Balak 2022
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2022
Moav vs. Midyan
Moav and Midyan colluded to hire Bilam to perform his curses upon the Jewish nation. For punishment Midyan was wiped out: “And God instructed Moses to say (to the people) as follows; Make Midyan into your enemy and destroy them. They became your enemy when they plotted to entice you to worship Peor. And they are your enemy on account of Kazbi the daughter of the prince of Midyan their sister who was killed on that day of Peor. ” (Num 25:16-18) On the other hand for the same offence Moav received a mere slap on the wrist. “Do not permit Amon and Moav to enter into the Jewish nation. They failed to welcome you with bread and water when you were on the way out of Egypt and hired Bilam son of Beor to curse you”. (Deut 23:4) The Torah makes no mention the Daughters of Moav!
The difference of treatment of these two nations is based on a variety of factors. Amon and Moav being cousins to Israel are treated as family. Family is expected to treat family in a welcoming way. They were unwelcoming so we are instructed to act likewise. “You shall not seek their peace or their needs for all your days forever” (ibid: 7)
Why weren’t they punished more severely for Balak’s hiring of Bilam? And why weren’t they punished at all for allowing their daughters to entice the Jewish men?
One possible explanation is based on history. Sichon had earlier in history conquered Amon, Moav, and Midyan. (Ramban Parshat Balak 24:3). Israel, having just completed a totally destructive war against Sichon, must have scared Balak who had just been appointed King. How could he hope to conquer a nation that had just conquered the all powerful Sichon! He enlisted the help of Midyan who knew Moshe from his time living there in the house of Yisro. They suggested that Moshe’s power, and as a result Israel’s power was associated with his power of speech)-(alt use of words). They therefore suggested that Balak go hire Bilam the “King of Words”, hoping that was to be the way Israel could be defeated. Moav could be excused or somewhat forgiven on account of their fears.
Alternatively, Moav had a reason to be worried. Israel was a nation that was expected to provoke fear. The Jews themselves sang about this at the song at the Sea. “The strong of Moav will be seized with trembling.” (Ex 15:15). Their fear, however, was irrational. Israel had already been commanded to avoid the Moabite land. “God told me not to engage or attack them for he had given the land of UR to the descendants of Lot as an inheritance”. Midyan, however, had no basis for their involvement. Theirs was purely based on the hate of Israel and of its God. They sensed the Moabite fear and played on it stoking it. They introduced Bilam to Balak. The introduction of Peor and of the Moabite women was totally their doing. The women were led by the Midyanite Princess Kazbi.
How did this unholy alliance come about? The Zohar reports that Balak was in fact a Midyanite. He was a grandson of Yisro. That is why his father is mentioned as Tzipor. Tzipor was Tziporah’s brother. You can now understand how Moav became enmeshed in the family dynamic associated with Moshe, Tziporah, Balak, and Yisro. The Midyanites hated Yisro and his Son in Law Moshe for taking away their high priest and converting him. “Now I know that He is the greatest of all gods.” The Moabites themselves were not totally engaged in either the hiring of Bilam or in the promiscuity of Kasbi who was incidentally Balak’s daughter. They escaped with a punishment of exclusion while Midyan who had no real connection other than through Balak were treated more severely.
Dedicated to the memory of Moshe Ben Yaakov Haleivi Berg and Joel Shulman A’H