Parshat Balak

533 related texts · Page 2 of 60

King Balak hires Balaam to curse Israel, the talking donkey, and Balaam's blessings instead of curses. Numbers 22:2-25:9.

Balak: Balaam's Transgression

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 21:4

The Torah gives us some pretty strong clues, and it all boils down to how they chose to attack us. Think about the story of Balaam and Balak. Remember that? Balak, the King of Moab...

MosesMessiahRepentanceMiracles

Kingdom of Balaam and Balak

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:12

The story kicks off with Balak terrified of the Israelites and their growing power. Desperate, he sends messengers to Balaam, urging him to curse the Israelites (Numbers 22). Now, ...

Adam & EveHoly Land

Kingdom of Balaam of Balak

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:13

We find a classic example of that in the story of Balaam, the non-Jewish prophet hired to curse the Israelites. Balak, the King of Moab, was understandably nervous. A huge Israelit...

SoulHoly Land

Balak: Kingdom of Balaam

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:14

A powerful one. So powerful, in fact, that Balak, the King of Moab, got seriously worried when he saw the Israelites camped out nearby. He thought, "Uh oh, these guys are going to ...

Holy Land

Kingdom of Balaam and Curses

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:16

It turns out, this struggle isn't just a modern dilemma. Ancient Jewish texts grapple with this very tension: How much control do we really have over our choices, and how much does...

Exile

Kingdom of Balak of Balaam

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:32

The story of Balak and Balaam gives us a pretty potent example. So, Balak, king of Moab, is terrified of the Israelites. He's hired Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet with, shall we s...

Holy Land

Trial of Balaam and Balak

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:34

Let’s talk about Balaam and Balak, two figures from the Torah whose story is a masterclass in the art of near-misses and thwarted curses. The next morning, after their initial fail...

PrayerHoly Land

Trial of Balaam of Balak

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:54

Sometimes, the most dangerous weapons aren't swords or spears, but cunning and temptation. Let's talk about Balaam. Remember him? The prophet hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse...

RepentanceHoly Land

Kingdom of Balak and Balaam

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 6:6

He knew his army wasn't strong enough, his strategies weren't clever enough. He needed an edge, something… supernatural. So, he turned to Balaam. Now, Balaam was no ordinary sorcer...

JosephPrayerHoly LandExile