Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 22 (Parashat Chukat)

Bamidbar 22:1

וַיִּסְעוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעַרְבוֹת מוֹאָב מֵעֵבֶר לְיַרְדֵּן יְרֵחוֹ

. .

Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the wilderness of Moab, which is by the Jordan of Jericho.

Bamidbar 22:2

וַיַּרְא בָּלָק בֶּן-צִפּוֹר אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאֱמֹרִי

.

And when Balak son of Zippor saw all that the people of Israel had done to the Amorites,

Bamidbar 22:3

וַיָּגָר מוֹאָב מִפְּנֵי הָעָם מְאֹד--כִּי רַב-הוּא וַיָּקָץ מוֹאָב מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. . .

the Moabites were greatly wary of the people, since they are numerous; and they were filled with dread because of them.

Bamidbar 22:4

וַיֹּאמֶר מוֹאָב אֶל-זִקְנֵי מִדְיָן עַתָּה יְלַחֲכוּ הַקָּהָל אֶת-כָּל-סְבִיבֹתֵינוּ כִּלְחֹךְ הַשּׁוֹר אֵת יֶרֶק הַשָּׂדֶה וּבָלָק בֶּן-צִפּוֹר מֶלֶךְ לְמוֹאָב בָּעֵת הַהִוא

. . . .

And they said to the elders of Midian: 'Now this horde will lick up all the people around us, as the ox licks up the green of the wilderness.' And Balak son of Zippor was their king at that time.

Bamidbar 22:5

וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל-בִּלְעָם בֶּן-בְּעֹר פְּתוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר עַל-הַנָּהָר אֶרֶץ בְּנֵי-עַמּוֹ--לִקְרֹא-לוֹ לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה עַם יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם הִנֵּה כִסָּה אֶת-עֵין הָאָרֶץ וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב מִמֻּלִי

. . . . .

And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor which is on the Euphrates, the land of his people, to invite him; and said to him: 'Behold, a people has come out of Egypt — it has already covered the face of the land, and it sits encamped opposite me.

Bamidbar 22:6

וְעַתָּה לְכָה-נָּא אָרָה-לִּי אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה כִּי-עָצוּם הוּא מִמֶּנִּי--אוּלַי אוּכַל נַכֶּה-בּוֹ וַאֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִן-הָאָרֶץ כִּי יָדַעְתִּי אֵת אֲשֶׁר-תְּבָרֵךְ מְבֹרָךְ וַאֲשֶׁר תָּאֹר יוּאָר

. . . . . .

And now, come and curse it for me, since they are stronger than I; perhaps I shall be able to fight against it and drive it out of the land — for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.'

Bamidbar 22:7

וַיֵּלְכוּ זִקְנֵי מוֹאָב וְזִקְנֵי מִדְיָן וּקְסָמִים בְּיָדָם וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל-בִּלְעָם וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֵלָיו דִּבְרֵי בָלָק

. . .

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, with divination-fees with them, until they reached Balaam, and told him the words of Balak.

Bamidbar 22:8

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם לִינוּ פֹה הַלַּיְלָה וַהֲשִׁבֹתִי אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֵלָי וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׂרֵי-מוֹאָב עִם-בִּלְעָם

. . . .

And he said to them: 'Lodge here tonight, and I shall bring you back an answer, as God shall say to me.' And the officers of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Bamidbar 22:9

וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל-בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר מִי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה עִמָּךְ

. .

And the decree of God came to Balaam, and said, opening the speech: 'Who are these people that are with you?'

Bamidbar 22:10

וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים בָּלָק בֶּן-צִפֹּר מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב שָׁלַח אֵלָי

. .

He said: 'Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me,

Bamidbar 22:11

הִנֵּה הָעָם הַיֹּצֵא מִמִּצְרַיִם וַיְכַס אֶת-עֵין הָאָרֶץ עַתָּה לְכָה קָבָה-לִּי אֹתוֹ--אוּלַי אוּכַל לְהִלָּחֶם בּוֹ וְגֵרַשְׁתִּיו

. . .

saying: Behold, the people that came out of Egypt has already covered the face of the land. Now come, curse it for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against it and drive it out.'

Bamidbar 22:12

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל-בִּלְעָם לֹא תֵלֵךְ עִמָּהֶם לֹא תָאֹר אֶת-הָעָם כִּי בָרוּךְ הוּא

. .

He said to him: 'Do not go with them, and do not curse the people — for it is blessed.'

Bamidbar 22:13

וַיָּקָם בִּלְעָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-שָׂרֵי בָלָק לְכוּ אֶל-אַרְצְכֶם כִּי מֵאֵן יְהוָה לְתִתִּי לַהֲלֹךְ עִמָּכֶם

. . . .

And he rose in the morning, and said to the officers of Balak: 'Go back to your land, for God has forbidden me to go with you.'

Bamidbar 22:14

וַיָּקוּמוּ שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל-בָּלָק וַיֹּאמְרוּ מֵאֵן בִּלְעָם הֲלֹךְ עִמָּנוּ

. . .

