민수기 22:23의 미드라쉬

(Num. 24, 21) And he looked on the Kenites … Though firm be thy dwelling-place, etc. Bil'am said to Jethro: "Kenite, wast thou not with us at the time we consulted to destroy Israel? How, then, does it come that thou art placed now among the strongest of the world?" And this is what R. Chiya b. Aba, in the name of R. Jochanan, said: "The following three: Bil'am, Job and Jethro, were the advisers of Pharaoh, concerning his command of throwing in the river the children of Israel. Bil'am, who gave this advice, was killed; Job, who kept silent, was punished with chastisement; and Jethro, who ran away, was rewarded by having his descendants placed among the Sanhedrin, in the chamber of the Temple, as it is said (I Chron. 2, 55) And the families of the scribes who dwelt at Jobetz, the Tirotites, etc. These are are Kenites that come from Chamoth — (Num. 22, 23) And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live after God hath appointed him? R. Jochanan said: "Woe will be to that nation which will try to prevent the redemption of Israel, when the Holy One, praised be He! will do it to His children. Who can prevent a lion from coming together with his lioness at the time they are both free?"

(Gen. 38:15:) WHEN JUDAH SAW HER, HE THOUGHT HER TO BE A HARLOT BECAUSE SHE HAD COVERED HER FACE. However, R. Johanan said: SHE COVERED HER FACE as long as she was in her father-in-law's house.⁵⁵Therefore Judah did not recognize her. From here our masters have said: A man must be acquainted with his daughter-in-law.⁵⁶Gen. R. 85:8. Judah said: This is a harlot. What concern do I have about her? He went on. When he had gone on, she raised her eyes to the Holy One. She said to him: Sovereign of the World, am I to go away empty from the body of this righteous man? Immediately the Holy One sent Michael and brought him back. Where is it shown? Where it is written here (in vs. 16): SO HE TURNED ASIDE UNTO HER. And it is written (in Numb. 22:23): THEN THE SHE-ASS SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD…. SO THE SHE-ASS TURNED ASIDE.⁵⁷Since the verb “turned aside” appears where an angel causes the turning aside in Numb. 22:23, an angel must be involved where the same verb appears in Gen. 38:16. (Gen. 38:16, cont.:) AND HE SAID UNTO HER: HEY THERE, PLEASE < LET ME COME UNTO YOU >. Why? (Ibid., cont.:) BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW THAT SHE WAS HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. (Vs. 17:) AND HE SAID: I WILL SEND YOU A GOAT KID. He said to her (in vs. 18): WHAT PLEDGE SHALL I GIVE YOU? AND SHE SAID: YOUR SEAL…. THEN HE CAME UNTO HER, AND SHE CONCEIVED < FOR HIM >. Scripture lacks nothing; so what is the meaning of SHE CONCEIVED FOR HIM? It simply means that she gave birth to kings like him. (Vs. 24:) NOW IT CAME TO PASS ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER…. R. Judah bar Shallum the Levite said: After three months it is discernible whether a woman is pregnant or not.⁵⁸Yev. 4:1 (10a); TNid. 1:7; Nid. 8b; yNid. 1:4 (49a); Gen. R. 85:10.

13 (Numb. 22:22) “But God's anger was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took a stand [in the road as his adversary (satan)]”:¹⁸A good example of this Hebrew word when it is not used as a proper noun. He was an angel of mercy, but to [Balaam] he had become an adversary (satan). (Numb. 22:22, cont.) “And two of his servant boys were with him”: This is customary for one going out on the road. It is necessary for two to attend him. Then in turn they attend each other. (Numb. 22:23) “Now the she-ass saw the angel of the Lord [and a sword was drawn in his hand]”: Was not the angel able to breathe on him and take away his spirit unless he drew his sword? And look at what is written about Sennacherib (in II Kings 19:35 = Is. 37:36 // II Chron. 32:21.), “the angel of the Lord went out and smote [one hundred and eighty-five thousand] in the camp of Assyria.” It is also written (in Is. 40:24), “he blows on them and they wither.” However, he said to him, “[Skill with] the mouth was given to Jacob, as stated (in Gen. 27:22), ‘The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.’ And it is written (in Gen. 27:40), ‘Upon your sword shall you live.’ All the nations all live by the sword. Now you are trading off your craft and coming against them with their [craft]. I also am coming against you with your own [craft].” Hence it is written (in Numb. 22:23) “and a sword was drawn in his hand.”

... [T]he Holy One has pity on the honor of the creatures/b’riyot (here meaning “people”) and knows their needs. And He shut the mouth of the beast/b’heimah, for if she would speak, they could not make her serve or stand up to her /bah, for [there was] this silent one from the animals (the ass) and this wise one from the sages (Bil`am) – [and] when she spoke he could not stand up to her.