Zohar Summarised By Torah Portion: Balak (Numbers 22:2–25:9)

NJ Solomon
8 min readSep 10, 2024

Summary of the Torah Portion

The Torah portion “Balak” tells the story of King Balak of Moab and his attempt to curse the Israelites by hiring the prophet Balaam. Despite Balak’s intentions, God intervenes, and Balaam is compelled to bless the Israelites instead of cursing them. The portion also contains the famous story of Balaam’s talking donkey and ends with the Israelites falling into sin with the Moabite women, leading to divine punishment.

Key Themes and Events:

Balak’s Fear and Request for Balaam to Curse Israel:

  • Balak, the king of Moab, fears the Israelites as they approach his land after their victories over the Amorites. He sends messengers to Balaam, a well-known prophet, asking him to curse the Israelites to weaken them.
  • Initially, Balaam refuses to go with the messengers because God tells him not to curse the Israelites, but after Balak’s persistence and God’s permission, Balaam agrees to go, with the condition that he will only say what God commands him to say.

Balaam’s Journey and the Talking Donkey:

  • On his journey to meet Balak, Balaam’s donkey suddenly veers off the path, seeing an angel of God blocking the way. Balaam, unaware of the angel’s presence, beats the donkey.
  • Miraculously, the donkey speaks, asking Balaam why he is being beaten. At that moment, Balaam’s eyes are opened, and he sees the angel, who warns him to proceed with caution, reiterating that he must only speak the words that God commands.

Balaam’s Blessings Instead of Curses:

  • Balak takes Balaam to various high places overlooking the Israelite camp, hoping that from one of these vantage points Balaam will be able to curse the Israelites.
  • However, instead of curses, Balaam delivers blessings, including famous poetic verses such as: “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!” (Ma Tovu) (Numbers 24:5).
  • Each time Balaam attempts to speak against Israel, he is divinely inspired to bless them, much to Balak’s frustration.

Prophecy of Israel’s Future and the Downfall of Moab:

  • Balaam’s final prophecy speaks of Israel’s future strength and the defeat of their enemies, including Moab. He foretells the rise of a future ruler from Israel who will crush the enemies of Israel and establish dominance over the surrounding nations.

The Sin of Baal Peor and Israel’s Punishment:

  • After Balaam leaves, the Israelites fall into sin by engaging in idolatry and immorality with the Moabite and Midianite women. They begin worshiping the Moabite god Baal Peor, angering God.
  • As a result, a plague breaks out among the Israelites, and it is only halted when Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, kills an Israelite man and a Midianite woman engaging in public immorality, stopping the spread of the sin and quelling God’s wrath.

The Zohar on Balak

The Zohar, the foundational text of Kabbalistic thought, provides deep mystical insights into the story of Balak and Balaam, particularly focusing on the spiritual significance of Balaam’s actions, the nature of curses and blessings, and the deeper meaning behind the Israelites’ fall into idolatry.

The Power of Words: Blessings and Curses

The Zohar views the story of Balaam as a profound lesson about the power of words and intention. Balaam’s attempts to curse Israel are thwarted by God, showing that true power over blessings and curses lies in divine will, not human manipulation.

The Zohar states:

“Balaam’s mouth was prepared for curses, but the Holy One, blessed be He, transformed his words into blessings. This reveals the truth that blessings and curses are not merely expressions of human speech but are rooted in the divine flow. When aligned with divine will, even the intention to curse is transformed into a conduit for blessing.” (Zohar III:212a)

This teaching emphasizes that words have tremendous spiritual power, but they are only effective when aligned with divine purpose. Human intention alone is insufficient to manipulate spiritual realities.

Balaam’s Spiritual Blindness and the Donkey’s Vision

The Zohar interprets the story of Balaam’s talking donkey as a reflection of Balaam’s spiritual blindness. Although Balaam is known as a prophet, his inability to see the angel at first reveals his lack of true spiritual insight.

The Zohar explains:

“Balaam was a man of great wisdom, yet his heart was clouded by the desires of this world. His donkey, a creature of instinct, saw what Balaam could not — an angel standing in the path. This teaches that when the heart is clouded by ego and greed, even the simplest creatures can perceive divine truth, while those who seek only power and fame remain blind to it.” (Zohar III:214b)

This teaching highlights that spiritual perception is not based solely on intellectual knowledge or prophetic gifts but on humility and purity of heart.

Balaam’s Blessings: A Reflection of Israel’s Inner Light

The Zohar delves into the blessings that Balaam ultimately bestows on Israel, interpreting them as a reflection of Israel’s spiritual stature and inner light. Even Balaam, who sought to curse them, was compelled to acknowledge the holiness and divine favor that surrounded the people.

The Zohar teaches:

“Balaam saw the divine light that enveloped Israel, a light that could not be dimmed by his curses. This light emanated from their adherence to the covenant and the divine presence that rested among them. His words of blessing were not his own but were drawn from the very essence of this light, which he could neither deny nor obscure.” (Zohar III:217a)

This interpretation suggests that the blessings were not simply imposed by God but were a natural consequence of Israel’s spiritual state, which made them immune to Balaam’s curses.

