במדבר, פרק כ״ד, פסוק י״ב

In a tense moment of confrontation, Balaam attempts to defend himself against the deep anger and disappointment of Balak, the king of Moab, after failing to curse the Israelites. Seeking to calm the king's rage, Balaam argues that there is no real justification for this anger [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He offers an apology, explaining that the king should not be surprised by the outcome. Balaam reminds Balak that he had already set clear boundaries with the royal messengers who came promising great honor. He had informed them from the very beginning that the power to curse did not lie in his hands, and that no hope of prestige or reward could change that reality [ספורנו].

However, there is a deep complexity to this apology. Balaam leans heavily on his initial refusal to the messengers, which occurred before he knew what God would ultimately command him. This defense does not reflect the full truth. As events progressed, Balaam actually demonstrated a clear willingness and personal desire to travel and curse the people. His eagerness was so strong that an angel of God had to stop him on the road to issue a warning [רמב״ן].