מַשְׁגֶּ֤ה יְשָׁרִ֨ים ׀ בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ רָ֗ע בִּשְׁחוּת֥וֹ הֽוּא־יִפּ֑וֹל וּ֝תְמִימִ֗ים יִנְחֲלוּ־טֽוֹב׃
정직한 자를 악한 길로 유인하는 자는 스스로 자기 함정에 빠져도 성실한 자는 복을 얻느니라
Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 22:7:) “So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went with [the tools for] divination in their hand,” for they brought in their hands all kinds of divining instruments through which one divines, so as not to give him an excuse [for not coming].18Numb. R. 20:8. So the divining instruments were in the hands of the elders of Midian, for they said, “If he comes with us, he will succeed; but if he delays [even] for an hour, he will be of no use.” As soon as they saw that he said (in vs. 8), “Lodge here tonight,” the elders of Midian went away, because they knew through their divinations that he would be of no use. (Numb. 22:9:) “Then God came unto Balaam and said, ‘Who are these people with you?’” This text is related (to Prov. 28:10), “One who leads the upright astray on an evil course will fall into his own pit.” Thus at first mortals [behaved] with propriety, but because of his (Balaam's) words, they became [unbridled] in sexual matters.19Numb. R. 20:9; also Sanh. 106a. Thus, of former [generations] it is stated (in Gen. 29:9), “Rachel came with the sheep.” And so (in Exod. 2:16), “Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters.” Women would go out with the sheep.20I.e., although these seven daughters and Rachel were shepherdesses, they had no fear of being alone among males. [But] Balaam the wicked arose and led mortals astray into unchastity. But as he led [others] astray, he [himself] was led astray. By the [very] counsel he gave, he [himself] fell. This is what is written (in Prov. 28:10), “[One who leads the upright astray on an evil course] will fall into his own pit.” So the Holy One, blessed be He, led him astray with it, as stated (in Job 12:23), “He exalts the nations and destroys them.” When [the Holy One, blessed be He,] asked him (in Numb. 22:9), “Who are these people with you,” that wicked one said, “I know nothing about them.” [He said to himself,] “It appears to me [that] there are times when [God] does not know. And so I can do all that I want to His children.” That is why [God] said to him, “Who are these people with you?” In order to lead him astray. (Numb. 22:10:), “And Balaam said to God, ‘Balak ben Zippor, [the king of Moab] sent [this message] unto me.” He began to boast and say, “Even though You do not honor me, and You do not put out a good name for me in the world, kings seek me. (Numb. 22:11:) “Behold the people has come out of Egypt […], come now, curse (qavah) them for me.” [This is] to make known that he (Balaam) hated Israel more than Balak, because (in Numb. 22:6) Balak did not say qavah (as Balaam claimed he had said in Numb. 22:11) but arah.21Both words mean “curse,” but the former is worse than the latter, because qavah involves the use of the Divine Name. This one (Balaam), however, said (in vs. 11), “curse explicitly (qavah),” [meaning] to take [God’s] name explicitly. Moreover, while the former (Balak) said (in Numb. 22:6) “And drive them away from the land,” the latter (Balaam) said [simply] (in vs. 11), “and drive them out” [i.e.,] from this world and from the world to come.
Vayikra Rabbah
“The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord and one shall slaughter the bull before the Lord” (Leviticus 4:15).
“The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands.” Rabbi Yitzḥak said: The nations of the world have no supporters, as it is stated: “The supporters of Egypt will fall” (Ezekiel 30:6). Israel has supporters [somekhin], as it is stated: “The elders of the congregation shall lay [vesamekhu] [their hands].”23The phrase is understood to mean the elders of the congregation shall serve as support for the congregation. The nations of the world are called “congregation,” as it is stated: “For the congregation of the hypocrite will be desolate” (Job 15:34). Israel is called congregation, as it is stated: “The elders of the congregation shall lay [their hands].” The nations of the world are called abirim, as it is stated: “The herd of cavalry horses [abirim] going among the calves of the people” (Psalms 68:31). Israel is called abirim, “Hear Me, hard-hearted ones [abirei lev]” (Isaiah 46:12). The nations of the world are called adirim, “it and the daughters of mighty [adirim] nations” (Ezekiel 32:18). Israel is called adirim, “and the majestic ones [ve’adirei], all my wishes are with them” (Psalms 16:3). The nations of the world are called wise, “I will eliminate the wise from Edom” (Obadiah 1:8). Israel is called wise, “The wise store knowledge” (Proverbs 10:14). The nations of the world are called blameless, “and the blameless, like those descending into the pit” (Proverbs 1:12). Israel is called blameless, “and the blameless will inherit goodness” (Proverbs 28:10). The nations of the world are called righteous, “Righteous men, they will judge them” (Ezekiel 23:45). Israel is called righteous, “Your people are all righteous” (Isaiah 60:21). The nations of the world are called men, “men who are evildoers” (Psalms 141:4). Israel is called men, “men, I call to you” (Proverbs 8:4). The nations of the world are called mighty, “why do you boast of evil, mighty one” (Psalms 52:3). Israel is called mighty, “mighty in strength, performers of His bidding” (Psalms 103:20).
