This week’s parashat is the 7th parashat in the book of Bamidbar also called Numbers, and is called Balak which means ‘Who Lays Waste’.
Bullet Point Summary
– Balak King of Moav feared Yisra’el and sent for Bil’am to curse them
– Bil’am told his men to wait and he asked YHWH who told him not to go and not to curse them
– Balak sent again to Bil’am more honorable men but Bil’am said he cannot go beyond the word of YHWH
– Bil’am asked YHWH again and He said if the men call to you, go with them
– Bil’am went with the men though they didn’t call him and YHWH was angered
– The donkey saw the angel and sword in the way and turned and Bil’am smote him
– The angel stood in the vineyard and the donkey thrust Bil’am into the wall and he smote the donkey
– The angel stood in the narrow place and the donkey fell down and Bil’am smote him
– YHWH opened the mouth of the donkey and he asked why Bil’am smote him and YHWH showed Bilam the angel
– The angel said if it wasn’t for the donkey he would have smote him
– Bil’am asked if the angel wanted him to go back and he said no but speak the word I give you
– Balak aksed why Bil’am didn’t come and Bil’am said he cannot do anything but what YHWH tells him
– Balak took Bil’am to the high places and Bil’am had him build 7 altars and sacrifice on them
– Bil’am spoke to Elohim and then told Balak he cannot curse who Elohim does not curse and he blessed Yisra’el
– Balak asked why he didn’t curse them and Bil’am said he can only speak what YHWH tells him
– Balak took him to another high place to curse them and Bil’am had him build 7 altars and sacrifice in them
– Bilam spoke to YHWH and blessed Yisra’el again
– Balak told Bil’am not to curse or bless them but Bil’am said he can only speak what YHWH tells him
– Balak took him to another high place to curse Yisra’el and Bil’am had him build 7 altars and sacrifice on them
– The spirit of Elohim came upon Bil’am and he blessed Yisra’el again
– Balak was angry saying he was going to promote Bil’am to honor but YHWH has kept him from it
– Bil’am told Balak what will happen to his people in the latter days
– Yisra’el joined with the daughters of Moav and worshipped their elohim and YHWH was angered
– YHWH told Moshe to slay all those who worshipped Ba’al-Pe’or
– Pinchas slew the man who had the Midyanite woman and her and the plague was stopped
– Haftarah – YHWH shall cleanse and restore His people and they must turn to Him with their whole heart
Parashat Text with Readers and Daily Portions (Reader 1 Starts on Saturday Evening)
Balak “Balak”
Num 22:2 – 25:9 , Micah 5:6 – 6:8
Reader 1 (Saturday Evening Portion)
– Balak King of Moav feared Yisra’el and sent for Bil’am to curse them
Num 22:2 And Balak the son of Tzippor saw * all that Yisra’el had done to the Amori.
Num 22:3 And Moav was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moav was
distressed because of the children of Yisra’el.
Num 22:4 And Moav said unto the elders of Midyan, Now shall this company lick up * all that
are round about us, as the ox licks up * the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Tzippor was
king of Moav at that time.
Num 22:5 He sent messengers therefore unto Bil’am the son of Be’or to Petor, which is by the
river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come
out from Mitzrayim: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Num 22:6 Come now therefore, I pray you, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for
me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the
land: for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.
Num 22:7 And the elders of Moav and the elders of Midyan departed with the rewards of
divination in their hand; and they came unto Bil’am, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.
(Sunday Morning Portion)
– Bil’am told his men to wait and he asked YHWH who told him not to go and not to curse them
Num 22:8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as
YHWH shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moav abode with Bil’am.
Num 22:9 And Elohim came unto Bil’am, and said, What men are these with you?
Num 22:10 And Bil’am said unto Elohim, Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Moav, has sent unto
me, saying,
Num 22:11 Behold, there is a people come out of Mitzrayim, which coveres the face of the earth:
come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
Num 22:12 And Elohim said unto Bil’am, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the
people: for they are blessed.
Reader 2 (Sunday Evening Portion)
– Balak sent again to Bil’am more honorable men but Bil’am said he cannot go beyond the word of YHWH
Num 22:13 And Bil’am rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into
your land: for YHWH refuses to give me leave to go with you.
Num 22:14 And the princes of Moav rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Bil’am refuses
to come with us.
Num 22:15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
Num 22:16 And they came to Bil’am, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Tzippor, Let
nothing, I pray you, hinder you from coming unto me:
Num 22:17 For I will promote you unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever you say unto
me: come therefore, I pray you, curse me this people.
