According to Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, it was the one hundred and thirtieth year after the Israelites arrived in Egypt. Pharaoh, uneasy in his power, had a disturbing dream. He saw an old man, scales in hand, weighing the elders and nobles of Egypt against… a tender kid. Incredibly, the kid outweighed them all! Understandably, Pharaoh woke up shaken.
He summoned his wise men and servants, demanding an interpretation. Fear hung heavy in the air, but Balaam, son of Beor – a figure known for his complex relationship with the Israelites – stepped forward. He declared the dream a prophecy of doom: a son would be born to Israel, one who would destroy Egypt and lead his people to freedom. "Take counsel," Balaam urged, "and frustrate the hope of Israel before it's too late!"
Pharaoh, already feeling the weight of the dream, turned to Balaam and asked for solutions. But, as Ginzberg tells us, Pharaoh didn't stop there. He sought broader advice, specifically from two other counselors: Reuel the Midianite, and Job the Uzite. These were men known for their wisdom, but they held very different perspectives.
Reuel, also known as Jethro, the future father-in-law of Moses, spoke first. "Desist from the Hebrews!" he pleaded. "Do not stretch forth your hand against them, for the Lord chose them long ago!" He reminded Pharaoh of the mighty deeds God had performed for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He even invoked the memory of a previous Pharaoh who had honored Joseph, recognizing his wisdom and saving Egypt from famine. Reuel’s advice was clear: either leave the Israelites alone or let them return to Canaan, the land of their ancestors.
Can you imagine the courage it took to speak such words to a Pharaoh?
Pharaoh, unsurprisingly, was enraged. Reuel was dismissed in disgrace and fled to Midian.
Next, Pharaoh turned to Job. "What say you, Job? What is your advice?" Job, in contrast to Reuel, offered a chillingly simple response: "Behold, all the inhabitants of the land are in thy power. Let the king do as seemeth good in his eyes." Silence. Ambivalence. Acquiescence. A blank check for oppression.
Finally, Balaam spoke again, pushing Pharaoh toward a particularly cruel solution. According to Ginzberg, he argued that the Hebrews were invincible to fire (like Abraham), the sword (like Isaac), and even relentless labor (like Jacob). So, what was left? "Let him order all the male children that shall be born in Israel from this day forward to be thrown into the water." This, Balaam reasoned, was a trial neither they nor their fathers had faced. This was a way to erase their name.
This is where the story takes a truly dark turn.
The Zohar tells us of the profound consequences of offering bad advice to a ruler. Balaam's counsel, rooted in fear and hatred, led to the tragic decree of infanticide. Imagine the weight of that decision, the horror it inflicted on the Israelite families.
And Reuel? He faced disgrace but ultimately found his destiny in guiding Moses and embracing the God of Israel. Job's silence is a stark reminder of the dangers of moral neutrality in the face of injustice.
So, what can we take away from this ancient tale of three counselors? Perhaps it's a reminder of the power of our words, the importance of courageous truth-telling, and the devastating consequences of fear-driven decisions. It certainly gives you pause, doesn't it?