במדבר, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ל׳

In the third attempt to bring a curse upon the Israelites, a noticeable shift occurs in the dynamic between the king and the prophet as they approach the offering of sacrifices. On a basic level, Balak simply follows the given instructions, offering one bull and one ram on each altar [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

However, a subtle change in their communication reveals a deeper shift in the event's character. Rather than issuing a standard command as he did previously, Balaam takes the time to explain his underlying intention. He clarifies that Balak is not the one who should actually perform the sacrifices. Instead, Balaam intends to take charge of the ritual himself, personally approaching to offer the animals and standing over them [העמק דבר].

This evolving partnership is further reflected in their shared actions. During earlier attempts, Balaam had to explicitly instruct Balak to stand by his offerings. This time, no such directive is given. The two men prepare the site together in advance, acting out of a shared confidence and a deep, mutual expectation that this third attempt will finally yield the success they seek [שפתי כהן].