Literary Devices – Bemidbar 22
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Parallels and Contrasts
Key Words
הלך Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the word “הלך” is the most frequently appearing word in this chapter, being used 17 times. It is related to the central theme of the chapter: Bilaam’s journey and his choice to go with the messengers of Balak despite Hashem's o (see verse 12).
ראה The verb “raah” appears seven times in this chapter, and is a key word of chapters 22-24. Sight is a major theme of the Bilaam story (also referred to with the word “ayin,” which appears four times in the chapter and six times in chapter 24, as well as with the verbs “shur” (23:9, 24:17), “hibit” (23:21), and “hazah” (24:16). This reflects the theme of prophecy/vision, which is granted only to those whom God chooses (even a donkey) and cannot be manipulated as Balak imagines.
Character Titles
