Bnei Yisrael Sanctifying The Land

וירא בלק כו' אשר עשה ישראל כו'

"And Balak saw all that Bnei Yisrael had done" (Bamidbar 22:2).

The piece opens with Balak seeing all that Bnei Yisrael had accomplished, which sets the stage for his fear.

דכתיב הנה כסה את עין הארץ והוא יושב ממלי

As it is written, "Behold, a people has come out of Mitzrayim; behold, it covers the eye of the land, and it dwells opposite me" (Bamidbar 22:5).

Balak's message describes Bnei Yisrael as covering the eye of the land and settling opposite him, hinting at a deeper concern than mere numbers.

כי עיקר הפחד שלהם הי' כשראו שבנ"י הולכין ומתקנים כל המקומות הרעים והמשיכו ארץ סיחון ועוג לכלל נחלת ה' כמ"ש ונתן ארצם לנחלה כו'

For the essence of their fear was when they saw that Bnei Yisrael were going along and rectifying all the evil places, drawing the land of Sichon and Og into the category of the inheritance of Hashem, as it is written, "And He gave their land as an inheritance" (Tehillim 135:12).

Their real terror was watching Bnei Yisrael transform evil, impure places into part of Hashem's inheritance, as with the lands of Sichon and Og.

וזה הי' דבר גדול כדאיתא על סיחון מלך קשה ומדינה קשה שהיו מקומות שנאחז בהם כחות הסט"א וכן הי' כל המסעות שבמדבר מקום נחש כו' ועקרב כו'

And this was a great matter, as it is brought regarding Sichon that he was a harsh king over a harsh land, for there were places to which the forces of the Sitra Achra clung; and so it was with all the journeys in the wilderness, a place of "serpent and scorpion" (Devarim 8:15).

These conquered lands were strongholds of the forces of impurity, just as the wilderness journeys passed through places of spiritual danger like serpents and scorpions.

ועתה שראו שתיקנו בנ"י ארץ האמורי

And now they saw that Bnei Yisrael had rectified the land of the Emori.

The fresh trigger was seeing Bnei Yisrael rectify the land of the Emori.

עשה הוא לשון תיקון

The word "asah" (did) is a term of rectification.

The Sfas Emes reads the word for what they 'did' as denoting spiritual rectification, not mere military victory.

וזה הי' כל הכעס שלהם כענין שנאמר פן יראה בעיניו כו' יבין ושב ורפא כו'

And this was the whole of their anger, in the matter of that which is said, "Lest he see with his eyes... and understand, and return, and be healed" (Yeshayahu 6:10).

Their anger mirrored the verse warning that one might see, understand, repent, and be healed, the very thing Balak wished to prevent.

ולכן אמרו כסה כו' עין הארץ ועי"ז והוא יושב

Therefore they said "it covers the eye of the land," and through this "it dwells opposite (vehu yosheiv)."

By saying the people 'covers the eye of the land,' the verse hints that through this covering, the divine presence comes to dwell.

והוא הוא לשון נסתר שראה שיש הארת נצוצי קדושה

"Vehu" (and it) is a term of concealment, for he saw that there was an illumination of sparks of kedushah.

The word 'vehu' (and it dwells) carries a sense of hiddenness, for Balak perceived hidden sparks of kedushah shining.

ע"י שבנ"י מסתירין ומגינין להבדיל בין הגשמיות אז שורה בתוכם ה'

It is through Bnei Yisrael concealing and shielding, to distinguish between themselves and the physical, that Hashem then rests within them.

When Bnei Yisrael conceal and shield holiness by separating themselves from physicality, Hashem rests among them.

וממילא יש הארת ניצוצי קדושה שמאירין למרחוק

And consequently there is an illumination of sparks of kedushah that shine forth to a great distance.

This indwelling causes sparks of kedushah to radiate outward over a great distance.

ולכן אמרו אולי כו' נכה בו ועי"ז ואגרשנו

Therefore they said, "Perhaps... I will smite it," and through this "I will drive it out."

Balak's plan to smite and drive out Bnei Yisrael was an attempt to expel this illumination.

שכמו שבנ"י וצדיקים ממשיכין הקדושה כמ"ש במד' ע"פ צדיקים ישכנו ארץ מושכין השכינה לארץ

For just as Bnei Yisrael and the tzaddikim draw down the kedushah, as is brought in the Midrash on the verse "the righteous shall inherit the land" (Tehillim 37:29) that they draw the Shechinah into the land,

Just as Bnei Yisrael and tzaddikim draw the Shechinah down into the land, as the Midrash teaches on the righteous inheriting the land,

כן הרשעים מגרשין הארת השכינה מהארץ

so do the wicked drive away the illumination of the Shechinah from the land.

the wicked work in the opposite direction, driving the Shechinah's illumination away from the land.

ובלעם השיב לו כי באמת בנ"י נבראו ע"ז ונשתלחו בעוה"ז לפרסם כבודו ית' בעולם

And Bilam answered him, that in truth Bnei Yisrael were created for this and were sent into this world to publicize His honor, may He be blessed, in the world.

Bilam responds that the very purpose of Bnei Yisrael's creation and mission in this world is to publicize Hashem's honor.

ואמר לא איש אל ויכזב כו' ההוא אמר ולא יעשה ודיבר ולא יקימנה

And he said, "Hashem is not a man that He should lie... Has He said and will He not do it, or spoken and will He not fulfill it?" (Bamidbar 23:19).

