Balak 2021

1The Chumash is full of stories with animals as central players. No animal is more famous than Bilam’s talking donkey. “And Bilam woke up and saddled his she-donkey and he went along with the officers of Balak.” (Num 22:21) Donkeys have bit parts in several other stories in the Chumash. The first donkey in the Chumash is Abraham’s donkey. “And Abraham woke up early in the morning and he saddled his donkey and he took his two boys with him and Isaac his son, and he split the wood and rose up and went to the place that G-d had instructed.”(Gen 22:3). Another biblical donkey is associated with Moses. Upon leaving Midyan to go and redeem the Jewish nation from slavery Moshe,” took his wife and his sons and placed them upon the donkey. He returned to Egypt and he took the staff of G-d in his hand (Ex 4:20). These stories have other common features besides the same (more or less) animal. In these stories G-d instructs and then recants the instruction. In the Akeida story it is an Angel who delivers the reversal. In the Bilam story there are actually two reversals. The first reversal is communicated by G-d. First G-d says to Bilam “Do not go with them; do not curse the nation (Israel), for she is blessed.” (Num 22:12) the next night G-d again comes to Bilam but this time says,” If they came to call you arise and go with them but only that which I tell you shall you do” (Ibid: 20) Then comes a second reversal; “and G-d was angry because he was going and the angel of G-d was on the path to stop him, and he was on the she-donkey with his two boys (notice the similarity to Abraham and his two boys)”. (Ibid: 22) There the angel is sent to kill Bilam. “And G-d opened up the eyes of Bilam and he saw the angel of G-d standing on the path with a sword drawn in his hand and he bowed and prostrated himself to him.” (Ibid: 31) It was only the donkey that saved Bilam:”Had the donkey not turned away I would have killed you and let it live.” (Ibid: 33) This implies that the donkey was killed instead of Bilam. This is comparable to the ram of the Akeida whose sacrifice was in Isaac’s stead. In the Moshe story the reversal of G-d’s command came at the inn; “And it was on the way at the inn G-d met him and desired to kill him” (Ex 4:24) There it was Ziporah who saved Moshe by performing the circumcision. The foreskin was a replacement for Moshe’s life. In each story a replacement is used to save the life of the intended victim. Isaac, Moshe, and Bilam all were saved by finding the appropriate substitute. In choosing a talking Donkey as Bilam’s substitute the Torah has demonstrated its opinion of Bilam. Although he was a great prophet and Poet he lacked moral character. Bilam’s replacement was a talking donkey.

2What remains to explain is why G-d had a change of heart towards Bilam. Bilam was originally instructed not to go. Yet here he was going and by God’s own instructions. He figured that if G-d could change his mind about the going maybe there would be a change of heart about the cursing as well. The angel, representing G-d, dispossesses Bilam of this idea by reinforcing the original message: Israel is blessed!

3If you wish to have a more positive view of the donkey species (Equus africanus asinus), the following may be relevant: The first born donkey requires redemption just like the first born human. “All first born donkeys require redemption with a lamb and if you do not redeem it you shall decapitate it, and all your first born male children you shall redeem.” (Ibid 13:13) In requiring redemption for first born donkeys G-d has elevated the donkey above most other like species of animal. In his book “Running with Sherman“, Chris McDougall describes the donkey as exceptionally strong, intelligent, reliable, and unwavering in its faithfulness. It is not therefore surprising that the donkey is blessed with speech. Many would do well to copy the extraordinary qualities of this most unique creature.

4Dedicated to the memory of Joel Shulman A’H