. 60:8): WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY LIKE A CLOUD?