And the officers of Moab arose, and came to Balak, and said: 'Balaam has refused to come with us.'

Bamidbar 22:15

וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד בָּלָק שְׁלֹחַ שָׂרִים רַבִּים וְנִכְבָּדִים מֵאֵלֶּה

. .

And Balak again sent officers — greater and more honored than those.

Bamidbar 22:16

וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל-בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ כֹּה אָמַר בָּלָק בֶּן-צִפּוֹר אַל-נָא תִמָּנַע מֵהֲלֹךְ אֵלָי

. . .

And they came to Balaam, and said to him: 'Thus says Balak son of Zippor: Do not hold yourself back from journeying to me.

Bamidbar 22:17

כִּי-כַבֵּד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ מְאֹד וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-תֹּאמַר אֵלַי אֶעֱשֶׂה וּלְכָה-נָּא קָבָה-לִּי אֵת הָעָם הַזֶּה

. .

For I will honor you greatly, and whatever you say to me I will do — come, curse this people for me.'

Bamidbar 22:18

וַיַּעַן בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-עַבְדֵי בָלָק אִם-יִתֶּן-לִי בָלָק מְלֹא בֵיתוֹ כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב--לֹא אוּכַל לַעֲבֹר אֶת-פִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי לַעֲשׂוֹת קְטַנָּה אוֹ גְדוֹלָה

. . . .

And Balaam answered the commanders of Balak, and said to them: 'Even if Balak were to give me his houseful of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the command of God my Lord, to do a small thing or a great thing.

Bamidbar 22:19

וְעַתָּה שְׁבוּ נָא בָזֶה גַּם-אַתֶּם--הַלָּיְלָה וְאֵדְעָה מַה-יֹּסֵף יְהוָה דַּבֵּר עִמִּי

. .

And now, stay here also tonight, that I may see what God will again address to me.'

Bamidbar 22:20

וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל-בִּלְעָם לַיְלָה וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אִם-לִקְרֹא לְךָ בָּאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים קוּם לֵךְ אִתָּם וְאַךְ אֶת-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ--אֹתוֹ תַעֲשֶׂה

. . . . .

And the decree of God came to Balaam at night, and said: 'If these people have come to invite you, arise, go with them — but only the word that I shall tell you, that alone do.'

Bamidbar 22:21

וַיָּקָם בִּלְעָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ אֶת-אֲתֹנוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ עִם-שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב

. .

And he rose in the morning, and saddled his she-donkey, and went with the officers of Moab.

Bamidbar 22:22

וַיִּחַר-אַף אֱלֹהִים כִּי-הוֹלֵךְ הוּא וַיִּתְיַצֵּב מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה בַּדֶּרֶךְ לְשָׂטָן לוֹ וְהוּא רֹכֵב עַל-אֲתֹנוֹ וּשְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו עִמּוֹ

. . .

Then God's anger intensified at his going in greed; and the angel of God stood in the road to turn him away from that — while he was riding on his she-donkey and his two youths were with him.

Bamidbar 22:23

וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה נִצָּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ וַתֵּט הָאָתוֹן מִן-הַדֶּרֶךְ וַתֵּלֶךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיַּךְ בִּלְעָם אֶת-הָאָתוֹן לְהַטֹּתָהּ הַדָּרֶךְ

. . . . .

And when the she-donkey saw the angel of God standing in the road, with his sword drawn in his hand, she turned aside from the road and went through the fields; so Balaam struck her, to turn her back to the road.

Bamidbar 22:24

וַיַּעֲמֹד מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה בְּמִשְׁעוֹל הַכְּרָמִים--גָּדֵר מִזֶּה וְגָדֵר מִזֶּה

. .

Then the angel of God stood in the narrow lane of the vineyards, with a wall on the right and on the left.

Bamidbar 22:25

וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה וַתִּלָּחֵץ אֶל-הַקִּיר וַתִּלְחַץ אֶת-רֶגֶל בִּלְעָם אֶל-הַקִּיר וַיֹּסֶף לְהַכֹּתָהּ

. .

And when she saw him, she pressed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; so he added to his striking of her.

Bamidbar 22:26

וַיּוֹסֶף מַלְאַךְ-יְהוָה עֲבוֹר וַיַּעֲמֹד בְּמָקוֹם צָר אֲשֶׁר אֵין-דֶּרֶךְ לִנְטוֹת יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול

. .

And the angel of God passed on again, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn aside from it right or left.

Bamidbar 22:27

וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה וַתִּרְבַּץ תַּחַת בִּלְעָם וַיִּחַר-אַף בִּלְעָם וַיַּךְ אֶת-הָאָתוֹן בַּמַּקֵּל

. . .

And when she saw him, she lay down beneath Balaam; and Balaam's anger intensified, and he struck her with the staff.

Bamidbar 22:28

וַיִּפְתַּח יְהוָה אֶת-פִּי הָאָתוֹן וַתֹּאמֶר לְבִלְעָם מֶה-עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ כִּי הִכִּיתַנִי זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים

. . .

