Chasidut sur Les Nombres 22:6
וְעַתָּה֩ לְכָה־נָּ֨א אָֽרָה־לִּ֜י אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה כִּֽי־עָצ֥וּם הוּא֙ מִמֶּ֔נִּי אוּלַ֤י אוּכַל֙ נַכֶּה־בּ֔וֹ וַאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּ מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־תְּבָרֵךְ֙ מְבֹרָ֔ךְ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּאֹ֖ר יוּאָֽר׃
Viens donc, je te prie, et maudis-moi ce peuple, car il est plus puissant que moi: peut-être parviendrai-je à le vaincre et le repousserai-je du pays. Car, je le sais, celui que tu bénis est béni, et celui que tu maudis est maudit."
Kedushat Levi
22,36. “Balak heard that Bileam had come; he went out to meet him all the way to the city of Moab which is situated at the border with the river Arnon at its farthest point.”
A look at Rashi explains why Balak chose to meet Bileam precisely at the location mentioned. The reason why this choice of location was specifically auspicious in Balak’s eyes will be understood in conjunction with Balak’s having praised Bileam when he reminded him that when Bileam blessed someone the party would prove to be blessed. (Numbers 22,6) Balak knew firsthand that Moab’s loss of a great part of its territory had been due to Bileam having cursed it prior to Sichon’s attack on that country. Balak wanted to remind Bileam that if it had not been for his cursing Moab, the border during his time would have been much further to the east. (Rashi, 22,6 based on Tanchuma) Balak wanted to show Bileam that he had faith in the latter’s ability to curse. This might encourage him to also curse Israel successfully. Bileam and Balak were of one mind concerning their viewing Israel as an imminent threat, but G’d confounded their plans tuning them into blessings instead.
A look at Rashi explains why Balak chose to meet Bileam precisely at the location mentioned. The reason why this choice of location was specifically auspicious in Balak’s eyes will be understood in conjunction with Balak’s having praised Bileam when he reminded him that when Bileam blessed someone the party would prove to be blessed. (Numbers 22,6) Balak knew firsthand that Moab’s loss of a great part of its territory had been due to Bileam having cursed it prior to Sichon’s attack on that country. Balak wanted to remind Bileam that if it had not been for his cursing Moab, the border during his time would have been much further to the east. (Rashi, 22,6 based on Tanchuma) Balak wanted to show Bileam that he had faith in the latter’s ability to curse. This might encourage him to also curse Israel successfully. Bileam and Balak were of one mind concerning their viewing Israel as an imminent threat, but G’d confounded their plans tuning them into blessings instead.
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