1)

What is the significance of the fact that Bil'am decided not to go to 'seek socery'?

1.

Ramban: Refer to 24:1:2:2.

2.

Rashbam: He decided not to seek permission to curse Yisrael, but to bless them with a full heart.

3.

Seforno: When he saw that it was good in the Eyes of Hashem to bless Yisrael, he decided that there was no point in continuing to seek permission to curse them, so he changed his tactics - to confer upon them limited B'rachos which incorporated hidden K'lalos. 1

4.

Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim #1: He did not put to the test whether Hashem will curse them, but assuming that He would not (Refer to 23:23:1:5), he intended to bless them, and Hashem agree. 2

5.

Da'as Zekenim and Hadar Zekenim #2: He actually intended to curse them, only thee Shechinah came upon him and forced him to bless them.

6.

Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: He simply changed tactics. He turned towards the desert - to bring-up the sin of the Golden Calf which Yisrael had made there. 3


1

Seforno: As the Gemara states in Ta'anis, 20a - 'The curses that Achiyah ha'Shiloni conferred upon Yisrael, are better than the blessings of Bil'am'.

2

Torah indicates in Psuk 2 - "va'T'hi Alav Ru'ach Elokim".

3

See Peirush Yonasan.

2)

If Bil'am finally realized that Hashem would not curse Yisrael, why did he turn his face towards the desert?

1.

Rashi: He thought that he would evoke Hashem's anger by mentioning Yisrael's sins, and the curse will take effect upon their mention. So he turned to the sin of the Golden Calf that Yisrael had made in the desert. 1

2.

Ramban: The first two times he went to prepare his divination with which to curse Yisrael, and Hashem came to him by chance to instruct him what to say in His Name. This time however, 2 he turned to the desert and prepared himself for a direct revelation from Hashem. 3

3.

Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: Refer to 24:1:1:6.


1

See Na'ar Yonasan .

2

Ramban: After having stated "Ki Lo Nachash b'Ya'akov ... ".

3

Ramban: As Hashem had done on the previous two occasions without his having prepared for it.

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