Our story today, drawn from Bamidbar Rabbah 20, a section of the classical Midrash, plunges us right into such a situation – a tale of Moabites, Midianites, a rising Israelite nation, and a king named Balak.

The setup? The Israelites, fresh off victories, are causing major anxiety for their neighbors. As Numbers 22:4 tells us, "Moab said to the elders of Midian: Now this assembly will lick clean all our surroundings, as the ox licks clean the grass of the field."

But wait a minute. Why are the elders of Midian even there, in Moab? That’s the first question the Midrash asks. It seems a bit odd, doesn't it? Aren't these two groups usually at odds?

Bamidbar Rabbah suggests they were witnessing something extraordinary: Israel's seemingly unnatural victories. The Moabites, spooked, figured the Midianites, who had previous dealings with Moses, might have some insight into what made the Israelite leader tick. "Their leader achieved prominence in Midian," they reasoned, "we will ascertain from them what are his attributes."

And what did the Midianite elders reveal? "His power is only in his mouth." In other words, they believed Moses's strength lay in his ability to speak, to command, to perhaps even… pray. This is crucial.

But here's where it gets really interesting. The Midrash throws us a curveball: "Moab said to the elders of Midian – but do you not find that the Midyanites waged war against the Moavites, as it is stated: 'Who smote Midyan in the field of Moav' (Genesis 36:35), and the enmity between them is permanent." So why the sudden collaboration?

The Midrash offers a vivid analogy: two dogs fighting. A wolf attacks one, and the other dog realizes, "If I don't help him, the wolf will finish him off today and come for me tomorrow." Self-preservation trumps old rivalries. That fear, that common threat, forced Moab and Midian into an uneasy alliance.

The "licking clean" imagery is fascinating. The Moabites fear Israel will consume everything around them, like an ox devouring grass. But the Midrash takes it a step further: "just as the ox, its might is in its mouth, so, too, these, their power is in their mouths." Remember what the Midianite elders said about Moses? The Israelites’ power, according to this interpretation, wasn't just military; it was spiritual. It was in their prayers, their pronouncements, their very words.

And the ox imagery continues. "Just as the ox, in everything that it licks clean there will be no sign of blessing; these too, in every nation that they touch, there will be no sign of blessing." A bleak prophecy, suggesting that Israel's influence might leave a lasting, perhaps negative, impact on other nations. Furthermore, "Just as an ox gores with its horns; these, too gore with their prayers, as it is stated: 'And his horns are the horns of the wild ox' (Deuteronomy 33:17)." Their prayers, their connection to the Divine, are a force to be reckoned with.

Finally, the Midrash touches on Balak himself. Numbers 22:4 identifies him as "Balak son of Tzipor," king of Moab. But was he always king? Joshua 13:21 mentions him as a prince of Midian. Bamidbar Rabbah addresses this apparent contradiction. Drawing on other Midrashic sources, like Bamidbar Rabbah 20:25, which mentions Balak as the father of Tzur's daughter, it suggests that Balak ascended to the throne after Sihon was killed. The circumstances, the power vacuum, propelled him to leadership.

So, what do we take away from this Midrash? It's a story about fear, alliances of convenience, and the perceived power of a rising nation. It's about how those on the outside often misinterpret the source of strength within a community. And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that even enemies can find common ground when faced with a shared threat. It leaves you wondering, doesn't it – what unlikely alliances are being forged right now, born out of fear and a desperate need for survival?