במדבר, פרק כ״ד, פסוק א׳

A dramatic turning point arrives when a stubborn adversary finally realizes that his standard methods will not work against a divinely protected people. After his previous attempts to curse the Israelites fail, Balaam reaches a profound realization. He finally understands that it is futile to keep testing God's will or trying to change His decision [רש״י, שטיינזלץ]. The fog of illusion clears from his mind, revealing that God's protective providence over Israel is absolute and unchangeable [רש ר הירש, רלב״ג]. However, this realization does not change his heart. While blessing the Israelites is pleasing to God, it is not pleasing to Balaam, who remains deeply hostile and continues looking for ways to cause them harm [צרור המור].

Because of this shift in understanding, Balaam abandons the approach he used during his first two attempts [רש״י, מלבי״ם, אדרת אליהו]. He stops seeking out sorcery, omens, or a fleeting moment of divine anger to cast his curse [רש״י, ספורנו, רלב״ג]. Realizing that magic is completely useless against the Israelites, he leaves his divinations behind [רמב״ן, רשב״ם, חזקוני]. Instead, he turns his gaze toward the wilderness, physically looking out over the plains of Moab where the Israelites are camped [אבן עזרא, חזקוני, שטיינזלץ].

While his physical movement is clear, the hidden intention behind this gaze is a matter of deep debate. One primary approach suggests that Balaam completely surrenders to God's will, intending to bless the Israelites with a whole heart. By facing the camp, he seeks to isolate himself, prepare his soul, and focus his mind so that a pure spirit of prophecy from God might rest upon him. In this moment, he elevates himself from a mere sorcerer to a true prophet [רמב״ן, רשב״ם, טור הארוך].

In sharp contrast, a widespread perspective argues that Balaam never abandons his desire to curse the people; he merely changes his strategy. By staring into the wilderness, he hopes to find a reason to accuse them and awaken God's anger by recalling the sins the Israelites committed in that very desert [רש״י, ספורנו, מלבי״ם]. Many suggest his symbolic gaze is focused specifically on the sin of the Golden Calf [רש״י, שפתי חכמים, מלבי״ם, נתינה לגר]. Others add that he aims to bring up other rebellions, such as the sins of the spies and Korah, or that he is attempting to awaken the impure forces that dwell in the barren wasteland [רבנו בחיי, אור החיים]. Finally, another view proposes that by staring directly at the nation, Balaam is trying to bypass divine consent altogether, attempting to strike them with an evil eye to cause direct harm [שד״ל, צרור המור].