Kabbalah Library

336. “My people, remember please what Balak king of Moab advised.” “My people,” how merciful is the Creator toward His children. Even when they sin against Him, all His words are in love for them, as a father to his son. The son sins against his father, he hits him, and as much as he hits him, he does not return from his way. He admonishes him with words and does not receive from him. His father says, “I do not want to do to my son as I have been doing thus far; if I hit him, his head will hurt, and his pain will be on me. If I chastise him, his form will change. What shall I do? I will go and beg him, and tell him soft words so he will not be saddened.”

337. The Creator went this way with Israel in all the ways. He started by striking them, but they did not accept. He chastised them, but they did not accept. The Creator said, “I see in my children, that because of the blows I had hit them, their heads are hurting. Woe, I feel their pain, as it is written, ‘In all their affliction he was afflicted.’ If I admonish them, their form changes, as it is written, ‘Their appearance is darker than soot, they are not recognized in the streets.’ Woe, when I look at them, I do not know them. Now I will beg and plead before them, ‘My people, what have I done to you? how have I wearied you?’ My only son, my soul’s beloved, look what I have done to you. I have made you ruler over all My household; I have made you ruler over all the kings in the world, and if I have done other deeds, answer me. Now testify about me.”

338. “My people, please remember what Balak king of Moab advised, and what that Balaam Son of Beor answered.” Please remember, I ask of you remember what he advised.

And what was Balak’s advice regarding the holy nation? The Torah did not think at all about Balak, as it thought about Laban, as it is written, “A wandering Aramean was my father.”