And God opened her mouth, and she said to Balaam: 'What have I done to you, that you have struck me — this third time?'

Bamidbar 22:29

וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לָאָתוֹן כִּי הִתְעַלַּלְתְּ בִּי לוּ יֶשׁ-חֶרֶב בְּיָדִי כִּי עַתָּה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ

. .

He said: 'Because you have defied me — had I a sword in my hand, I would kill you now.'

Bamidbar 22:30

וַתֹּאמֶר הָאָתוֹן אֶל-בִּלְעָם הֲלוֹא אָנֹכִי אֲתֹנְךָ אֲשֶׁר-רָכַבְתָּ עָלַי מֵעוֹדְךָ עַד-הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה--הַהַסְכֵּן הִסְכַּנְתִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת לְךָ כֹּה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא

. . . .

She said: 'Am I not your she-donkey on which you have ridden since I came to be until this day? Have I been accustomed to doing such a thing to you?' He said: 'No.'

Bamidbar 22:31

וַיְגַל יְהוָה אֶת-עֵינֵי בִלְעָם וַיַּרְא אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה נִצָּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלֻפָה בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּקֹּד וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לְאַפָּיו

. . .

Then God uncovered Balaam's sight, and he saw the angel of God standing in the road, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he fell down before him prostrating.

Bamidbar 22:32

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה עַל-מָה הִכִּיתָ אֶת-אֲתֹנְךָ זֶה שָׁלוֹשׁ רְגָלִים הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי יָצָאתִי לְשָׂטָן כִּי-יָרַט הַדֶּרֶךְ לְנֶגְדִּי

. . . .

And the angel of God said to him: 'Why have you struck your she-donkey this third time? I have come out to turn you aside — for the road before me has become an entanglement.'

Bamidbar 22:33

וַתִּרְאַנִי הָאָתוֹן וַתֵּט לְפָנַי זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים אוּלַי נָטְתָה מִפָּנַי כִּי עַתָּה גַּם-אֹתְכָה הָרַגְתִּי וְאוֹתָהּ הֶחֱיֵיתִי

. . .

Until she saw me and turned aside from me — this third time. Had she not turned aside from me, I would have killed you now and let her live.'

Bamidbar 22:34

וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה חָטָאתִי--כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי כִּי אַתָּה נִצָּב לִקְרָאתִי בַּדָּרֶךְ וְעַתָּה אִם-רַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ אָשׁוּבָה לִּי

. .

He said to him: 'I have erred, for I did not know that you were standing to meet me in the road. And now, if my going is displeasing to you, I shall turn back.'

Bamidbar 22:35

וַיֹּאמֶר מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה אֶל-בִּלְעָם לֵךְ עִם-הָאֲנָשִׁים וְאֶפֶס אֶת-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ אֹתוֹ תְדַבֵּר וַיֵּלֶךְ בִּלְעָם עִם-שָׂרֵי בָלָק

. . . .

He said to him: 'Go with the people — but only the word that I shall tell you, speak that alone.' And he went with them.

Bamidbar 22:36

וַיִּשְׁמַע בָּלָק כִּי בָא בִלְעָם וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרָאתוֹ אֶל-עִיר מוֹאָב אֲשֶׁר עַל-גְּבוּל אַרְנֹן אֲשֶׁר בִּקְצֵה הַגְּבוּל

. . .

And when Balak heard of the coming of Balaam, he went out to meet him at the town of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is at its edge.

Bamidbar 22:37

וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל-בִּלְעָם הֲלֹא שָׁלֹחַ שָׁלַחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לִקְרֹא-לָךְ--לָמָּה לֹא-הָלַכְתָּ אֵלָי הַאֻמְנָם לֹא אוּכַל כַּבְּדֶךָ

. . . .

Balak said to Balaam: 'Did I not send to you once before this to invite you? Why did you not come to me? Do you suppose I am unable to honor you?'

Bamidbar 22:38

וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-בָּלָק הִנֵּה-בָאתִי אֵלֶיךָ--עַתָּה הֲיָכֹל אוּכַל דַּבֵּר מְאוּמָה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים אֱלֹהִים בְּפִי--אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּר

. .

He said: 'And now I have indeed come to you — but do you suppose I am able to say anything, except only what God will prompt me with?'

Bamidbar 22:39

וַיֵּלֶךְ בִּלְעָם עִם-בָּלָק וַיָּבֹאוּ קִרְיַת חֻצוֹת

.

And the two of them went together, until they came to the town of Hutzoth.

Bamidbar 22:40

וַיִּזְבַּח בָּלָק בָּקָר וָצֹאן וַיְשַׁלַּח לְבִלְעָם וְלַשָּׂרִים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ

. .

And Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep, and sent of that to Balaam and to the officers who were with him.

Bamidbar 22:41

וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר--וַיִּקַּח בָּלָק אֶת-בִּלְעָם וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ בָּמוֹת בָּעַל וַיַּרְא מִשָּׁם קְצֵה הָעָם

. . .

And it was in the morning: Balak took Balaam and brought him up to some of the high-places of his deity, and from there he saw a portion of the people.