Balak: How the world works

Balak: How the world works

This is a disturbing story.  It takes place behind the scenes.  The king of Moab is afraid of the Hebrews, who are on the march. The Hebrews are conquering their promised land. Although outside the territory of  the promise, the Moabites were worried about these conquistadors. They called for Bilam, prophet  and imprecator for hire.

Now, it is clear that Bilam's powers are granted by the One Gd.  This is  a challenge to the simplistic understanding that Gd can  never be  suborned, that the enemies of Israel  flourish only when Gd is hidden.  But Bilam's route is obstructed.  He requires two requests, the Obstructing Angel ( Satan) stands in his way, Bilam is blind to what the donkey can see ( and talk about).  A great reputation requires perseverance and selective vision.

Then he sets down to business.  He engages the formula: seven bulls and seven rams on seven altars.  That brings forth the message.  But the message is not what he wants.  It is not a lucrative curse, it is a dangerous blessing.  It is a statement of praise ( for  Israel's isolation) or homage to tits strength.  The declamations are terrifying to Bilam's employers, they break the spirit of the fighters, they abet the enemy.

What was the intention of the curse? Probably,  to be part of the war effort, the propaganda machine.  The enemy was to be dehumanized, degraded to  the status of an annoying insect and parasite.  Something to be liquidated.  Those effective curses were to come much later.  Do I hear their echoes now?