“God came to Bilam at night, and He said to him: If the people came to summon you, rise, go with them; however, only the matter that I will speak to you, shall you do” (Numbers 22:20). “God came to Bilam at night” – this is what the verse said: “In a dream, in a night vision, when deep sleep falls upon men…Then He uncovers the ears of men…to turn a person away from an action and suppress pride in man” (Job 33:15–17).
The Holy One blessed be He concealed from him that his going would eradicate him from the world and lead him to the pit of perdition.28As opposed to the compassion shown by God in other cases, as described in the verse from Job. “To restore his soul from perdition, to be enlightened with the light of life” (Job 33:30); as he eradicated his soul in his going, as when a person goes to sin, the Satan dances for him, until he completes the transgression.
Once he eradicates him, he then informs him. Likewise it says: “He follows her unconsciously, like an ox comes to the slaughter…until an arrow splits his liver, like the hastening of a bird to the snare, [not knowing that it is at the cost of his life]” (Proverbs 7:22–23). The Holy One blessed be He obscured from the wicked Bilam29God obscured from Bilam the fact that his desire to curse Israel was sinful. until he went and eradicated his soul.
When he left his honor and realized the situation in which he was, he began pleading for his soul: “Let my soul die the death of the upright” (Numbers 23:10).