1)

Why did Bil'am say B'no Be'or instead of 'ben Be'or'?

1.

Rashi #1: It is synonymous with 'ben Be'or'. 1

2.

Rashi #2 (citing Tanchuma) and Targum Yonasan: He referred to Be'or as his son, because he was inferior to him in prophecy 2


1

Rashi: As we find in Tehilim, 114:8.

2

Rashi: In the same way as it referred to Tzipor to his son Balak. Refer to 23:18:2:1.

3

When in reality, a P'ras is half a Manah (Mizrachi)..

4

In simalar vein, Balak was a king, but his father Tzipor was not. Refer to 23:18:2:1.

2)

Why did Bilam refer to himself as 'Gever'?

1.

Ba'al ha'Turim: Because a. just as a rooster'


1

Ba'al ha'Turim: See B'rachos, 22b

2

Refer to 22:30:2:2.

3

Ba'al ha'Turim: See B'rachos, 7a.

4

Ba'al ha'Turim: Sanhedrin, 105a.

3)

What is the meaning of "Shesum ha'Ayin"?

1.

Rashi #1: It means that his eye had fallen out of its socket 1 which therefore gave the appearance of being open. 2

2.

Rashi #2 (citing Targum Onkelos): It means that his eye was open 3 (that he saw well 4 with one eye) - implying that he was blind in the other.

3.

Ramban: It is a cross between two words 'Shisui Mah' - 'He perceived (in prophecy) whatever he wanted to perceive. 5

4.

Targum Yonasan: It means that his eyes were open - things that were hidden from other prophets were revealed to him. 6


1

Rashi (citing Nidah, 31a): This was a punishment for his thoughts on the Pasuk "u'Mispar es Rova Yisrael" (Refer to 23:10:2:3) - 'How can Someone who is holy and His servants are holy look at such things?'

2

Rashi: See Avodah-Zarah, 69a.

3

Rashbam and Ramban: As in Avodah-Zarah, 69a.

4

Rashbam: 'Visions of Hashem'.

5

Ramban: As in Bo Sh'mos, 10:1 - "Lema'an Shisi es Ososai Eileh b'Kirbo".

6

Refer to 24:4:2:2.

4)

Why did Bil'am only praise himself during the current Nevu'ah and during the following one, but not during the first four Nevu'os (or B'rachos)?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah: Because there he prophesied with "Koh Amar Hashem", which meant that he was obligated to repeat what Hashem had said without adding anything of his own, 1 which was not the case here, and which therefore allowed him to add even what Hashem hsd not told him to say.


1

See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'u'Ne'um ha'Gever sh'sum ha'Ayin' #1.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

5)

Rashi writes that one eye had fallen out of its socket, or he was blind in one eye (Nidah 31a). But the Torah writes (in Pasuk 2 & 5) "va'Yisa Bil'am es Einav" and "u'Geluy Einayim"?

1.

R. Chaim Paltiel: Before he wanted to curse Yisrael, he saw with both eyes. 1 After he wanted to curse Yisrael, Hashem blinded one eye. 2


1

Pasuk 2 teaches that he saw with both eyes. He already wanted to curse Yisrael from when Balak's first men arrived

6)

Rashi writes that Bil'am and Balak were greater than their fathers, like Manah ben P'ras. What does this mean?

1.

Mizrachi: Refer to 24:3:1:2*.

2.

Riva: Maneh is a sixtieth of a P'ras; the son was sixty times greater.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:
Month: Day: Year:
Month: Day: Year:

KIH Logo
D.A.F. Home Page
Sponsorships & DonationsReaders' FeedbackMailing ListsTalmud ArchivesAsk the KollelDafyomi WeblinksDafyomi CalendarOther Yomi calendars