1. Introduction to Parshas Balak and Bilom as a Navi
Today we are going to delve into Parshas Balak. Rashi explains that Hashem gave the nations a prophet, Bilom, as a response to the claim that if the nations had their own navi—prophet, they would have improved their ways. Rashi asks: how could Hashem bring calamity upon the nations through a prophet like Bilom? The answer is that even when given a prophet, the nations did not benefit or improve; Bilom did not use his prophecy for good. Instead, he attempted to harm Bnei Yisrael.
Bilom was actually an exceptional navi, yet he used his abilities in an attempt to curse and undermine the Jewish people. This brings us to a central question in our parsha: when Hashem appears to Bilom and asks, “Who are these people with you?” what is the deeper meaning behind this question?
2. The Unusual Question: “Who Are These People With You?”
This phrase—Hashem asking Bilom about those who are with him—appears several times in Chumash in different forms. It seems odd for a navi, someone who is supposed to understand everything, to be asked such a basic question by Hashem. If Bilom truly had prophetic insight, why would Hashem need to ask him who his companions were?
The Torah’s choice to highlight this exchange suggests there is something significant about the question itself. It is not simply about identifying people physically present with Bilom, but rather points toward a deeper spiritual or moral inquiry.
3. Parallels in Sefer Bereishis: Adam and Hashem’s Questions
If we look back at Sefer Bereishis, we find similar moments where Hashem asks questions that seem unnecessary for an all-knowing Creator. For example, after Adam eats from the Tree of Knowledge, Hashem asks him, “Ayeka?”—“Where are you?” Clearly, Hashem knows Adam’s location; the question is meant for Adam’s self-reflection and growth.
This pattern repeats throughout Torah: Hashem’s questions are not for His own information but serve as opportunities for those being questioned to confront themselves and their actions. In Bilom’s case as well, Hashem’s inquiry about “who are these people with you” is designed to prompt introspection and reveal something about Bilom’s intentions and character.