Comentários de Citação sobre Números 23:30

SEVEN ALTARS. Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra alluded here to a profound secret.¹⁰⁶“There are profound secrets which are understood by few in number. There is a unit of seven, in days [making a week] etc.” Ibn Ezra continues to show the mystic power of the number seven, which is a major factor in time and also in the worship of G-d through offerings, an allusion to which is seen here in the “seven altars” which Balaam asked Balak to build. These allude to the seven [lower] Emanations. — See also my Hebrew commentary, p. 293, and p. 294, Note 12. Now Balaam wanted that the Will of G-d should cleave to him through these sacrifices, and therefore he offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all,¹⁰⁷Job 1:5. and wanted that Balak should occupy himself personally in [offering] them. Therefore Scripture states, and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram,¹⁰⁸Verse 2. the one slaughtering [them], and the other sprinkling the blood [upon the altar]. And the meaning of [Balaam’s words], I have prepared the seven altars¹⁰⁹Verse 4. is by way of prayer, as if he were saying: “I have prepared for You the perfect [number of] altars with the perfect [number of] sacrifices;¹¹⁰This refers to the seven altars and the seven sacrifices, which allude to the seven Emanations. may they come up with acceptance on Your altar,”¹¹¹Isaiah 60:7. this being similar to that which Scripture says: Receive the memorial of all thy meal-offerings, and accept the fat of thy burnt-offering,¹¹²Psalms 20:4. and it also states, I will offer unto Thee burnt-offerings of fatlings, with the sweet smoke of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah,¹¹³Ibid., 66:15. and so also in many places. And the meaning of the definite article [in ‘hamizbechoth’ — ‘the’ seven altars] — Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra has already mentioned.¹⁰⁶“There are profound secrets which are understood by few in number. There is a unit of seven, in days [making a week] etc.” Ibn Ezra continues to show the mystic power of the number seven, which is a major factor in time and also in the worship of G-d through offerings, an allusion to which is seen here in the “seven altars” which Balaam asked Balak to build. These allude to the seven [lower] Emanations. — See also my Hebrew commentary, p. 293, and p. 294, Note 12. Now in the end when Balaam no longer wanted to meet with enchantments,¹¹⁴Further, 24:1. he did not want Balak to participate in the bringing of the sacrifices, in order that he should not cause them to be rejected on account of his [improper] intention; and therefore Scripture said: and ‘he’ offered up a bullock and a ram,¹¹⁵Chapter 23, Verse 30. [the singular pronoun] referring to Balaam mentioned [previously at the end of that verse: And Balak did as Balaam had said, and he offered up a bullock and a ram].¹¹⁵Chapter 23, Verse 30. It is possible, however, that Balak [and not Balaam] offered them up, for he [Balak] did it to appease his [own] mind, while he [Balaam] no longer desired these sacrifices.