במדבר, פרק כ״ד, פסוק ב׳

In a dramatic turning point, the prophet of the nations stands overlooking the Israelite camp. This moment marks a profound transition where his hostile intentions collide with the spiritual reality of the people, ultimately elevating him to the absolute peak of his prophetic abilities.

When he directed his gaze toward the camp, his motives are debated. The primary approach among commentators is that he sought to cast an evil eye upon the nation, exposing his own corrupt character traits—specifically an evil eye, an arrogant spirit, and a greedy soul [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מזרחי, גור אריה]. Recognizing a brief window of opportunity when the protective Clouds of Glory had temporarily withdrawn, he intended to strike them with his gaze. His strategy was to first praise his victims so that his subsequent curse would firmly take hold [שפתי כהן, דברי דוד]. Conversely, others suggest his focused gaze represented a moment of prophetic elevation, allowing him to see beyond physical reality [אור החיים], driven by a sudden sense of love and affection for the people [העמק דבר].

Looking down, he observed the nation resting peacefully [ביאור שטיינזלץ], perfectly organized according to their banners and families [רבנו בחיי, אבן עזרא, רש ר הירש]. Unlike previous attempts where his view was restricted, he now saw the entire nation at once, arranged in a formation reflecting the heavenly chariot [מלבי״ם]. Two striking features stood out. First, the tribes were not intermingled; each maintained its pure lineage and independent identity [רש״י, משכיל לדוד, ברכת אשר]. Second, he witnessed a profound modesty in their daily lives. The entrances to their tents were deliberately positioned so they did not face one another. This arrangement was not merely a legal precaution to protect privacy, but stemmed from a pure, internal trait of modesty [רש״י, רבנו בחיי, תורה תמימה, משכיל לדוד]. It was precisely this modesty that served as a spiritual shield, preventing his evil eye from taking control over them [תורה תמימה, דברי דוד].

Witnessing this extraordinary sight triggered a fundamental change. Commentators explain that this initially manifested as an internal reversal: his hostile, destructive desire to curse the Israelites transformed into a firm resolution in his heart to refrain from cursing them [רש״י, מזרחי, הכתב והקבלה]. Furthermore, this stage represents the zenith of his prophetic attainment. Until this moment, his prophecies arrived randomly or through impure channels. Now, a pure, open, and complete spirit of prophecy rested upon him, allowing him to speak from direct divine inspiration [אור החיים, הטור הארוך, רש ר הירש, שפתי כהן, מלבי״ם, אלשיך, אדרת אליהו].

Another profound approach suggests that the divine spirit was actually destined for the Israelites themselves. When the prophet witnessed the camp's impeccable order and deep modesty, he realized they were fully worthy of the Divine Presence. Moved by this, he prayed that God's presence would indeed rest upon them. Because of the spiritual principle that one who prays for another is answered first, he personally merited the spirit of God resting upon him at that exact moment [אור החיים, תורה תמימה, שפתי חכמים, הכתב והקבלה, דברי דוד].