Torah Trivia for Parashah 40. Balak (Questions
Only)
1.) Can you describe the name of Balak’s far
(father), and whose name does this also oddly resemble?
2.) Can you describe the number of occasions that
Balak sends emissaries to Balaam, before Balaam agrees to go and visit Balak?
3.) Can you describe the number of occasions that
Balaam’s donkey evades the angel of Adonai?
4.) Can you describe how the donkey responds when
Balaam beats the donkey with a stick:
a.) The donkey runs away;
b.) The donkey bites Balaam;
c.) The donkey kicks Balaam with the donkey’s
rear legs;
d.) The donkey falls over, dead;
e.) The donkey hides the donkey’s head in the
sand; and/or,
f.) The donkey begins to speak, and ask Balaam
why Balaam previously hits her?
5.) Can you describe the number of altars Balaam
initially instructs Balak to construct, and what he instructs to be sacrificed
on each altar?
6.) Can you describe: a.)
the number of occasions in which Balak offers a sacrifice, and b.) the number of occasions in which Balaam
provides a blessing towards Israel?
7.) Can you describe, from within Balaam’s
concluding vision that is described within this Parashah, which of these tribes
does Balaam Prophesy that Israel will conquer:
a.) Moab; b.)
Seth; c.) Edom;
d.) Seir; e.)
Ir; f.) Amalek;
g.) Kenites; h.)
Kain; i.) Asshur;
j.) Eber; and/or, k.)
Kittim?
8.) Can you describe the tribe from which the
women are descended, with whom Israeli men begin to worship idols?
9.) Can you describe the punishment that Adonai
dictates for Israelis who worship the idol of Baal Peor?
10.) Can you describe how the tribal leaders
respond to Moshe’s instruction to perform the punishment upon idol worshippers:
a.) The tribal leaders begin to weep;
b.) The tribal leaders immediately carry out the
punishment;
c.) The tribal leaders protest the condemnation
of Israelis;
d.) The tribal leaders suggest further punishment
of torture; and/or,
e.) The tribal leaders solicit a trial, with due
process?
11.) Can you describe who it is that spears to
death the Israeli man with the Midianite woman, and who are his relatives that
are referenced within this Parashah?
12.) Can you describe the number of Israelis who
are killed within the plague that is caused by the idol worshippers, before the
Israeli man and the Midianite woman are speared to death: a.)
24; b.) 240;
c.) 2,400; d.)
24,000; e.) 240,000;
and/or, f.) 2,400,000?
Torah Trivia for Parashah 40. Balak (with Answers)
1.) Can you describe the name of Balak’s far
(father), and whose name does this also oddly resemble?
Answer: The name of Balak’s far is, “Tzippor,” (צפור) and this resembles the name of Moshe’s
wife, “Tzipporah,” “צפרה”:
“Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the
Amorites.” (B’midbar 22:2)
“(Moshe)
consented to stay with the man, and he gave (Moshe) his daughter Zipporah as
wife.” (Shmot 2:21).
2.) Can you describe the number of occasions that
Balak sends emissaries to Balaam, before Balaam agrees to go and visit Balak?
Answer: Balak sends emissaries to Balaam on 2
occasions before Balaam agrees to visit (B’midbar 22:7 – 21).
3.) Can you describe the number of occasions that
Balaam’s donkey evades the angel of Adonai?
Answer: Balaam’s
donkey evades the angel of Adonai on 3 occasions:
“He
was riding on his she-ass, with his two servants alongside, when the ass caught
sight of the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his
hand. The ass swerved from the road and
went into the fields;” (B’midbar 22:22 –
23);
“The
ass, seeing the angel of the LORD, pressed herself against the wall and
squeezed Balaam’s foot against the wall;”
(B’midbar 22:25);
“When
the ass now saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam was furious and beat the ass with
his stick.” (B’midbar 22:27).
4.) Can you describe how the donkey responds when
Balaam beats the donkey with a stick:
a.) The donkey runs away;
b.) The donkey bites Balaam;
c.) The donkey kicks Balaam with the donkey’s
rear legs;
d.) The donkey falls over, dead;
e.) The donkey hides the donkey’s head in the
sand; and/or,
f.) The donkey begins to speak, and ask Balaam
why Balaam previously hits her?
