“God came to Laban the Aramean in a night dream, and He said to him: Beware, lest you speak to Jacob, good or bad” (Genesis 31:24). “God came to Laban the Aramean in a night dream.” What is the difference between the prophets of the idolaters and the prophets of Israel? Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina, and Rabbi Yisakhar of Kefar Mandi, Rabbi Ḥama said: The Holy One blessed be He appears to the prophets of the nations of the world only with truncated speech, just as it says: “God happened [vayikar] upon Bilam” (Numbers 23:4).16The midrash views the word vayikar as a truncated version of the word vayikra – He called, which is typically employed regarding the prophets of Israel.
Rabbi Yisakhar of Kefar Mandi said: This expression vayikar is nothing other than an expression of impurity, just as it says: “If there will be among you a man who will not be pure due to an incident [mikre] at night” (Deuteronomy 23:11). But to the prophets of Israel [God speaks] with complete speech, with expressions of endearment, with expressions of sanctity, with expressions with which the ministering angels laud Him, as it is stated: “And this one called to that one and said: Holy…” (Isaiah 6:3).
Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: The Holy One blessed be He appears to the prophets of the nations of the world only at a time that people typically take their leave from one another, as it is written: “In thoughts from visions of the night, when slumber falls on men” (Job 4:13), “a matter stealthily came to me…” (Job 4:12). Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Menaḥem said: “The Lord is far from the wicked” (Proverbs 15:29) – these are the prophets of the nations of the world; “and He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29) – these are the prophets of Israel.
What distinguishes between the prophets of Israel and the prophets of the idol worshippers? Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa and Rabbi Simon, Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: [This is analogous] to a king and his friend who are together in a great hall. Whenever he wishes, he speaks with his friend. Rabbi Simon says: It is analogous to a king who has a wife and a concubine.
When he comes to his wife, he comes publicly, but when he comes to his concubine, he comes clandestinely. So, the Holy One blessed be He appears to the idolaters only at night. “God came to Bilam at night” (Numbers 22:20). “God came to Avimelekh in a dream at night” (Genesis 20:3).
“God came to Laban the Aramean in a night dream.” “He said to him: Beware” – even if you say it is for his benefit, he considers it for his detriment. “Beware of speaking with Jacob, good or bad.”