Balaam’s words serve to dismantle a fundamental misconception held by the Moabite king, who believed the Israelites had escaped Egypt through their own initiative or by means of dark magic. Instead, a vivid picture is painted of powerful, supernatural, and continuous divine providence that elevates the nation entirely above the standard laws of nature and history. It is emphasized that God Himself orchestrated their departure [רש"י, שפתי כהן, צאינה וראינה]. This deliverance was far more than a mere physical liberation; it was a definitive triumph over the astrological forces that had seemingly sealed their fate in slavery [רבנו בחיי], forging a helpless collection of individuals into a unified, purposeful nation [רש"ר הירש].
The language used to describe this deliverance suggests an active, ongoing process rather than a concluded historical event. While some read the phrasing as a simple reference to the past [תורה תמימה], the primary approach views the Exodus as an expression of continuous divine providence. This ongoing guidance manifests in the steady conquest of the Canaanite lands [שפתי כהן], a recurring spiritual refinement that takes place every year during Passover [אור החיים], and the constant, miraculous presence that perpetually accompanies the people [העמק דבר].
To convey the sheer magnitude of this deliverance, imagery of soaring, majestic strength is employed. This power is understood by some as an impenetrable fortress of might [שד"ל, אבן עזרא], while others describe it as an exponential, doubled force [דעת זקנים, חזקוני, פענח רזא]. Another perspective views it as a soaring energy capable of defying the laws of nature, allowing the nation to detach from the earth and rise to incredible heights [רש"י, רש"ר הירש, מזרחי].
Commentators offer different perspectives on who actually wields this tremendous, animalistic strength. One approach attributes it directly to God, using the metaphor of a massive horned beast to make His incomprehensible might graspable to the human mind [רבנו בחיי, חזקוני, בכור שור]. To avoid inappropriately comparing the Creator to a physical animal, others interpret the imagery as a representation of God's supreme, exalted nature, elevated above all else [רש"י, מזרחי, גור אריה]. A unique variation of this view emphasizes God's absolute dominion over destructive, demonic forces, showing that His supernatural intervention controls even the darkest elements of the world [רש"י, גור אריה, שפתי חכמים]. Alternatively, this formidable might is attributed to the Egyptians, highlighting the sheer magnitude of God's power in successfully extracting the Israelites from the grip of such an invincible empire [הכתב והקבלה].
A final perspective assigns this immense strength to the Israelites themselves, viewing it as a gift granted by God in response to their devotion [שד"ל, אבן עזרא]. Unlike a predatory lion that hunts for prey, this majestic creature uses its strength only to repel threats with its horns. This reflects Israel's moral destiny: they were originally meant only to drive out the Canaanite nations, engaging in lethal warfare only when forced [ספורנו]. Through this divine gift, their natural, steady progression becomes more powerful than a galloping horse, turning a miraculous, supernatural existence into their everyday reality [העמק דבר]. Furthermore, even when the nation falls into the exhaustion and weakness of exile, God miraculously sustains them in the merit of the Torah they voice, just as He mercifully provides for a massive beast that has collapsed from fatigue [אדרת אליהו].