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The summary of the entire Torah is as simple as this:
Love what HaShem loves; hate what HaShem hates.
All else is commentary.
בּמִדְבּר • B'midbar
(“In the Wilderness”)
The Fourth Book of Moses,
Commonly Called
Numbers
פָּרָשָׁה בּלָק
Parsha 40: Balak • Continued
~ 24 ~
1 When Bil‘am saw that it pleased ADONAI to bless Isra'el, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 Bil‘am lifted up his eyes, and he saw Isra'el dwelling according to their clans; and the Spirit of God came on him. 3 He took up his parable, and said,
“Bil‘am ben B‘or says,
the man whose eyes are open says;
4 he says, who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, and having his eyes open:
5 How goodly are your tents, Jacob,
and your dwellings, Isra'el!
6 As valleys they are spread out,
as gardens by the riverside,
as aloes which ADONAI has planted,
as cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets.
His seed shall be in many waters.
His king shall be higher than Agag.
His kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt.
He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.
He shall consume the nations his adversaries,
shall break their bones in pieces,
and pierce them with his arrows.
9 He couched, he lay down as a lion,
as a lioness;
who shall rouse him up?
Everyone who blesses you is blessed.
Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
10 Balak’s anger burned against Bil‘am, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Bil‘am, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, Hinneh, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, Hinneh, ADONAI has kept you back from honor.”
12 Bil‘am said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond ADONAI’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what ADONAI says’? (LY: vii) 14 Now, Hinneh, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
15 He took up his parable, and said,
“Bil‘am ben B‘or says,
the man whose eyes are open says;
16 he says, who hears the words of God,
knows the knowledge of the Most High,
and who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, and having his eyes open:
I see him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob.
A scepter will rise out of Isra'el,
and shall strike through the corners of Mo’av,
and crush all the sons of Sheth.
18 Edom shall be a possession.
Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession,
while Isra'el does valiantly.
19 Out of Jacob shall one have dominion,
and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”
20 He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said,
“Amalek was the first of the nations,
But his latter end shall come to destruction.”
21 He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said,
“Your dwelling place is strong.
Your nest is set in the rock.
22 Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted,
until Asshur carries you away captive.”
23 He took up his parable, and said,
“Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim.
They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber.
He also shall come to destruction.”
25 Bil‘am rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
