1)

What is the significance of the name 'Kozbi', whose real name was Sh'lona'ei bas Balak (or bas Tzur)?

1.

Sanhedrin, 82b #1: She was called 'Kozbi' because she deseived her father who instructed her to do Z'nus with Moshe and not Pinchas. 1

2.

Sanhedrin, 82b #2: 'Kozbi' is the acronym of what she asked of her father 'Kos bi Am Zeh!' - 'Slaughter via me this nation!'. 2


1

See also Torah Temimah, note 34.

2

See Torah Temimah, note 35.

2)

What is the significance of the fact that Kozbi was the daughter of a king?

1.

Rashi: The fact that Midyan sent a princess to make Yisrael stumble in Z'nus demonstrates the deep hatred 1 that they bore Yisrael. 2

2.

Yerushalmi Sanhedrin, 10:2: When Bil'am presented his plan to Balak to send the Moabite women to seduce the men of Yisrael, he queried it because the women would never agree to such a plan, until he suggested that he should send his own daughter, nd the other women would follow suite. 3


1

See Torah Temimah, note 30.

2

Presumably, the hatred was due to jealously of Yisrael, who received the Torah (Pesikta Zutresa Yisro 18 says so about all the nations) (PF).

3

See Torah Temimah, note 36.

3)

Who was Tzur?

1.

Rashi: He was the most esteemed 1 of the five kings of Midyan who ruled over one of the five Midyanite families. 2

2.

Targum Yonasan: He was alias Balak, king of Mo'av.


1

Rashi: As implied by the term ? "Rosh Umos."

2

Rashi: See Bereishis 25:4.

4)

If Tzur was the most esteemed of the five kings of Midyan. Why does the Torah - in 31:8 - list him only third?

1.

Rashi: Because he denigrated himself by sending his daughter for Z'nus, the Torah relegated him to third place. 1


1

See Sifsei Chachamim.

5)

If Tzur was the king of Mo?av, why does the Torah conclude ?be?Midyan Hu??

1.

Targum Yonasan: Because his residence was in Midyan. 1


1

See Peirush Yonasan and refer also to 22:4:2:2.

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