Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Genesis 27:22

“Equipped with the sacred vessels” [31:6]. They took the Ark and Ziz with them. This was a silver strip on which was written the Ineffable Name [of God]. Balaam was able to fly in the air with the nobles of Midian, by magical means, expecting that the Israelites would not be able to do anything to them. Therefore, the Israelites took the strip and placed it before Balaam. They fell down on top of the corpses and were immediately killed with the sword because Balaam had boasted that he would curse Israel with his mouth, since Israel has power with its mouth. Thus, Israel said: you Balaam are taking on something that is our thing, since our blessing is “the voice is the voice of Jacob” [Genesis, 27:22]. We have power with the mouth and your blessing is “by the sword shall you live” [Genesis, 27:40]. Because you changed the blessing, we will also change, and kill you with the sword. Balaam came to receive his reward that twenty-four thousand Israelites died because of his advice that he gave that they should engage in illicit sex. Thus, the Israelites gave him his reward and killed him. Moses sent only twelve thousand Israelites to Midian, even though the Midianites were a numerous people and had strong cities and castles. Moses thought that there were many Israelites who committed sins, through illicit sex with the daughters of Midian and Moab. These would not be able to go to war because they had sinned. Therefore, Moses selected only those who were righteous to go to war against Midian. The Israelites were pious and took all the money and goods and brought them to Moses. Moses and Eleazar went toward them and forbade the youths to keep anything from the booty, as is customary among the youths. Moses was angry with the chieftains that they left the women of Moab and Midian alive, since the women caused the Israelites to sin with illicit sex, and recognized several women who sinned through illicit sex with Israelites. They said: this gentile woman slept with that Israelite man and through this brought disgrace to the Israelite. Perhaps he will sleep with her again. That is why Moses was angry with the chieftains and ordered the women to be killed. From here we learn that when the head of a community or a rabbi will not rebuke their community when they do something bad, then the Holy One will be angry with the leader.⁶Bahya, Numbers, 31:6–8.

How goodly. The reason Bil'am did not want them to possess synagogues and academies of Torah study was in order to separate, God forbid, the spirit of Hashem from Yisroel. For all the while they possess synagogues and academies of Torah study, the spirit of Hashem is among them. Furthermore, because of (Bereishis 27:22), The voice is the voice of Yaakov; through their synagogues and academies of Torah study, the enemies of Yisroel have no effect on them and are unable to harm them.

It also states in the Midrash Rabbah on the Torah passage of Toldos, parasha 65, No one arose in the world who was as wise as Balaam the son of Beor and Abnimos of Guadara. The nations of the world came to them to inquire, “Tell us whether we can defeat⁴Literally “match them.” this nation.” They replied, “Walk near their synagogues and their study halls. If you should find small children with voices uplifted there, you will not be able to defeat them. For so were they promised by their Father when he said to them, ‘The voice is the voice of Jacob, and the hands are the hands of Esau.’”⁵Gen. 27:22. When the voice of Jacob is found within the sanctuaries, the hands of Esau will have no power if not, the hands of Esau will have power, and you will defeat them.’”

וישמע קלנו HE HEARD OUR VOICE — through the blessing with which our father, Jacob, had blessed us — “the voice is Jacob’s voice” (Genesis 27:22), because whenever we cry we are answered (Midrash Tanchuma, Beshalach 9 on בשלח).

וביד חזקה AND WITH A STRONG HAND — relying upon our ancestors’ assurance: (Genesis 27:22) “and the hands are the hands of Esau” (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Beshalach 9 on בשלח)