The Sin of Baal Peor: The Seduction of the Lower Desires

The Zohar reflects on the sin of Baal Peor, interpreting it as a symbolic representation of the seductive power of the lower, base desires that lead people away from their divine mission. The idolatry of Baal Peor is seen as the ultimate surrender to material and sensual temptation, which stands in opposition to spiritual elevation.

The Zohar states:

“The sin of Baal Peor was not merely an act of idolatry but a surrender to the lowest forms of desire. The people of Israel, having reached great heights of spiritual achievement, were seduced by the forces of impurity, which sought to drag them down into the realm of the flesh. This is the nature of Baal Peor — worshiping the lower aspects of existence, disconnecting from the higher divine purpose.” (Zohar III:220b)

This teaching highlights the constant spiritual struggle between the higher self, which seeks connection with God, and the lower self, which is drawn toward materialism and physical pleasure.

Kabbalistic Interpretations

Various Kabbalists have expanded on the Zohar’s teachings on “Balak,” offering further insights into the mystical significance of Balaam’s actions, the power of blessings, and the nature of Israel’s sin.

Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Arizal)

The Arizal teaches that Balaam’s ability to bless and curse was linked to his unique knowledge of spiritual forces. However, his failure to curse Israel reflects the fundamental truth that divine protection surrounds those who are connected to God’s covenant.

“Balaam understood the spiritual mechanics of blessings and curses, yet even he could not override the divine shield that surrounded Israel. This teaches that those who remain true to their covenant with the Holy One are protected from all spiritual harm, for their connection with the divine renders them invulnerable to negative forces.” (Arizal’s teachings)

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (Ramak)

Ramak emphasizes the importance of humility in the story of Balaam and the talking donkey. He teaches that true spiritual vision comes not from intellect or status but from humility and the ability to see beyond the self.

“The donkey’s ability to see the angel reflects the purity of its instinct, unclouded by ego or ambition. Balaam, despite his wisdom, was blinded by his own desires. This teaches that spiritual vision is not a product of knowledge alone but of humility and the willingness to surrender one’s own will to the divine.” (Ramak’s teachings)

Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam)

Baal HaSulam offers a psychological interpretation, viewing the sin of Baal Peor as a metaphor for the internal battle between the higher and lower selves. He teaches that the worship of Baal Peor symbolizes the submission to the ego and the materialistic desires that lead people away from spiritual fulfillment.

“Baal Peor represents the worship of the self, the submission to ego and physical desire. This sin teaches us about the dangers of losing sight of our higher purpose and giving in to the temptations of the lower self. Only by remaining focused on our spiritual mission can we overcome these internal struggles and stay connected to the divine.” (Baal HaSulam’s teachings)

Conclusion

The Torah portion “Balak,” as explored through the Zohar and Kabbalistic teachings, offers deep insights into the themes of spiritual perception, the power of blessings and curses, and the constant struggle between the higher and lower selves. The portion emphasizes the importance of humility, divine protection, and the dangers of succumbing to base desires.

Key Lessons from “Balak”:

  • The Power of Divine Blessings and Curses: The story of Balaam highlights that true blessings and curses are rooted in divine will, not in human manipulation. Even though Balaam sought to curse Israel, God transformed his words into blessings, demonstrating that the divine plan cannot be thwarted by human intentions.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Humility: Balaam’s encounter with the talking donkey illustrates the importance of humility and spiritual vision. Despite his prophetic abilities, Balaam was blinded by his own ego and ambitions, while the donkey, a humble creature, could perceive the angelic presence. This story reminds us that spiritual insight comes from humility and a willingness to see beyond our personal desires.
  • The Power of Israel’s Inner Light: Balaam’s blessings reflect the spiritual strength and divine light that surrounded Israel. The inner holiness of the people, rooted in their covenant with God, made them immune to external curses. This teaches the importance of maintaining spiritual integrity and connection to God as a source of protection and blessing.
  • The Seduction of Material Desires: The sin of Baal Peor represents the seductive power of materialism and sensuality. The Israelites, despite their spiritual progress, were drawn into idolatry and immorality, leading to divine punishment. This story warns of the dangers of allowing lower desires to dominate, distracting from the higher spiritual mission.
  • Repentance and Spiritual Healing: The story of Phinehas, who acts decisively to stop the sin and the ensuing plague, demonstrates the power of righteous action and repentance. When confronted with moral decay, taking action to restore purity and sanctity can halt the consequences of sin and restore divine favor.

Through the teachings of the Zohar and Kabbalists like the Arizal, Ramak, and Baal HaSulam, “Balak” is understood as a portion that offers deep insights into the nature of spiritual perception, the transformative power of blessings, and the constant struggle between the material and spiritual dimensions of life. It calls on us to remain vigilant in our faith, to act with humility, and to strive for a deeper connection with God, even in the face of external and internal challenges.

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Zohar on Numbers Summarised by Torah Portion

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NJ Solomon
NJ Solomon

Written by NJ Solomon

Healthcare writer, philosophy, spirituality and cosmology. Retired psychiatrist. Photographer, author, journalist, husband, father, brother, son, Freemason ...

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