Num 22:18 And Bil’am answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me
his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of YHWH my Elohim, to do less or
more.
(Monday Morning Portion)
– Bil’am asked YHWH again and He said if the men call to you, go with them
Num 22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry you also here this night, that I may know what
YHWH will say unto me more.
Num 22:20 And Elohim came unto Bil’am at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call
you, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto you, that shall you do.
Reader 3 (Monday Evening Portion)
– Bil’am went with the men though they didn’t call him and YHWH was angered
Num 22:21 And Bil’am rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the
princes of Moav.
Num 22:22 And Elohim’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of YHWH stood in
the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants
were with him.
– The donkey saw the angel and sword in the way and turned and Bil’am smote him
Num 22:23 And the donkey saw the angel of YHWH standing in the way, and his sword drawn
in his hand: and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Bil’am
smote the donkey, to turn her into the way.
– The angel stood in the vineyard and the donkey thrust Bil’am into the wall and he smote the donkey
Num 22:24 But the angel of YHWH stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side,
and a wall on that side.
Num 22:25 And when the donkey saw the angel of YHWH, she thrust herself unto the wall, and
crushed Bil’am’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
– The angel stood in the narrow place and the donkey fell down and Bil’am smote him
Num 22:26 And the angel of YHWH went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no
way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
Num 22:27 And when the donkey saw the angel of YHWH, she fell down under Bil’am: and
Bil’am’s anger was kindled, and he smote the donkey with a staff.
(Tuesday Morning Portion)
– YHWH opened the mouth of the donkey and he asked why Bil’am smote him and YHWH showed Bilam the angel
Num 22:28 And YHWH opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said unto Bil’am, What have
I done unto you, that you have smitten me these three times?
Num 22:29 And Bil’am said unto the donkey, Because you have mocked me: I would there were
a sword in my hand, for now would I kill you.
Num 22:30 And the donkey said unto Bil’am, Am not I your donkey, upon which you have
ridden ever since I was yours unto this day? was I ever known to do so unto you? And he said,
No.
Num 22:31 Then YHWH opened the eyes of Bil’am, and he saw the angel of YHWH standing in
the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
– The angel said if it wasn’t for the donkey he would have smote him
Num 22:32 And the angel of YHWH said unto him, Why have you smitten your donkey these
three times? behold, I went out to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me:
Num 22:33 And the donkey saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had
turned from me, surely now also I had slain you, and saved her alive.
– Bil’am asked if the angel wanted him to go back and he said no but speak the word I give you
Num 22:34 And Bil’am said unto the angel of YHWH, I have sinned; for I knew not that you
stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again.
Num 22:35 And the angel of YHWH said unto Bil’am, Go with the men: but only the word that I
shall speak unto you, that you shall speak. So Bil’am went with the princes of Balak.
– Balak aksed why Bil’am didn’t come and Bil’am said he cannot do anything but what YHWH tells him
Num 22:36 And when Balak heard that Bil’am was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of
Moav, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
Num 22:37 And Balak said unto Bil’am, Did I not earnestly send unto you to call you? why came
you not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?
Num 22:38 And Bil’am said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto you: have I now any power at all to
say any thing? the word that Elohim puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Reader 4 (Tuesday Evening Portion)
– Balak took Bil’am to the high places and Bil’am had him build 7 altars and sacrifice on them
Num 22:39 And Bil’am went with Balak, and they came unto Kiryat-Chuzot.
Num 22:40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Bil’am, and to the princes that were
with him.
Num 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Bil’am, and brought him up into
the high places of Ba’al, that there he might see the utmost part of the people.
Num 23:1 And Bil’am said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven
oxen and seven rams.
Num 23:2 And Balak did as Bil’am had spoken; and Balak and Bil’am offered on every altar a
bullock and a ram.
Num 23:3 And Bil’am said unto Balak, Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure
YHWH will come to meet me: and whatsoever He shows me I will tell you. And he went to a
high place.
Num 23:4 And Elohim met Bil’am: and he said unto Him, I have prepared seven altars, and I
have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.
Num 23:5 And YHWH put a word in Bil’am’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus you
shall speak.
Num 23:6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the
princes of Moav.
– Bil’am spoke to Elohim and then told Balak he cannot curse who Elohim does not curse and he blessed Yisra’el
Num 23:7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moav has brought me from
Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Ya’akov, and come, defy
Yisra’el.
