Balak and Balaam Prophesy Their Own Disgrace at Their Meeting

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Balak 14:13

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Numbers 22:37:) "And Balak said to Balaam: Did I not surely send to you, etc." He prophesied that his end would be to go in disgrace. And Balaam too answered him concerning his own matter, (Numbers 22:38:) "And Balaam said to Balak: Behold, I have come to you now; am I able at all to speak anything?" — that is, it is not in my power to say what I wish.

Themes

KingsAdam EveWisdomMusicSin

Biblical References

Continue Reading

Letter of AristeasAncient Advice on What Makes a Good KingYou might be surprised. It wasn't always about conquering new lands and building bigger empires. Sometimes, it was about something surprisingly… human. The LettKalach Pitchei ChokhmahWhen All Sefirot Functioned as OneWhen All Sefirot Functioned as One is the question behind this passage from Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah. Each Sefirah (a divine emanation) – like Chessed (loving-kiKalach Pitchei ChokhmahThe Surprisingly Intimate Life of the SefirotKabbalah, Jewish mysticism, dives deep into that very question. And sometimes, the answers are. well, let's just say they're surprisingly intimate. SpecificallyExempla of the Rabbis (Gaster, 1924)Egyptians and Jews dispute before Alexander of Mace- donThe Egyptians brought their case before Alexander of Macedon, and they were confident they would win. Their claim was simple: when the Israelites left Egypt durExempla of the Rabbis (Gaster, 1924)Emperor Feasting GodThe Emperor once invited the Jewish sages to a grand banquet and posed what he thought was an impossible challenge. "I wish to prepare a feast for your God," heExempla of the Rabbis (Gaster, 1924)God Waits for Humanity Before ActingThe ancient rabbis taught a striking idea that reversed what most people assumed about the relationship between God and humanity. Most would say that humans wai