Balaam's Final Oracle and the Angel Who Confounds the World

"Oh, who shall live when God appoints him" (Numbers 24:23). "El" — this is the angel who will throw the whole world into confusion. Another interpretation: Woe to the nation that will be found present at the hour when the Holy One, blessed be He, performs redemption for His children. Another interpretation: "Alas, who shall live" — [this refers to] one who makes himself a god; and he prophesied also concerning Ashur (Assyria). "And the children of Israel journeyed." Eight journeys did Israel turn backward, as far as Moserah, on account of the death of Aaron, when they sought to return to Egypt — were it not that the tribe of Levi pursued after them and made war with them and killed four families of them, and they killed two families of the Levites there. And why have I mentioned the death of Aaron here? On account of the Israelites who died in the plague, twenty-four thousand; for had he been alive, he would have offered the incense, and not so many would have died. Therefore I was obliged to mention his death here.