Balak (בָּלָק)
Numbers 22:2 – 25:9
Fifth Aliyah
23:13
‘If you would,’ replied Balak, ‘come with me to another place. There you will be able to see only a small section of [the Israelite camp], and you will not have to see them all. From there you may be able to curse them for me.’
‘If you would,’ replied Balak, ‘come with me to another place. There you will be able to see only a small section of [the Israelite camp], and you will not have to see them all. From there you may be able to curse them for me.’
Vayomer elav Balak lech-na iti el-makom acher asher tir’enu misham efes katsehu tir’eh vechulo lo tir’eh vekovno-li misham.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו בָּלָק, לְךָ-נָּא אִתִּי אֶל-מָקוֹם אַחֵר אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶנּוּ מִשָּׁם–אֶפֶס קָצֵהוּ תִרְאֶה, וְכֻלּוֹ לֹא תִרְאֶה; וְקָבְנוֹ-לִי, מִשָּׁם.
23:14
With that, he took [Balaam] to Lookout Field at the top of the cliff. There he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
With that, he took [Balaam] to Lookout Field at the top of the cliff. There he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Vayikachehu sdeh tsofim el-rosh hapisgah vayiven shiv’ah mizbechot vaya’al par va’ayil bamizbe’ach.
וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ שְׂדֵה צֹפִים, אֶל-רֹאשׁ הַפִּסְגָּה; וַיִּבֶן שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת, וַיַּעַל פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ.
23:15
‘Keep a vigil here with your burnt offering,’ said [Balaam] to Balak, ‘and I will go yonder and seek a vision.’
‘Keep a vigil here with your burnt offering,’ said [Balaam] to Balak, ‘and I will go yonder and seek a vision.’
Vayomer el-Balak hityatsev koh al-olatecha ve’anochi ikareh koh.
וַיֹּאמֶר, אֶל-בָּלָק, הִתְיַצֵּב כֹּה, עַל-עֹלָתֶךָ; וְאָנֹכִי, אִקָּרֶה כֹּה.
23:16
God appeared to Balaam, and placed a message in his mouth. He said, ‘Return to Balak, and declare exactly [what I have told you].’
God appeared to Balaam, and placed a message in his mouth. He said, ‘Return to Balak, and declare exactly [what I have told you].’
Vayikar Adonay el-Bil’am vayasem davar befiv vayomer shuv el-Balak vechoh tedaber.
וַיִּקָּר יְהוָה אֶל-בִּלְעָם, וַיָּשֶׂם דָּבָר בְּפִיו; וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוּב אֶל-בָּלָק, וְכֹה תְדַבֵּר.
23:17
When [Balaam] returned, [Balak] was standing vigil over his burnt offering, along with the Moabite dignitaries. ‘What has God declared?’ asked Balak.
When [Balaam] returned, [Balak] was standing vigil over his burnt offering, along with the Moabite dignitaries. ‘What has God declared?’ asked Balak.
Vayavo elav vehino nitsav al-olato vesarey Moav ito vayomer lo Balak mah-diber Adonay.
וַיָּבֹא אֵלָיו, וְהִנּוֹ נִצָּב עַל-עֹלָתוֹ, וְשָׂרֵי מוֹאָב, אִתּוֹ; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ בָּלָק, מַה-דִּבֶּר יְהוָה.
23:18
[Balaam] proclaimed his oracle and said, ‘Rise, Balak, and listen: pay close attention to my insight, son of Tzippor.
[Balaam] proclaimed his oracle and said, ‘Rise, Balak, and listen: pay close attention to my insight, son of Tzippor.
Vayisa meshalo vayomar kum Balak ushama ha’azinah aday beno Tsipor.
וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ, וַיֹּאמַר: קוּם בָּלָק וּשְׁמָע, הַאֲזִינָה עָדַי בְּנוֹ צִפֹּר.
23:19
God is not human that He should be false, nor mortal that He should change His mind. Shall He say something and not do it, or speak and not fulfill?
