And
Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And
Moav was greatly afraid of the people … Numbers 22:2-3
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The question has been raised: why was
it specifically Israel’s battles with the Amorites arouse Balak’s awareness and
fear of the Israelites, after all, the miracles of the Exodus and the parting
of the Red Sea were certainly greater.
My father explained that the miracles of the Exodus and the Red
Sea were clearly supernatural, and perhaps Balak thought that Israel would not
always enjoy Divine intervention in nature. However, now that he saw Israel
engaged in battle against the Amorites, and succeeding on a natural
level, Balak feared the nation.
Balak failed to appreciate what Balaam
understood (our Sages say [Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 106a] that Balaam
advised Balak to entice the Israelites with the Moabite women), that for
Israel, a “natural” victory results from Hashgacha, Divine Providence
over God’s nation, and this Providence is dependent upon Israel’s adhering to
Torah and mitzvot.
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