Literary Devices – Bemidbar 22/0
Literary Devices – Bemidbar 22
Allusions
Egypt's Denigration of Israel
- Balak’s reaction to the Israelites contains a number of allusions to the Egyptians’ feelings about them.1 As both are distressed at the Israelite's great numbers, the words “רַב” and “עָצוּם” appear both in Bemidbar 22 and in Shemot 1, as does the root “קץ”. Similarly, the phrase “כִסָּה אֶת עֵין הָאָרֶץ” (Bemidbar 22:5) hearkens back to the plague of locusts (Shemot 10:5).
Avraham
The phrase "אֵת אֲשֶׁר תְּבָרֵךְ מְבֹרָךְ וַאֲשֶׁר תָּאֹר יוּאָר" (“he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed”) of verse 6 echoes Hashem’s words to Avraham in Bereshit 12:3, "וַאֲבָרְכָה מְבָרְכֶיךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ אָאֹר". To explore the parallels between the Bilam and Avraham narratives with links to several articles discussing these, see Biblical Parallels.
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 and attempt to curse the people against Hashem's instructions (see verse 12).
Sight (ראה, שור, חזה, נבט)
The verb "ראה” (see) appears seven times in this chapter, and is likewise a key word of chapters 23-24. Other words relating to sight appear multiple times as well. Thus, “עין” (eye) appears four times in the chapter and six times in chapter 24, and the roots “שור” , “נבט” , and “חזה” (all meaning to look, view or gaze) each appear one or two times in the unit. These words highlight 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
Balak
Balak is referred to in several ways throughout the chapter:
- בָּלָק – Throughout most of the chapter he is referred to simply by the name Balak, without any titles.
- בָּלָק בֶּן צִפּוֹר – In verses 2,4 and 16, Balak is given a fuller name, Balak the son of Tzippor. In the first two of these, he is being introduced to the reader, so the longer title is appropriate. In verse 16, Balak's officers are speaking, and thus also use a fuller, more formal title.
- בָּלָק בֶּן צִפֹּר מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב – When Bilam speaks to Hashem, he refers to Balak not only with his father's name but also as the "king of Moav". Rashi suggests that Bilam included the title because he was bragging to Hashem that a king thought highly enough of him to solicit his help.
Parallels
Balak's Request
- Balak's request to Bilam to curse the Children of Israel is mentioned at the beginning of the chapter and then again by Bilam when speaking to Hashem, with slight variations. Whereas the initial account has Balak request of Bilam "אָרָה לִּי אֶת הָעָם... וַאֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִן הָאָרֶץ", Bilam says " קָבָה לִּי אֹתו... וְגֵרַשְׁתִּיו". Rashi claims that Bilam's word choice displays a greater hatred of the nation than Balak's for "קבה" is a more intense term than "ארה" and "וְגֵרַשְׁתִּיו" implies a total eradication, an not simply chasing one from the land.
