Why God Came to Balaam at Night and Saved Israel in Darkness

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Balak 11:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Numbers 22:20:) "And God came to Balaam at night." This is what Scripture says (Exodus 12:42): "It is a night of vigil for the LORD to bring them out of the land of Egypt; this is that night." All the miracles that were done for Israel, and the exacting of punishment from the wicked on their behalf, took place at night. (Genesis 31:24:) "And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night." (Genesis 20:3:) "And God came to Abimelech [in a dream at night]." (Exodus 12:19:) "And it came to pass in the middle of the night." (Exodus 14:20:) "And there was the cloud and the darkness, yet it gave light to the night." (Genesis 14:15:) "And he divided himself against them at night." And all of them are a night of vigil.

Themes

ExodusNoahEgyptPassoverCreation

Biblical References

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