Balaam, Balak, and the Diviners Who Misread Israel

"And the elders of Moab went" (Numbers 22:7) — the elders of Moab too took divinations in their hand. Another interpretation: Why did He say to him at first "Do not go," and at the end say to him "Arise, go"? Rather, at first Balak inquired of the diviners. He said to them, "What do you say — will Balaam come, or not?" They divined divinations and said, "He will come." Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, annulled their divinations and said to him, "Do not go with them." And the second time they divined and said, "He will not come." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "Arise, go" — "He frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad" (Isaiah 44:25). And so too the wicked Balaam thought in his heart and said: Just as He said to me the first time "Do not go," and the second time said to me "Go," so He has said to me "Do not curse," but in the end He will say to me "Curse." Concerning this: "And God's anger was kindled because he was going" (Numbers 22:22). And what were the diviners saying? If we tell Balaam, "Come with us," we succeed; but if He puts a delay upon him, there is nothing in his words. And when they heard that he said to them, "Lodge here this night" (Numbers 22:8), they said: Is there a father who hates his son? So the Holy One, blessed be He, is a father to Israel and loves them — would He, for the sake of Balaam's curse, hate them? Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Balaam, "Who are these men with you?" (Numbers 22:9). He made Himself as though He knew nothing — this is what is written, "He enlarges the nations and destroys them" (Job 12:23). And when Balaam heard this, he said: Now I am able to go and to understand, for at times He knows and at times He does not know, and therefore I will be able to do all that I desire. And he was one of three whom the Holy One, blessed be He, tested and found to be a chamber-pot of urine; for he ought to have said, "Master of the worlds, You know, and You are the One who knows all, and no scheme is withheld from You — yet do You ask me, 'Who are these men?'" But he did not do so; rather he said, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me" (Numbers 22:10). It was taught: Between Midian and Moab there was no peace, but because they were afraid they made peace between themselves so that each would help the other. Once a wolf came against one of them; the dog went to the dog and said to him, "Come and help me against the wolf, lest he devour both of us." They were reconciled, and the two of them came against the wolf. Another interpretation: "Balak son of Zippor." Balaam said to him: Even though you do not honor me, the kings honor me, for they send to me. "And now, come, curse for me" (Numbers 22:11). The hatred with which Balaam hated Israel was greater than the hatred with which Balak hated. Balak said, "Come, curse (arah) for me," but Balaam said, "Curse (qabah) for me." Balak said, "Perhaps I shall be able to fight against him and drive him out from the land of his kingdom" — and so he says, "and I shall drive him out" — but Balaam meant: from the world.