Why the Elders of Midian Abandoned Balaam After One Night

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Balak 7:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Numbers 22:7:) "So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, with the tools of divination in their hand." For they carried in their hands all kinds of divining instruments through which they divine, so as not to give him a pretext <for refusing to come>. And the divining instruments were in the hand of the elders of Midian, for they said: If he comes with us, he will succeed; but if he delays <even> for an hour, there is no use in him. As soon as they saw that he said (in verse 8), "Lodge here tonight," the elders of Midian went away, for they knew through their divinations that there was no use in them.

Themes

HumorWitMusicAdam EveMagic

Biblical References

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