Parshas Balak - V’Nahafokh Hu

Their Evil Designs were Overturned

This week’s parshah is a classic example of how Hashem protects the Jewish People by means of the technique of "V’Nahafokh Hu," "Overturning their (enemies’) evil designs."

"Remember oh my people
What Balak son of Tzippor
Requested concerning you,
And what did answer
Bilaam son of Beor…"
(Michah 6,5)

The human being, upon creation, was invested with a "nishmas chaim," whereupon, he became a "nefesh chaya"(Gen. 2,7), which Onkelos understands as meaning "a speaking being." Bilaam, a master of language, betrayed his genius, by using his power of speech to curse. In this case, he was motivated by an irrational hatred to curse, but he was forced to bless.

In fact, we can hear in his blessing what he wanted to say:

"…behold there is a people
which dwells apart,
and is not reckoned
among the nations"
(Bamidbar; 23,9)

But we hear in the vicious words of Haman to Achashverosh what Bilaam would have said:

"There is one people,
scattered and dispersed
Among the nations, in all the provinces of your kingdom
And their ways are different from those of all other nations
And they do not observe the King’s laws…" (Esther; 3,8)

And it is from Haman, his plans and his fate, that the expression, "And they were overturned" comes.

Both Haman and Bilaam were punished in ways which border on the farcical, and this must have been most painful of all for their gargantuan egos. Haman pleads for mercy from Queen Esther, falling upon her couch, and Achashverosh, entering the room, catches him, and says, "Do you want to take my queen already, with me still here in the palace? And Haman’s face turned color." (Esther ; 7,8) The Midrash has even less mercy, depicting Haman’s daughter throwing a pail of refuse out the window aimed at Mordechai, but having it land on her father’s head.

Bilaam, the Master of Speech, is humiliated by his lowly donkey, the dumbest of animals, whose mouth is opened to mock its master. Further, the man who describes himself as the one who "sees a vision of G-d" (Bamid;24,4) cannot see the Angel of G-d that his donkey can see.

Both were undone by their abuse of speech. Haman cunningly manipulates Achashverosh to agree to the slaughter of the Jews, bringing to mind the horrible example of Hitler manipulating the Nazi mob into a frenzy of hatred. And he is caught when his response to the king’s request reveals him as a power-hungry minister who seeks the throne.

While Bilaam’s intended curses are caught in his throat, and converted to beautiful and poetic praises and blessings, which have found their place in our prayers.

"Devise your strategems;
They will be nullified
Formulate your plans;
They will not come to pass
For the L-rd is with us"

Rabbi Pinchas Frankel