1)

Why did the ass see the angel, but not Bil'am?

1.

Rashi: Hashem gave the ass the ability to see it 1 but not Bil'am, who, because he possessed intelligence, would have gone out of his mind had he seen the destructive angel.


1

In order to save Bil'am's life as is evident from Pasuk 33.

2)

Why was the angel holding a sword?

1.

Rashi: 'Rasha!', he said to Bil'am, 'You are coming against Yisrael using their weapon - the mouth 1 , so I will threaten you using your weapon - the sword!' 2 In the end, he did indeed fall by the sword. 3

2.

Chizkuni: This was Midah ke'Neged Midah, because in Pasuk 29, Bil'am will say to his ass 'if I had a sword, I would kill you!'


1

In keeping with Yitzchak's B'rachah to Ya'akov, in Bereishis 27:22 - "ha'Kol Kol Ya'akov.". Sifsei Chachamim ? "Shelufah" spells "Shelo Peh" (Yisrael's [weapon] is the mouth).

2

Mizrachi (citing Bamidbar Rabah 20:13): If not for this reason, why did he need a sword? An angel can kill by blowing (Yeshayah 37:36, 40:24)!

3

See 31:8.

3)

Why does the Torah not mention what affect this all had on Bil'am's two servants and to the dignitaries of Mo'av?

1.

Seforno: Because when Bil'am's ass went into the field, he abandoned them. Consequently, they did not wotness the episode with Bil?am and the angel. 1


1

Presumably, Hashem arranged that they should not witness the episode with the ass, which would have turned Bil'am into a laughing-stock in their eyes. Refer to 22:30:1:1**. See also Ramban on Pasuk 33, who maintains that the dignitaries witnessed everything, as doe Rashi ? Refer to 22:29:1:2*.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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