Num 23:8 How shall I curse, whom Elohim has not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom YHWH
has not defied?
Num 23:9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the
people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
Num 23:10 Who can count the dust of Ya’akov, and the number of the fourth part of Yisra’el?
Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
(Wednesday Morning Portion)
– Balak asked why he didn’t curse them and Bil’am said he can only speak what YHWH tells him
Num 23:11 And Balak said unto Bil’am, What have you done unto me? I took you to curse my
enemies, and, behold, you have blessed them altogether.
Num 23:12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which YHWH has put
in my mouth?
Reader 5 (Wednesday Evening Portion)
– Balak took him to another high place to curse them and Bil’am had him build 7 altars and sacrifice in them
Num 23:13 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray you, with me unto another place, from
where you may see them: you shall see but the utmost part of them, and shall not see them all:
and curse me them from there.
Num 23:14 And he brought him into the field of Tzofim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven
altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
Num 23:15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet yonder.
Num 23:16 And YHWH met Bil’am, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto
Balak, and say thus.
(Thursday Morning Portion)
– Bilam spoke to YHWH and blessed Yisra’el again
Num 23:17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of
Moav with him. And Balak said unto him, What has YHWH spoken?
Num 23:18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me,
you son of Tzippor:
Num 23:19 Elohim is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should
repent: has He said, and shall He not do it? or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?
Num 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and He has blessed; and I cannot
reverse it.
Num 23:21 He has not beheld lawlessness in Ya’akov, neither has He seen perverseness in
Yisra’el: YHWH his Elohim is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
Num 23:22 Elohim brought them out of Mitzrayim; he has as it were the strength of a wild bull.
Num 23:23 Surely there is no enchantment against Ya’akov, neither is there any divination
against Yisra’el: according to this time it shall be said of Ya’akov and of Yisra’el, What has
Elohim wrought!
Num 23:24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion:
he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.
– Balak told Bil’am not to curse or bless them but Bil’am said he can only speak what YHWH tells him
Num 23:25 And Balak said unto Bil’am, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
Num 23:26 But Bil’am answered and said unto Balak, Told not I you, saying, All that YHWH
speaks, that I must do?
Reader 6 (Thursday Evening Portion)
– Balak took him to another high place to curse Yisra’el and Bil’am had him build 7 altars and sacrifice on them
Num 23:27 And Balak said unto Bil’am, Come, I pray you, I will bring you unto another place;
peradventure it will please Elohim that you may curse me them from there.
Num 23:28 And Balak brought Bil’am unto the top of Pe’or, that looks toward Yeshimon.
Num 23:29 And Bil’am said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven
bullocks and seven rams.
Num 23:30 And Balak did as Bil’am had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
Num 24:1 And when Bil’am saw that it pleased YHWH to bless Yisra’el, he went not, as at other
times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
– The spirit of Elohim came upon Bil’am and he blessed Yisra’el again
Num 24:2 And Bil’am lifted up his eyes, and he saw Yisra’el abiding in his tents according to
their tribes; and the spirit of Elohim came upon him.
Num 24:3 And he took up his parable, and said, Bil’am the son of Be’or has said, and the man
whose eyes are open has said:
Num 24:4 He has said, which heard the words of Elohim, which saw the vision of the Almighty,
falling, but having his eyes open:
Num 24:5 How goodly are your tents, O Ya’akov, and your tabernacles, O Yisra’el!
Num 24:6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign
aloes which YHWH has planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
Num 24:7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and
his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
Num 24:8 Elohim brought him forth out of Mitzrayim; he has as it were the strength of a wild
bull: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them
through with his arrows.
Num 24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed
is he that blesses you, and cursed is he that curses you.
– Balak was angry saying he was going to promote Bil’am to honor but YHWH has kept him from it
Num 24:10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Bil’am, and he smote his hands together: and
Balak said unto Bil’am, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether
blessed them these three times.
Num 24:11 Therefore now flee you to your place: I thought to promote you unto great honor;
but, lo, YHWH has kept you back from honor.
Num 24:12 And Bil’am said unto Balak, Spoke I not also to your messengers which you sent
unto me, saying,
Num 24:13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the
commandment of YHWH, to do either good or bad of my own mind; but what YHWH saith,
that will I speak?
Reader 7 (6th Day Friday Morning Double Portion)
– Bil’am told Balak what will happen to his people in the latter days
Num 24:14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advise you what
this people shall do to your people in the latter days.
