Balak and Midyan
What nation was Balak the king over?
What did Bilaam initially tell the messengers?
I have to ask Hashem first before cursing the Jews; stay overnight and I will prepare myself for Hashem to come to me
Why did Bilaam's donkey keep stopping?
It saw a malach holding a sword in front of it
How many times did Bilaam try to curse the Jews, only for a beracha to come out?
3
How many korbanos did Bilaam and Balak bring in total?
42
Why was Moav scared of the Jews?
Because they would eat up all the food.
What did Hashem tell Bilaam the first time he asked to go curse the Jews?
Do not go with the messengers and do not curse the Jews
How many times did the donkey stop, and what did Bilaam do each time?
3; he hit the donkey
When was Bilaam planning on cursing the Jews?
At the time of day in the morning when Hashem is "angry" at the whole world and there is tremendous middas hadin. It is a fraction of a second
Why did Balak ask Bilaam specifically to come?
Bilaam was a very powerful magician and had tremendous powers of tumah. He even had nevuah. Bilaam's power was with speech, and that might be able to defeat the Jews' secret power
What makes the story of Bilam unusual compared to other stories in the Torah?
Because no Jews were in it.
What did Balak do the next time he sent messengers to try and convince Bilaam to come?
He offered Bilaam a lot more money, and he also sent messengers who were very important people
What did the donkey say to Bilaam?
I have been your donkey for many years; have I ever done this before? Why did you hit me three times?
Why didn't Bilaam's plan work to curse the Jews?
Hashem withheld His anger all of those days in which Bilaam tried to curse us
Did Bilaam end up getting any of the rewards which Balak had promised?
No
What important theological point does rabbi sacks draw from the fact that Israel never hears this story directly?
Hashem protects the Jews even if they’re unaware what’s around them
What did Hashem say the second time?
You can go if you want, but you will only be able to say what I want you to say
What did Bilaam do immediately when he saw the malach?
He bowed down to the malach
What was Bilaam going to say as a curse?
What did Bilaam say to Balak after the third attempt was foiled?
Even if you give me all of the gold and silver in the world, I cannot curse the Jews if Hashem doesn't want me to
Where did Balak send messengers to get someone who would be able to destroy the Jews
פתור or ארם נהרים
Where did Bilaam make a mistake in interpreting Hashem's words?
Hashem only gave him permission to go; Bilaam thought it was permission to curse as well
When was this special and unique ability for the donkey to talk created?
Erev shabbos bein hashmashos during the 7 days of creation
How many people knew the exact time Hashem gets angry, and what was his/their name(s)?
1 - Bilaam
He told Balak through ruach hakodesh and nevuah what would happen in the world until Mashiach comes