What is "Bamos Ba'al"?
Rashi (citing Targum Onkelos: It is the name of an Avodah-Zarah.
Targum Yonasan: It refers to the idol Ba'al Pe'or. 1
What are the connotations of "Vayar mi'Sham K'tzei ha'Am"?
Ramban and Seforno: In order to set his eyes on the people that he wanted to curse 1 (and it was only possible to see part of the nation, since they spread out in all directions and it was impossible to see them all - Ramban). 2
Targum Yonasan: It refers to a point from where he could see the tribe of Dan, who were traveling at the edge of the camp who - having been expelled by the Ananei Kavod - were exposed. 3
Moshav Zekenim: It refers to Muktzim she'be'Am (Resha'im, who were cast out from the Cloud). 4
Da'as Zekenim: He saw the entire nation, up to the edge of the camp.
Seforno: As in Melachim 2, 2:24, and the same applies to blessings - as we find in ve'Zos ha'Berachah Devarim, 34:1. See also Bava Kama, 117a.
See Ramban on 23:13.
Refer to 7:66:151:1 & 2. See Peirush Yonasan.
See Oznayim la'Torah, who based on Rashi in Beha'aloscha, 11:1, explans that it refers to the Eirev Rav.
"Vayar mi'Sham K'tzei ha'Am". Why did Bil?am need to see the people before cursing them?
Ramban and R. Bachye: Because it is a natural phenomenon that, one needs to see the person that one is cursing (or blessing), for the curse (or the blessing) to take effect. 1
R. Bachye: Like we find in Bava Kama 117a - where R? Yochanan made a point of opening his eyes and seeing the person he was about toefore cursing him, and the person immediately died.
Bearing in mind that the cloud surrounded Yisrael, how could Bil'am see them?