Num 24:15 And he took up his parable, and said, Bil’am the son of Be’or has said, and the man
whose eyes are open has said:
Num 24:16 He has said, which heard the words of Elohim, and knew the knowledge of El Elyon,
which saw the vision of Shaddai, falling, but having his eyes open:
Num 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near: there shall come a
Star out of Ya’akov, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Yisra’el, and shall smite the corners of Moav,
and destroy all the children of Shet.
Num 24:18 And Edom shall be a possession, Se’ir also shall be a possession for his enemies;
and Yisra’el shall do valiantly.
Num 24:19 Out of Ya’akov shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that
remains of the city.
Num 24:20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the
first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish forever.
Num 24:21 And he looked on the Keni, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is your
dwellingplace, and you put your nest in a rock.
Num 24:22 Nevertheless the Keni shall be wasted, until Ashur shall carry you away captive.
Num 24:23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when Elohim does this!
Num 24:24 And ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, and shall afflict Ashur, and shall
afflict Ever, and he also shall perish forever.
Num 24:25 And Bil’am rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his
way.
– Yisra’el joined with the daughters of Moav and worshipped their elohim and YHWH was angered
Num 25:1 And Yisra’el abode in Kittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the
daughters of Moav.
Num 25:2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their elohim: and the people did eat,
and bowed down to their elohim.
Num 25:3 And Yisra’el joined himself unto Ba’al-Pe’or: and the anger of YHWH was kindled
against Yisra’el.
– YHWH told Moshe to slay all those who worshipped Ba’al-Pe’or
Num 25:4 And YHWH said unto Moshe, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up
before YHWH against the sun, that the fierce anger of YHWH may be turned away from Yisra’el.
Num 25:5 And Moshe said unto the judges of Yisra’el, Slay you every one his men that were
joined unto Ba’al-Pe’or.
– Pinchas slew the man who had the Midyanite woman and her and the plague was stopped
Num 25:6 And, behold, one of the children of Yisra’el came and brought unto his brethren a
Midyani woman in the sight of Moshe, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of
Yisra’el, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 25:7 And when Pi’nechas, the son of El’azar, the son of Aharon the priest, saw it, he rose
up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
Num 25:8 And he went after the man of Yisra’el into the tent, and thrust both of them through,
the man of Yisra’el, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the
children of Yisra’el.
Num 25:9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Haftarah (Shabbat Evening Portion)
– YHWH shall cleanse and restore His people and they must turn to Him with their whole heart
Mic 5:6 And they shall waste the land of Ashur with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the
entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Ashur, when he comes into our land, and
when he treads within our borders.
Mic 5:7 And the remnant of Ya’akov shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from YHWH,
as the showers upon the grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men.
Mic 5:8 And the remnant of Ya’akov shall be among the nations in the midst of many people as
a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go
through, both treads down, and tears in pieces, and none can deliver.
Mic 5:9 Your hand shall be lifted up upon your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut
off.
Mic 5:10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith YHWH, that I will cut off your horses out of
the midst of you, and I will destroy your chariots:
Mic 5:11 And I will cut off the cities of your land, and throw down all your strong holds:
Mic 5:12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of your hand; and you shall have no more
soothsayers:
Mic 5:13 Your graven images also will I cut off, and your standing images out of the midst of
you; and you shall no more worship the work of your hands.
Mic 5:14 And I will pluck up your groves out of the midst of you: so will I destroy your cities.
Mic 5:15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have
not heard.
Mic 6:1 Hear you now what YHWH saith; Arise, contend you before the mountains, and let the
hills hear your voice.
Mic 6:2 Hear you, O mountains, YHWH’S controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth:
for YHWH has a controversy with His people, and He will plead with Yisra’el.
Mic 6:3 O my people, what have I done unto you? and wherein have I wearied you? testify
against me.
Mic 6:4 For I brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim, and redeemed you out of the house
of servants; and I sent before you Moshe, Aharon, and Miryam.
Mic 6:5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moav consulted, and what Bil’am the
son of Be’or answered him from Kittim unto Gilgal; that you may know the righteousness of
YHWH.
Mic 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before YHWH, and bow myself before the high Elohim? shall I
come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Mic 6:7 Will YHWH be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Mic 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does YHWH require of you, but to
do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim?
Review Torah Summaries (Shabbat Morning Portion)