Parshat Balak 5779
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha that Balak commissioned Bilam to curse Bnei Yisrael. He sent messengers requesting his services, and in describing the issue he has with them, he used the term, Hineih Kisah es Ein Ha’Aretz, he covers the visible land. A simple reading of this term would seem to be that Balak is emphasizing the great number of Bnei Yisrael that they are multiplying to the point of covering the entire land. Rashi, however, learns that the term “Ein Ha’Aretz” means the eyes of the land, referring to the great kings Sichon and Og who were both defeated by Bnei Yisrael.
The Sfas Emes offers a different understanding. He explains that the when the Torah says regarding Clal Yisrael Hineih Kisah es Ein Ha’Aretz, it is a statement concerning the way we relate to the world. We don’t look at the outside and external manifestations of the physical world. Rather we dig deeper and look for greater meaning. This is the p’shat in Kisah es Ein Ha’Aretz; we cover up the physical, external land and instead look at the Penimiyus, the internal holiness contained within the physical.
According to the simple p'shat we suggested above, it is clear why Balak was concerned and wished to hire Bilam to curse Bnei Yisrael. He viewed their presence and growing numbers as a threat. And according to Rashi, this point is made sharper since given that their former protectors were defeated by Bnei Yisrael, they needed a new plan to defend themselves. But according to the way the Sfas Emes learns the words Hineih Kisah es Ein Ha’Aretz, why was this a cause for alarm and mentioned as an inducement for Bilam to join the cause? Why should Balak or Bilam care if the Jews are a spiritual people?
The Sfas Emes answers this point by indicating that the parsha begins with the words Vayar Balak. Balak saw and was aware of this spiritual greatness of Bnei Yisrael. But he didn't like it at all; he preferred not to see this. And the Sfas Emes compares this to the pasuk in sefer Yeshayahu. The pasuk says (Chapter 6, Pasuk 10), Hashmen Lev Ha'Am Hazeh V'Aznav Hachbed V'Einav Hasha, Pen Yireh B'Einav U'Vaznav Yishma U'Levavo Yavin V'Shav V'Rafa Lo. Hashem tells the Navi that the people have made their hearts fat so that they can't think, nor can they hear, and nor can they see. And the pasuk continues Pen Yireh B'Einav, lest they see with their eyes. What does it mean lest they see with their eyes? They need to see and realize the folly of their ways!
The answer is they don't want to see. The yetzer hara wants to be left alone and just enjoy the pleasures of the world. It doesn't want to the eyes to look around and the ears to open and repent. This is what the pasuk means by Pen Yireh B'Einav. Because if they opened their eyes and saw, then they would need to do Teshuvah.
This is what the pasuk means when it says Vayar Balak. He called in Bilam to help rid himself of this reminder of what's real in life and what's not. He didn't want to see. He didn't appreciate Bnei Yisrael serving as a spiritual beacon for the world. The wonders of Yetzias Mitzrayim and Matan Torah had an impact on the world and Balak wanted that impact to disappear. He was perfectly happy just focusing on the externals and on the physical pleasures of the world. He was not interested in this notion of Hineih Kisah es Ein Ha’Aretz.
This attitude of Balak exists until this very day. The world doesn't appreciate Bnei Yisrael being a spiritual beacon to the world. It doesn't appreciate the notion of true spiritual growth and certainly not of serving Hashem. These are ideas which only create obligations that others are not willing to take upon themselves. And rather than face the truth they would rather look away. Or as the Navi puts it, Pen Yireh B'Einav. And this is why it was so urgent for Balak to bring Bilam in to curse the Jewish people. He didn’t want to look at the great spiritual light Bnei Yisrael brought with them out of Mitzrayim.
Good Shabbos
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