July 11, 2025: Torah Portion Parashat Balak - "Devastator"
- Dr. Hadassah Elia
- 40 minutes ago
- 7 min read
In this study, we will explore the Torah Portion Balak - "Devastator"
Torah Portion: Numbers 22:2-25:9
Haftarah: Micah 5:6-6:8
Brit Chadashah (New Testament): Romans 11:25-32; 2 Peter 2:1-22
Balak - "Devastator"
📜 Parashat Balak is named after a fretful Moabite king Balak who sought to curse the Jewish people by hiring the services of a wicked Midianite "prophet" named Balaam.
This week we find Israel encamped near the borders of Moab, east of the Jordan, finally ready to enter the Promised Land.
When Balak, the king of Moab, considered what Israel had done to the Amorites, however, he sought the aid of the neighboring Midianites and sent emissaries to hire an Aramean "seer" named Balaam to curse Israel so that they would be defeated in the forthcoming battle.
Who was Balak?
Abraham's nephew Lot was rescued from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah along with his two daughters. After fleeing the area, they took shelter in a cave, when the two daughters got their father drunk, had sexual relations with him, and became pregnant. The two sons born from this incestuous union would become fathers of the nations of Moav (Moab) and ben-Ammi (Amon), respectively.
When the Moabites heard about the defeat of the Amorite kings Sichon and Og, they decided to join forces with their longtime enemies the Midianites to present a united front.
This sounds very similar to the Muslim world today, who have joined forces, to come against Israel, yet again!
King Balak was a magician, trained in kishuf (the occult and magic). Instead of preparing for a conventional war, however, he hired the services of a renowned magician named Bil'am son of Beor ("Balaam"). His plan was to fight Israel by means of spiritual powers. Perhaps he thought that if he and Bil'am combined their powers, they could defeat Israel.
Who was Balaam?
Balaam son of Be'or was from Aram (ancient Mesopotamia/Syria), the place of Abraham's extended family. Similar in notoriety to Haman in the book of Esther, Balaam is considered one of Israel's greatest foes.
Balaam was regarded as a great seer, magician and an adept in the occult. His notoriety made him famous, and powerful people asked him to invoke curses on their enemies. In fact, it was Balaam who advised the new Pharaoh to enslave the Israelites and to afflict them with brutal taskmasters:
8 "Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. 10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses." Exodus 1:8-11
King Balak dispatched a group of noblemen from both Moab and Midian to invite Balaam to curse the Israelites. Initially he refused to go with them, since he did not have the permission of the LORD. However, after repeated delegations and a warning from the LORD, he saddled his donkey and made his way to curse God's chosen people.
King Balak's plan was to employ Balaam's sorcery against the Israelites to prevent them from entering the Promised Land. Similar to the irony that befell the villain Haman in the Book of Esther, however, King Balak's scheme was upended, and the curse he sought to put on the Jewish people was repeatedly pronounced as a blessing by Balaam instead.
Balak received Balaam at Moab's border and repeated his promises of honor and glory, but Balaam reiterated
26 "Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the LORD says?”
Numbers 23:26
Three times, from three different vantage points, Balaam attempted to pronounce his curses; but each time blessings upon Israel were recited instead.
The third attempt was at the summit of Peor itself, the place noted for Baal worship. The Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) came upon Balaam and he recited further blessing upon Israel and (ironically) curses upon her enemies. Part of Balaam's blessing is now part of the daily morning service spoken in synagogues all over the world, the Mah Tovu:
The Mah Tovu is a mixture of verses from different places in the Tanach (Old Covenant): Numbers 24:5 and Psalms 5:8, 26:8, 95:6 and 69:14. The theme of Mah Tovu is expressing our appreciation for being able to come together and worship in a makom kadosh (holy place).
After several foiled attempts to curse the Israelites, Balak finally dismissed the prophet from his service, but before departing from the dejected king, Balaam ironically prophesied about the end of days, the destruction of the Moabites and the establishment of Israel:
2"When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,[a]
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!
6 “Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
“Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.
8 “God brought them out of Egypt;
they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
and break their bones in pieces;
with their arrows they pierce them.
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?
“May those who bless you be blessed
and those who curse you be cursed!”
Numbers 24:2-9
The shameful story of Balaam reveals that,
"there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘Oh, what God has done!’" Numbers 23:23
Indeed, no weapon or scheme devised against God will ever prosper! (Isaiah 54:15-17). HalleluYah! Amen!
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📖 Overview of Parashat Balak
• Setting: King Balak of Moab, alarmed by Israel’s military successes, summons the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites.
• The Donkey Episode: On the way to Balak’s encampment, Balaam’s donkey sees an angel blocking the path. When Balaam beats the donkey, it speaks—rebuking him and opening his eyes to see the angel.
• Balaam’s Blessings: Despite Balak’s wishes, Balaam ends up blessing Israel—not once, but three times—each blessing soaring in poetic grandeur.
• Prophetic Oracle: Balaam’s final prophecy recognises Israel’s strength and divine destiny; he predicts their justice and the downfall of their foes.
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📚 Key Themes & Insights
1. Inner Vision vs. Outer Pressure
Balaam, though hired to curse, listens instead to deeper spiritual truth—his inner vision (via the donkey and angel) overrides external pressure from Balak.
2. The Inversion of Expectation
Intended curses turn into blessings—a powerful reversal that underscores how divine will transcends human designs.
3. Ethical Leadership and Intention
Balaam’s path offers a cautionary tale: even prophets can err when motivated by wealth, fame, or political gain.
4. Divine Sovereignty
The narrative emphasizes that Israel’s fate is overseen by a power beyond human intentions—no mortal scheme can undermine divine purpose.
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📖 Haftarah for Balak
The prophetic reading (Haftarah) is Micah 5:6–6:8, which resonates with Balak by highlighting:
• Divine Protection of Israel
• Critique of empty ritual, contrasting Israel’s inappropriate offerings with Micah’s call to “do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with your God.”
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Finding Opportunity in Adversity:
Beyond the literal interpretation of curses turning into blessings, the concept can also be understood as finding positive outcomes or lessons from difficult situations. A job loss, for example, might lead to a more fulfilling career path.
Growth and Transformation:
Difficulties can serve as catalysts for personal growth and spiritual development, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself and one's relationship with God or a higher power.
Redemption and Forgiveness:
God's ability to forgive sins and offer redemption is understood to be turning a curse (sin) into a blessing (salvation and eternal life). Righteous living and obedience to ADONAI's commandments are seen as factors that can attract God's favor and help in turning curses into blessings.
Not only do our actions count, but our words are just as important! It's pertinent for us to not only DECLARE BLESSINGS over ourselves, but also over our children/family members/loved ones as well! Over our future, our destiny, our finances! It's super important for us to make this a priority in our lives, exercising FAITH, as we do so!
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