“The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands.” Rabbi Yitzḥak said: The nations of the world have no supporters, as it is stated: “The supporters of Egypt will fall” (Ezekiel 30:6). Israel has supporters [somekhin], as it is stated: “The elders of the congregation shall lay [vesamekhu] [their hands].”23The phrase is understood to mean the elders of the congregation shall serve as support for the congregation. The nations of the world are called “congregation,” as it is stated: “For the congregation of the hypocrite will be desolate” (Job 15:34). Israel is called congregation, as it is stated: “The elders of the congregation shall lay [their hands].” The nations of the world are called abirim, as it is stated: “The herd of cavalry horses [abirim] going among the calves of the people” (Psalms 68:31). Israel is called abirim, “Hear Me, hard-hearted ones [abirei lev]” (Isaiah 46:12). The nations of the world are called adirim, “it and the daughters of mighty [adirim] nations” (Ezekiel 32:18). Israel is called adirim, “and the majestic ones [ve’adirei], all my wishes are with them” (Psalms 16:3). The nations of the world are called wise, “I will eliminate the wise from Edom” (Obadiah 1:8). Israel is called wise, “The wise store knowledge” (Proverbs 10:14). The nations of the world are called blameless, “and the blameless, like those descending into the pit” (Proverbs 1:12). Israel is called blameless, “and the blameless will inherit goodness” (Proverbs 28:10). The nations of the world are called righteous, “Righteous men, they will judge them” (Ezekiel 23:45). Israel is called righteous, “Your people are all righteous” (Isaiah 60:21). The nations of the world are called men, “men who are evildoers” (Psalms 141:4). Israel is called men, “men, I call to you” (Proverbs 8:4). The nations of the world are called mighty, “why do you boast of evil, mighty one” (Psalms 52:3). Israel is called mighty, “mighty in strength, performers of His bidding” (Psalms 103:20).
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Numb. 22:9:) THEN GOD CAME UNTO BALAAM AND SAID: WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WITH YOU? This text is related (to Prov. 28:10): ONE WHO LEADS THE UPRIGHT ASTRAY ON AN EVIL COURSE [WILL FALL INTO HIS OWN PIT]. Thus at first mortals [behaved] with propriety, but because of his (Balaam's) words, they became unbridled in sexual matters.21Tanh., Numb. 7:5, cont.; Numb. R. 20:9; also Sanh. 106a. Thus of former <generations> [it is written] (in Gen. 29:9): RACHEL CAME WITH THE SHEEP. (Exod. 2:16): NOW THE PRIEST OF MIDIAN HAD SEVEN DAUGHTERS.22I.e., although these seven daughters and Rachel were shepherdesses, they had no fear of being alone among males. Balaam the Wicked arose and led mortals astray into unchastity; but as he led <others> astray, he <himself> was led astray. By the <very> counsel he gave, he <himself> fell. [This is what is written] (in Prov. 28:10): <ONE WHO LEADS THE UPRIGHT ASTRAY ON AN EVIL COURSE> WILL FALL INTO HIS OWN PIT. So the Holy One led him astray, as stated (in Job 12:23): HE EXALTS THE NATIONS AND DESTROYS THEM. HE ENLARGES THE NATIONS AND LEADS THEM AWAY. <When the Holy One> asked him (in Numb. 22:9): WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WITH YOU? That Wicked one said: I know nothing about them, except that (according to vss. 10–11): KING BALAK BEN ZIPPOR OF MOAB SENT <THIS MESSAGE> UNTO ME: BEHOLD THE (sic) PEOPLE HAS COME OUT OF EGYPT …; <COME NOW, CURSE (qavah) THEM FOR ME. PERHAPS I SHALL BE ABLE TO FIGHT AGAINST THEM AND DRIVE THEM AWAY FROM THE LAND>. <This is> to make known that he (Balaam) hated Israel more then Balak, because (in Numb. 22:6) Balak did not say qavah (as Balaam claimed he had said in Numb. 22:11) but arah.23Both words mean “curse,” but the former is worse than the latter, because qavah involves the use of the Divine Name. This one (Balaam), however, explicitly said: CURSE (qavah) (in vs. 11). Moreover, while the former (Balak) said (in Numb. 22:6): AND DRIVE THEM AWAY <FROM THE LAND>, the latter (Balaam) said <simply> (in vs. 11): AND DRIVE THEM OUT <i.e.,> from this world and from the world to come.24While Balak had qualified the driving away of Israel with FROM THE LAND, Balaam did no such thing; therefore, one must assume that Balaam wanted to drive Israel, not only from the land, but even from the world to come.