במדבר, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ח׳

Balaam's confrontation with the Israelites reveals the absolute powerlessness of human effort against the divine will, highlighting the ultimate protection God grants His people. Standing before the nation, Balaam recognizes that he has no independent ability to act against God's providence. The commentators agree that a human curse holds no value without divine consent. If God does not wish to harm a people, a curse will not take effect and will ultimately rebound onto the one who uttered it [רלב״ג, אור החיים, מלבי״ם, בכור שור]. During this encounter, Balaam was overwhelmed by a deep prophetic state that completely stripped him of his free will [שד״ל].

The primary approach among commentators focuses on the historical relationship between God and the Israelites. Even in the past, when the nation sinned and rightfully deserved punishment, such as during the sin of the Golden Calf, God did not curse them. Instead, He continued to shower them with kindness, providing miracles like the protective clouds and the manna from heaven [רש״י, רבנו בחיי, גור אריה, מזרחי]. Furthermore, God refrained from publicly condemning the sinners to spare them from public shame [העמק דבר]. Another perspective suggests that this enduring restraint traces back to their ancestor Jacob. Even when Jacob was deeply angered by his sons, he did not curse them directly, but only condemned their anger. As a result, his lineage remained pure and unbroken, unlike the families of Abraham and Isaac [רש״י, רבנו בחיי, פענח רזא].

Balaam’s unique spiritual power lay in his ability to pinpoint a fleeting daily moment when divine justice and anger are naturally awakened. However, throughout the days he attempted to curse the Israelites, God completely suppressed His anger, never experiencing that moment of wrath, thereby entirely neutralizing Balaam's abilities [רש״י, תורה תמימה, דעת זקנים]. This raises a question: if Balaam was inherently powerless to curse them, why did God need to explicitly forbid him from doing so? God foresaw that the Israelites would later sin at Baal Peor, which would result in a devastating plague. He wanted to ensure that the surrounding nations would not mistakenly attribute that future disaster to Balaam's curse [שפתי חכמים, משכיל לדוד].

The interaction between the divine and the Israelites is further illuminated by the specific attributes of God involved in this event. The divine names present in this context represent kindness and mercy. Because the souls of the Israelites draw from these very traits, they possess no spiritual flaw for a curse to latch onto [אור החיים]. This dynamic also reflects the unique character of the nation itself. While other nations might curse their gods during times of distress, the Israelites do not curse God even when they suffer. Because of this unwavering loyalty, they do not anger God, ensuring that His mercy is never transformed into harsh justice [כלי יקר].