Literary Devices – Bemidbar 22/0
Literary Devices – Bemidbar 22
Structure
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.