Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Midrash for Numbers 22:36

וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע בָּלָ֖ק כִּ֣י בָ֣א בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֵּצֵ֨א לִקְרָאת֜וֹ אֶל־עִ֣יר מוֹאָ֗ב אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־גְּב֣וּל אַרְנֹ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֥ה הַגְּבֽוּל׃

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto Ir-moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

Bamidbar Rabbah

16 (Numb. 22:36) “When Balak heard that Balaam had come.” [These words] teach that he sent messengers unto [Balak] to send him tidings. (Ibid., cont.) “He went out to meet him unto the city of Moab,” [i.e.,] unto their metropolis.23Gk. and Lat.: metropolis. What was [Balak's] reason for preceding him to the borders? He said to him, “These are borders which have been fixed from the days of Noah, so that a nation would not enter the territory of its neighbor. These [people] are coming to uproot them.” Then he showed him how they had broken through and crossed the border of Sihon and Og, as though lodging a complaint against them. (Numb. 22:37) “Then Balak said unto Balaam, ‘Did I not truly send unto you to summon you; [why did you not come unto me;] am I really unable to honor you’”: He prophesied that his end would be to go in disgrace. Then did Balaam also answer him like the [truth of the] matter (in Numb. 22:38), “So Balaam said unto Balak, ‘See, I have come unto you now, but am I really able to say anything at all?’” For I do not have authority to say what I want.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Previous VerseFull ChapterNext Verse