God is not human that He should be false, nor mortal that He should change His mind. Shall He say something and not do it, or speak and not fulfill?
Lo ish el vichazev uven-adam veyitnecham hahu amar velo ya’aseh vediber velo yekimenah.
לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב, וּבֶן-אָדָם וְיִתְנֶחָם; הַהוּא אָמַר וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה, וְדִבֶּר וְלֹא יְקִימֶנָּה.
23:20
It is a blessing that I have taken, and when there is such a blessing, I cannot reverse it.
It is a blessing that I have taken, and when there is such a blessing, I cannot reverse it.
Hineh varech lakachti uverech velo ashivenah.
הִנֵּה בָרֵךְ, לָקָחְתִּי; וּבֵרֵךְ, וְלֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנָּה.
23:21
‘[God ] does not look at wrongdoing in Jacob, and He sees no vice in Israel. God their Lord is with them, and they have the King’s friendship.
‘[God ] does not look at wrongdoing in Jacob, and He sees no vice in Israel. God their Lord is with them, and they have the King’s friendship.
Lo-hibit aven beYa’akov velo-ra’ah amal beYisra’el Adonay Elohav imo utru’at melech bo.
לֹא-הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב, וְלֹא-רָאָה עָמָל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל; יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ, וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ.
23:22
Since God brought them out of Egypt, they are like His highest expression of strength.
Since God brought them out of Egypt, they are like His highest expression of strength.
El motsi’am miMitsrayim keto’afot re’em lo.
אֵל, מוֹצִיאָם מִמִּצְרָיִם–כְּתוֹעֲפֹת רְאֵם, לוֹ.
23:23
‘No black magic can [be effective] against Jacob, and no occult powers against Israel. ‘How is God acting?’ is the only question pertinent to Jacob and Israel.
‘No black magic can [be effective] against Jacob, and no occult powers against Israel. ‘How is God acting?’ is the only question pertinent to Jacob and Israel.
Ki lo-nachash beYa’akov velo kesem beYisra’el ka’et ye’amer le-Ya’akov ule-Yisra’el mah-pa’al el.
כִּי לֹא-נַחַשׁ בְּיַעֲקֹב, וְלֹא-קֶסֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל; כָּעֵת, יֵאָמֵר לְיַעֲקֹב וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל, מַה-פָּעַל, אֵל.
23:24
This is a nation that rises like the king of beasts, and lifts itself like a lion. It does not lie down until it eats its prey and drinks the blood of its kill.’
This is a nation that rises like the king of beasts, and lifts itself like a lion. It does not lie down until it eats its prey and drinks the blood of its kill.’
Hen-am kelavi yakum vecha’ari yitnasa lo yishkav ad-yochal teref vedam-chalalim yishteh.
הֶן-עָם כְּלָבִיא יָקוּם, וְכַאֲרִי יִתְנַשָּׂא; לֹא יִשְׁכַּב עַד-יֹאכַל טֶרֶף, וְדַם-חֲלָלִים יִשְׁתֶּה.
23:25
Balak said to Balaam, ‘If you can’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!’
Balak said to Balaam, ‘If you can’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!’
Vayomer Balak el-Bil’am gam-kov lo tikavenu gam-barech lo tevarachenu.
וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל-בִּלְעָם, גַּם-קֹב לֹא תִקֳּבֶנּוּ; גַּם-בָּרֵךְ, לֹא תְבָרְכֶנּוּ.
23:26
Balaam interrupted and said to Balak, ‘My exact words to you were, ‘I will do precisely what God declares,’ weren’t they?’
Balaam interrupted and said to Balak, ‘My exact words to you were, ‘I will do precisely what God declares,’ weren’t they?’
Vaya’an Bil’am vayomer el-Balak halo dibarti eleycha lemor kol asher-yedaber Adonay oto e’eseh.
וַיַּעַן בִּלְעָם, וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-בָּלָק: הֲלֹא, דִּבַּרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-יְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֹתוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂה.