Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

192
Balak
The Numbers Trap
Rav Jake Vidomlanski
A t the opening of the parasha we are told of the catalyst that prompted Balak
to hire Balaam: “Moab became very frightened of the people [Israel] because it was
numerous” (22:3). In the first parable that Balaam offers he addresses himself to this
fear of Balak. Balaam notes an important concept that all too often we fall short of
appreciating. “Who would count the dust of Ya’akov, and the number of the animallike
births of Israel?” (23:10). Rav Hirsch explains that Balaam clarifies to Balak that
he is making a mistake to asses the greatness of the Jewish people by its sheer number.
Balak wrongfully assumed that the might of the Jews rests in their considerable
numbers. If he were to succeed in stunting the Jewish nation’s physical growth the
Jewish nation could be defeated. However, “Who would count the dust of Ya’akov,
and the number of the animal-like births of Israel?” Unlike other nations we are not
dependent upon our numbers; that has never been our strength. The Torah stresses,
“Not because you are more numerous than all the peoples did God choose you, for
you are the smallest of all the peoples” (Devarim 7:7). Whether we are few like Ya’akov
or many like Yisrael does not determine our vitality. Our potency is determined by
our undeviating commitment to our ultimate purpose of serving God and spreading
His will and desire.
The Gemara in Yoma (22b) as well as the Rambam (Hilchot Temidin u-Musafin 4:4)
prohibit counting Jews. This prohibition applies even when counting individuals for a
devar mitzvah. Therefore, for example, when we gather ten men for a minyan we don’t