וַיַּ֣עַן בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־בָּלָ֑ק הֲלֹ֗א דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃
발람이 발락에게 대답하여 가로되 내가 당신에게 고하여 이르기를 여호와께서 말씀하신 것은 내가 그대로 하지 않을 수 없다고 하지 아니하더이까
Rabbeinu Bahya
ואל כליך לא תתן, “but you must not put any of it into your vessel.” This would be considered robbery. The Torah made a concession only concerning the desire of a person to eat on the job when he is tempted greatly to immediately gratify his appetite. Had the Torah not given its blessing to the laborer to eat ad hoc, he would have done so as a thief, something far worse. This is why the Torah adds the significant restriction כנפשך שבעך, “until you have satisfied your immediate craving.” The expression שבעך is reminiscent of Proverbs 13,25: “the righteous eats to his heart’s content;” Solomon means that he does not eat as a glutton, only to still his hunger. The same considerations apply to the laborer working in a grain field as outlined in verse 26. He must use his hands and not a tool (sickle) in order to cut down grain for personal consumption.