Answer: The answer
is: f.)
the donkey begins to speak and ask Balaam why Balaam previously hits her:
“Then
the LORD opened the ass’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to
you that you have beaten me these three times?’” (B’midbar 22:28).
5.) Can you describe the number of altars Balaam initially
instructs Balak to construct, and what he instructs to be sacrificed on each
altar?
Answer: Balaam
instructs Balak to construct 7 altars and to sacrifice a bull and a ram on each
altar:
“Balaam
said to Balak, ‘Build me seven altars here and have seven bulls and seven rams
ready her for me.’” (B’midbar 23:1).
6.) Can you describe: a.) the
number of occasions in which Balak offers a sacrifice, and b.) the number of occasions in which Balaam
provides a blessing towards Israel?
Answer: Balak actually offers a sacrifice on 4
occasions: he offers a preliminary
sacrifice from which Balaam eats, and he offers 3 subsequent sacrifices that
Balaam specifically instructs; and
Balaam provides blessings towards Israel on each of these 3 occasions:
a.)
“Balak
sacrificed oxen and sheep, and had them served to Balaam and the dignitaries
with him.” (B’midbar 22:40);
“Balaam
said to Balak, ‘Build me seven altars here and have seven bulls and seven rams
ready here for me.’ Balak did as Balaam
directed; and Balak and Balaam offered
up a bull and a ram on each altar.”
(B’midbar 23:1 – 2).
“With
that, he took him to Sedeohzophim, on the summit of Pisgah. He built seven altars and offered a bull and
a ram on each altar.” (B’midbar 23:14);
“Balaam
said to Balak, ‘Build me here seven altars, and have seven bulls and seven rams
ready for me here.’ Balak did as Balaam
said: he offered up a bull and a ram on
each altar.” (B’midbar 23:29 – 30).
b.)
“He
took up his theme, and said:
“From Aram has Balak brought me,
“Moab’s king from the hills of the East:
“Come, curse me (Yaakov),
“Come, tell Israel’s doom!
“How can I damn whom God has not damned.
“How doom when the Lord has not doomed!
“As I see them from the mountain tops,
“Gaze on them from the heights,
“There is a people that dwells apart,
“Not reckoned among the nations,
“Who can count the dust of (Yaakov),
“Number the dust coloured cloud of Israel?
“May I die the death of the upright,
“May my fate be like theirs!” (B’midbar 23:7 – 10);
“And he took up his theme, and said:
“Up, Balak, attend,
“Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!
“God is not man to be capricious,
“of mortal to change (Adonai’s) mind.
“Would (Adonai) speak and not act,
“Promise and not fulfil?
“My message was to bless:
“When (Adonai) blessed, I cannot reverse it.
“No harm is in sight for (Yaakov),
“No woe in view for Israel.
“The LORD their God is with them,
“And their (Sovereign’s) acclaim in their midst.
“God who freed them from Egypt
“Is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
“Lo, there is no angry in (Yaakov),
“No divining in Israel:
“(Yaakov) is told at once,
“Yes Israel, what God has planned.
“Lo, a people that rises like a lion,
“Leaps up like the king of beasts,
“Rests not till it has feasted on prey
“And drunk the blood of the slain.” (B’midbar 23:18 – 24);
“Taking up his theme, he said:
“Word of Balaam son of Beor,
“Word of the man whose eye is (True),
“Word of him who hears God’s speech,
“Who beholds visions from the Almighty,
“Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:
“How fair are your tents, O (Yaakov),
“Your dwellings, O Israel!
“Like palm-groves that stretch out,
“Like gardens beside a river,
“Like aloes planted by the LORD,
“Like cedars beside the water;
“Their boughs drip with moisture,
“Their roots have abundant water.
“Their king shall rise above Agag,
“Their kingdom shall be exalted.
“God (Who) freed them from Egypt
“Is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
“They shall devour enemy nations,
“Crush their bones,
“And smash their arrows.
“They crouch, they lie down like a lion,
“Like the king of beasts;
who dare rouse them?
“Blessed are they who bless you,
“Accursed they who curse you!” (B’midbar 24:3 – 9).
7.) Can you describe, from within Balaam’s concluding
vision that is described within this Parashah, which of these tribes does
Balaam Prophesy that Israel will conquer:
a.) Moab; b.)
Seth; c.) Edom;
d.) Seir; e.)
Ir; f.) Amalek;
g.) Kenites; h.)
Kain; i.) Asshur;
j.) Eber; and/or, k.)
Kittim?
Answer: Balaam Prophesies Israel conquering all the
listed tribes, with the exception of:
g.) Kenites, and f.) Kain;
whilst Balaam indeed Prophesies the demise of these tribes, this demise
is directly caused by the Asshurs (Assyians), and Balaam generally Prophesies
the subsequent conquering of Asshurs, and all additionally listed tribes, by
Israel:
“He took up his theme, and said:
“Word of Balaam son of Beor,
“Word of the man whose eye is (True),
“Word of him who hears God’s speech,
“Who obtains knowledge from the Most High,
“And beholds visions from the Almight,
“Prostrate, but with eyes unveiled:
“What I see for them is not yet,
“What I behold will not be soon:
“A star rises from (Yaakov),
“A sceptre comes forth from Israel;
“It smashes the brow of Moab,
“The foundation of all children of Seth.
“Edom becomes a possession of its enemies;
“But Israel is triumphant.
“A victor issues from (Yaakov)
“To wipe out what is left of Ir.
“He
saw Amalek and, taking up his theme, he said:
“A
leading nation is Amalek;
“But
its fate is to perish forever.
“He
saw the Kenites and, taking up his theme, he said:
“Though
your abode be secure,
“And
you nest be set among cliffs,
“Yet
shall Kain be consumed,
“When
Asshur takes you captive.
“He took up his theme and said:
“Alas, who can survive except God has willed it!
“Ships come from the quarter of Kittim;
“They subject Asshur, subject Eber.
“They, too, shall perish forever.” (B’midbar 24:15 – 24).
8.) Can you describe the tribe from which the
women are descended, with whom Israeli men begin to worship idols?
Answer: Israeli men
begin to worship idols with women from Moab:
“While
Israel was staying at Shittim, the people profaned themselves by whoring with
the Moabite women, who invited the people to the sacrifices for their
(deity). The people partook of them and
worshipped that (deity).” (B’midbar 25:1
– 2).
9.) Can you describe the punishment that Adonai
dictates for Israelis who worship the idol of Baal Peor?
Answer: Adonai
prescribes public execution for Israelis who worship the idol:
“The
LORD said to (Moshe), ‘Take all the ringleaders and have them publicly impaled
before the LORD, so that the LORD’s wrath may turn away from Israel.’” (B’midbar 25:4).
10.) Can you describe how the tribal leaders
respond to Moshe’s instruction to perform the punishment upon idol worshippers:
a.) The tribal leaders begin to weep;
b.) The tribal leaders immediately carry out the
punishment;
c.) The tribal leaders protest the condemnation
of Israelis;
d.) The tribal leaders suggest further punishment
of torture; and/or,
e.) The tribal leaders solicit a trial, with due
process?
Answer: The answer is: a.)
the tribal leaders weep (although each additional response is arguably applicable
in some manner):
“Just
then one of the Israelites came and brought a Midianite woman over to his
companions, in the sight of (Moshe) and of the whole Israelite community who
were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” (B’midbar 25:6).
11.) Can you describe who it is that spears to
death the Israeli man with the Midianite woman, and who are his relatives that
are referenced within this Parashah?
Answer: Phinehas is the man who spears the Israeli
man with the Midianite woman; and he is
the son of Eleazar, and the grandson of Aaron:
“When
Phinehas, son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he left the
assembly and, taking a spear in his han, he followed the Israelite into the
chamber and stabbed both of them, the Israelite and the woman, through the
belly. Then the plague against the
Israelites was checked.” (B’midbar 25:7
– 8).
12.) Can you describe the number of Israelis who
are killed within the plague that is caused by the idol worshippers, before the
Israeli man and the Midianite woman are speared to death: a.)
24; b.) 240;
c.) 2,400; d.)
24,000; e.) 240,000;
and/or, f.) 2,400,000?
Answer: The answer
is: d.)
24,000 Israelis are killed within the plague:
“Those who died of the plague numbered twenty-four
thousand.” (B’midbar 25:9).
--
Discussion Questions:
Is there any significant
connexion between the name of Balak’s far and the name of Moshe’s wife? Is there any legitimacy within the
consideration of this being some form of “trans-temporal” rendering of the
anticipated competition between the descendants of Moshe (and צפרה), and the additional descendants of
Israel?
Why is there such an
arduous opinion towards Balaam; whilst
recognising the tendency for self-promotion, how is this balanced with manner
in which Balaam continues to actually adhere to the word of Adonai? Why does Adonai instruct Balaam to go? And why is such revelry generated from
Balaam’s blessing, amidst the criticism towards him? What are additional, undisclosed details regarding
Balaam’s actions and intentions? And how
do Balaam’s actions coincide and/or differ with additional, “ordinary”
behaviour of Priests, who are provided to “diven” for contributions (even,
perhaps, amongst the duties prescribed for the כהנים)? How is Balaam’s
eagerness to abide by Balak balanced with Balaam’s willingness to return home
upon Adonai’s command?
How do the actions of the
idol worshippers, and even Pinchas spearing the idol worshipper, contrast with
the immediately previous blessing that Balaam proclaims regarding the
Peacefulness within the Israeli camp?
What is meant by the
general phrase: “Balaam stops trying to
utilise magic” (B’midbar 24:1); what is
the distinction between the nature of the prayer that Balaam performs during
the 1st 2 occasions and the 3rd occasion?
What is the significance
within the reference to the “descendants of Seth;” and what implications exist regarding the
manner in which Israelis are also descendants of Seth?
What is the significance
of Israeli men being involved with Moabite women, and the spearing of the
Israeli man with the Midianite woman? Is
this an allegory and/or a metaphysical manifestation of the disdain experienced
towards Moshe for being the leader of Israel whilst simultaneously being
married with a Midianite woman and having children with her? Does this have any connexion with additional,
previous criticisms towards Moshe’s wife (including from Miriam and Aaron), and
the preceding consideration regarding the name of Balak’s far? What is the relationship between Moabites and
Midianites?
118.11.1
ושלום אהבא, Family and Friends.
שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلام.Peace.SatNam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.Barış.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.
.
.
.
...
This week’s Parashah is
Phinehas, however, this week’s correspondence includes the Torah Trivia
iterations for the 2 Parshiot for the past 2 weeks: “Chukkat” and “Balak.” So obviously, these are tardy, and I have yet
to complete the Torah Trivia questions for this week’s Parashah; however, it seems appropriate to simply
provide what I do have available, and the provide the update Torah Trivia
questions as such asre made available.
Parashah Balak describes
the blessings provided by Balaam, whilst Balak pays him to curse Israel. And subsequent to these challenges, Israelis experience
a plague because of fornication and idol-worship with other tribes.
The featured Torah Trivia
question for Parashah Balak is: “What is
the name of Balak’s far, and whose name also oddly resembles his far’s name?”
However, here is a bonus
featured Torah Trivia question that is absent from the original 12
questions: Phinehas is proclaimed as a
hero, within Parashah Balak, and, indeed the next proceeding Parashah is named
after him; however, within what Parashah
is Phinehas actually introduced within the Torah? The answer is that Phinehas is included
within the lineage of Aaron, described within “Vayera,” Shmot 6:20 – 25.
The featured Hebrew term
for Parashah Balak is: “האתון”,” (“haton,” meaning: “donkey”), appearing in B’midbar 22:23, in
describing the ass of Balaam. Additional
Hebrew terms for this Parashah are: “צפרה,” (“Tzipporah,” meaning: “bird”), found within Shmot 2:21; and: “צפור,” (“Tzippor”), which is found within this
Parashah, B’midbar 22:2.
And the bonus Hebrew
phrase for this Parashah is from Balaam’s blessing in B’midbar 24:5:
“,יעקב אהליך מה־טבו”
“.ישראל משכנתיך”
“Ma tovu Elocha, Yaakov,
“Mishkanitecha, Israel.”
“How fair are your tents,
o Yaakov,
“Your dwellings, O
Israel!”
The Torah Trivia
correspondence and questions for the previous week’s Parashah, “Chukkat,” is
also included with this correspondence.
We are working on returning
on the regular schedule. B’ezrat Hashem,
I will be able to forward this week’s Parashah (Phinehas) within the next week,
along with the “double-feature” for next week:
“Mattot” and “Masei.”
Additional Torah study
resources include:
USCJ Torah Sparks: http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx;
שלום שבת
,ושלום אהבא
Peter
שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلام.Peace.SatNam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.Barış.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.
.
..
...
ૐ.
אמן
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