Why God Raised Up Balaam for the Nations Like Moses for Israel

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Balak 1:1

(Numbers 22:2:) "And Balak son of Zippor saw." This is what Scripture says (Deuteronomy 32:4): "The Rock! His work is perfect, [for all His ways are justice]." [Thus] the Holy One, blessed be He, did [not] leave the nations of the world an opening of the mouth in the age to come to say: "You distanced us, and You did not give to us as You gave to Israel in this world." [What] did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? Just as He raised up kings and prophets [and sages] for Israel, so did He raise up [the same] from the nations of the world; and the kings, prophets, and sages [of Israel] were paired with the kings, prophets, and sages of the nations of the world. He raised up Solomon as king over all the earth, and likewise He did so for Nebuchadnezzar. This one built the Holy Temple, and that one destroyed it. He gave David wealth; he acquired the House for His name. He gave Haman wealth, and he acquired a whole nation for the slaughter. Every greatness that Israel took, you find that the nations of the world took. In like manner He raised up Moses for Israel, who would speak with Him whenever he wished; He raised up Balaam for the nations of the world, so that he might speak with Him whenever he wished. See what a difference there is between the prophets of Israel and the prophets of the nations of the world! The prophets of Israel warn the nation about transgressions, and thus it says (Ezekiel 3:17): "I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel." But a prophet who arose from the nations established a breach to destroy the creatures from the world to come. And not only this, but all the prophets were in the measure of mercy toward Israel and toward the nations of the world, for thus said Isaiah (Isaiah 16:11): "Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab." And likewise Ezekiel said (Ezekiel 27:2): "Raise a dirge over Tyre." But this cruel one arose to uproot a whole nation for nothing, for no cause. Therefore the portion of Balaam was written, to make known why the Holy One, blessed be He, removed the Holy Spirit from the nations of the world: because this one arose from among them, and see what he did.

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