It’s a recurring theme in Jewish tradition, and one particularly striking example comes to us from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus.
The text opens with Yitro. Remember him? He was Moses’ father-in-law, a Midianite priest. “Yitro… heard,” the verse says (Exodus 18:1). Heard what? He heard about all the miracles God performed for the Israelites, and it sparked something within him. Shemot Rabbah points out just how much goodness and blessing flowed to Yitro simply because he became associated with Moses through marriage. Think about it: "Aaron and all the elders of Israel came" (Exodus 18:12) to acknowledge and honor him. That's quite an entrance!
Now, let's shift our focus to another character: Bilam. Bilam, in stark contrast to Yitro, was a prophet hired to curse Israel. Yet, something fascinating happened. Not only did he fail to curse them, he ended up blessing them! It seems that even a person steeped in negativity can be swayed by the presence of righteousness, or at least prevented from enacting evil.
But the story doesn't end there. Bilam's narrative takes another interesting turn when he sees Amalek, a nation known for their antagonism towards Israel. “He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said: Amalek was the first of the nations; but its end will be oblivion” (Numbers 24:20). A curse! But what's really interesting is what he says about Yitro, or rather, the Kenites, Yitro's people. “He saw the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said: Mighty is your dwelling; set your nest in a rock” (Numbers 24:21).
Why the sudden praise for Yitro? According to Shemot Rabbah, Bilam essentially says to Yitro: "Kenite, you participated with us in the counsel; who seated you with the mighty of the world?" It's a loaded question! The Midrash suggests that Pharaoh had convened advisors, including both Yitro and Bilam, to figure out how to deal with the Israelites (see Shemot Rabbah 1:9).
The text then offers a vivid analogy: a bird fleeing a hunter seeks refuge on a royal statue. The hunter, hesitant to damage the statue, now praises the bird's escape. In the same vein, Bilam, witnessing Yitro's elevated status, compliments him, saying, "Mighty is your dwelling."
What's the deeper message here? It seems to be about the power of association. Yitro, initially an outsider, becomes elevated through his connection to Moses and the Israelites. His wisdom and righteousness, even if nascent, protected him from harm. Even Bilam, steeped in negativity, recognizes and acknowledges Yitro's elevated position.
The story reminds us that the company we keep matters. It shapes us, influences us, and can even protect us. And perhaps, just perhaps, even the most hardened hearts can be softened by the presence of goodness. So, who are you surrounding yourself with? Are they lifting you higher, or dragging you down? It’s a question worth pondering, isn't it?