He quotes that Hashem is not a man who lies, and whatever He says He surely does and fulfills.

דכ' אומר ועושה מדבר ומקיים

As it is written, "He speaks and does, He decrees and fulfills" (cf. Devarim 9 / Eichah 3:37).

This echoes the principle that Hashem speaks and acts, decrees and fulfills.

שהקב"ה אמר והי' העולם והם העשרה מאמרות

For the Holy One, Blessed is He, spoke and the world came into being, and these are the ten utterances of Creation.

Creation itself came about through Hashem's ten utterances of speech.

אך לא זאת בלבד שברא העולם רק הוא מנהיג בכל עת ורגע כל הבריאה

But it is not only that He created the world; rather He directs the entire Creation at every moment and instant.

Beyond the initial act of creation, Hashem continuously directs all of Creation at every single moment.

וזה נתברר בעשרת הדיברות וע"י בנ"י שנקראו עדים

And this was made clear through the Ten Commandments and through Bnei Yisrael, who are called witnesses.

This ongoing direction was revealed through the Ten Commandments and through Bnei Yisrael, who serve as witnesses to it.

וזהו לא איש כו' ויכזב

And this is "Hashem is not a man that He should lie."

The phrase 'Hashem is not a man that He should lie' points to this constant, unbroken reality.

שאין הפסק ותכלית למעשה השי"ת ולא הי' מאמר ה' לשעה רק הוא עומד תמיד כדכ' לעולם ה' דברך נצב בשמים

For there is no cessation or end to the deeds of Hashem, may He be blessed, and the utterance of Hashem was not for a moment only; rather it stands forever, as it is written, "Forever, Hashem, Your word stands firm in the heavens" (Tehillim 119:89).

Hashem's deeds have no end, and His utterance was never momentary but stands eternally, as the verse says His word stands firm forever in the heavens.

אמר ולא יעשה

"Has He said and will He not do it?"

The verse continues, asking whether Hashem has said and will not 'do' it.

יעשה היא תיקון כי בלי ספק לבסוף יתברר ויתוקן הכל וכל המחשבות שהרשעים חושבין בעולם יתבטלו ועצת ה' היא תקום

"Yaaseh" (will do) is rectification, for without doubt in the end everything will be made clear and rectified, and all the thoughts that the wicked think in the world will be nullified, and "the counsel of Hashem—it shall stand" (Mishlei 19:21).

The word 'will do' denotes rectification: ultimately all is made clear and set right, the wicked's schemes are nullified, and Hashem's counsel alone endures.

וזה נעשה בכח בנ"י הצדיקים

And this is accomplished through the power of Bnei Yisrael, the tzaddikim.

This final rectification is accomplished specifically through the power of Bnei Yisrael, the tzaddikim.

הן עם כלביא יקום בכל יום בקבלת עול מלכות שמים בשחרית וע"י זה ניתוסף להם כח חדש בכל יום

"Behold, a people that rises up like a lioness" (Bamidbar 23:24)—it rises each day through accepting the yoke of the Kingship of Heaven in Shacharis, and through this a new power is added to them each and every day.

The 'people that rises like a lioness' refers to rising each morning to accept the yoke of Heaven in Shacharis, drawing fresh power daily.

כארי יתנשא הוא לשון נפעל שהוא התחדשות שבא להם בכל יום

"Like a lion it lifts itself up"—"yisnaseh" is in the passive form (nif'al), for it is a renewal that comes to them each day.

The passive grammatical form of 'lifts itself up' indicates that this strength is a renewal granted to them from Above each day.

ועי"ז הזריזות בבוקר נשאר ברכה לכל היום עד שמתקיים לא ישכב עד יאכל טרף

And through this alacrity in the morning, a blessing remains for the whole day, until there is fulfilled "it shall not lie down until it has eaten its prey" (Bamidbar 23:24).

This morning alacrity leaves a blessing over the whole day, fulfilling 'it shall not lie down until it has eaten its prey.'

וכחן של בנ"י מתחדש בכל יום

And the strength of Bnei Yisrael is renewed each day,

The strength of Bnei Yisrael is thus constantly renewed day by day.

כמ"ש מוציאם ממצרים כו' ותמיד הקב"ה בוחר בהם מחדש כמ"ש הבוחר בעמו ישראל כו':

as it is written, "Hashem brings them out of Mitzrayim" (Bamidbar 23:22); and the Holy One, Blessed is He, always chooses them anew, as we say, "Who chooses His people Yisrael with love."

This renewal is rooted in Hashem bringing them out of Mitzrayim and continually choosing them anew, as expressed in 'Who chooses His people Yisrael with love.'

Summary: The Sfas Emes explains that Balak's true fear of Bnei Yisrael was not their numbers but their power to rectify even the most spiritually corrupt lands, drawing the Shechinah into places once gripped by the forces of impurity. By separating themselves from physicality and shielding holiness, Bnei Yisrael cause sparks of kedushah to radiate outward, while the wicked seek to drive that illumination away. Bilam is forced to declare that Hashem is not a man who lies, for Hashem not only created the world through His ten utterances but continuously directs every moment of Creation, a truth borne witness to by Bnei Yisrael at Sinai. In the end, all the schemes of the wicked are nullified and only the counsel of Hashem endures, and this final rectification is accomplished through the tzaddikim of Bnei Yisrael. They draw this strength fresh each morning by accepting the yoke of Heaven in Shacharis, rising like a lioness with renewed power, for the Holy One, Blessed is He, chooses them anew each and every day.