קבלה על במדבר 22:42

Rabbi Abba said, Everyone was aware that Laban was the best at sorcery and wizardry, and he could use sorcery to do away with anyone he wished. All that Bilaam knew came from Laban. Regarding Bilaam, it is written, "for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed" (Num. 22:6). Because everyone feared Laban and his sorcery, the first words that Jacob sent Esau were, "I have sojourned with Laban." In case Esau thought it was for a short period, perhaps a month or a year, Jacob advised, "and stayed there until now" twenty years did I stay with him.

Come and behold, it is written of Bilaam, "And Elohim came to Bilaam at night" (Bemidbar 22:20). Of Laban, the verse says, "And Elohim came to Laban the Aramian in a dream by night, and said to him, Take heed that you speak not to Jacob..." (Beresheet 31:24). This shows us that Laban was as great as Bilaam. He asks, Why is it written, "that you speak not," rather than 'that you harm not?' He answers, Laban did not chase Jacob with an army of men to wage war against him, for the power of Jacob and his sons is greater than that of Laban. But he chased him to kill him with his mouth and destroy everything, as it is written, "An Aramian wanted to destroy my father." This is why it says, "that you speak not," and not, 'that you harm not'. It is also written, "It is in the power of my hand to do." How did he know he had the power? From that which "Elohim of your father spoke to me last night"

Rabbi Yosi said, Enchantment and divination are two kinds with the same level of strength. When Bilaam came to hurt Yisrael, he used divination, as it is written, "with divinations in their hand" (Num. 22:7). Laban used enchantment against Jacob, but neither succeeded. This is the meaning of the verse, "Surely there is no enchantment in Jacob, nor divination in Yisrael." The words, "there is no enchantment in Jacob," refer to the days of Laban, and "divination in Yisrael" refers to the latter days of Bilaam.