What are the implications of the word "Nofeil u?Geluy Einayim"?
Rashi #1 (citing Targum Onkelos): It implies that Hashem appeared to Bil'am ("u'Gelui Einayim") at night-time when he was lying in bed.
Rashi (citing the Midrash Agadah) and Targum Yonasan in Pasuk 3): It implies that whenever Hashem appeared to Bil'am, he was unable to remain standing 1 and he would fall on his face. 2
Rashbam: ?Noflim? ? whilst he was lying down at night; (?u?Geluy Einayim? ? during the day [such as occurred now]).
Sanhedrin, 105a: It teaches us via a Gezeirah Shavah "Nofeil" "Nofeil" from Haman - "ve'Haman Nofeil al ha'Mitah" (Esther, 7:8) that Bil'am performed sorcery via his penis. 3
Rashi: Because he was uncircumcised and it was disgusting for him to stand upright before Hashem when He revealed Himself to him. See also Ba'al ha'Turim.
Targum Yonasan (Ibid.): Because he was uncircumcised he fell on his face until the angel (conveying the prophecy) had finished. (It is not clear however, why Targum Yonasan mentions this in the previous Pasuk and not here)?
See Torah Temimah, note 3.
What is the meaning of "u'Geluy Einayim"?
Targum Onkelos: Refer to 24:4:1:1.
Targum Yonasan: Deep secrets that were hidden from other prophets were revealed to him. 1
Hadar Zekenim (on Pasuk 1): Also when he falls and lies down, both during the day and at night, he sees [prophetic] visions. Moshav Zekenim ? when he falls, then he is Geluy Einayim, for Shechinah dwells on him, and is revealed to him what was hidden beforehand.
