What are the connotations of "Er'enu ve'Lo Atah..."?
Rashi and Rashbam: It means that Bil'am saw the praise of Ya'akov, only not now but later.
R. Bachye (citing a Midrash Agadah): It refers to David ha?Melech - who would reign only four hundred years later. 1
Seforno: It means that Bil'am saw now what this people (Yisral) was destined to do to Balak's nation (Mo'av) in the days of Mashi'ach.
Rambam (in Hilchos Melachim, 11:1): "Er'enu, ve'Lo Atah" - 'Zeh David'; 2 "Ashurenu ve'Lo Karov" - 'Zeh Melech ha'Mashi'ach'; "Darach Kochav mi'Ya'akov" - 'Zeh David'; "ve'Kam Sheivet mi'Yisrael" - 'Zeh Melech ha'Mashi'ach'; "u'Machatz Pa'asei Mo'av" 3 - ; "ve'Karkar Kol B'nei Sheis" 4 - 'Zeh David'. 5
What is the significance of "Er'enu ve'Lo Atah, Ashurenu ve?Lo Karov"?
Ramban and R. Bachye #1 (on Pasuk 14): Because, as opposed to the previous three prophesies, which dealt with the immediate future, 1 the current prophecy deals with the days of Mashi'ach in the distant future.
R. Bachye #2 : Refer to 24:17:0.1:2.
Da'as Zekenim: It can be compared to a king who was traveling and who became thirsty. When he asked where there is water; his enemy said 'it is far', to cause him pain. His friend said 'it is close', to assuage him. Similarly whereas Bil'am said that the salvation [of Yisrael is far, Moshe said ?Ki Karov Yom Eidam" (Devarim 32:35).and Yeshayah, "Ki Kerovah Yeshu'asi Lavo" (Yeshayah 56:1.
What is the significance of Bil?am?s three prophesies concerning Yisrael that preceded the current one?
Ramban and R. Bachye: His first three prophecies concerned 1. Yisrael?s being the portion of Hashem - in 23:9; 2. that they will conquer Eretz Yisrael and kill the Cana'ani kings - in 23:24; 3. that they will flourish in Eretz Yisrael and appoint a king who will defeat Agag, and the growth of the kingdom of David ha'Meelech - in 24:4.
"Darach Kochav mi'Ya'akov ve'Sheivet mi'Yisrael ? ". Who is this referring to?
Rashi #1 (citing Targum Onkelos): 'A king will arise from Ya'akov and Mashi'ach will become great in Yisrael. 1
Rashi #2 and Hadar Zekenim: "Darach Kochav" means that the star and the Mazal of Yisrael will become strong and "ve'Kam Sheivet" refers to the staff and the strap of Sovereignty.
Ramban: Mashi'ach will arise from Ya'akov - a staff of kingship. 2
Seforno: 'Gashmi ve'Nitzchi' - Mashi'ach who is physical and permanent (as opposed to the era of the two Batei-Mikdash - which came to an end when they were destroyed).
Targum Yonasan: A powerful king will arise from Ya'akov, a great saviour and a strong staff.
Yerushalmi Ta'anis, 4:5: R'Akiva, who initially believed Bar Kochba to be the Mashi'ach, Darshened 'Darach bar Kuziba (a pseudonym of bar Kochba) mi'Ya'akov'. 3
See also Ba'al ha'Turim.
Ramban: He referred to him as a star because, like a shooting-star, that travels from one end of the sky to the other, so too, will Mashi'ach gather all the exiles of Yisrael from the edge of the earth; See Daniel, 7:13. See also R. Chavel's footnotes on the previous Pasuk DH 'li'Yemos ha'Mashi'ach hi'.
See Torah Temimah, note 24.
What are the connotations of "u'Machatz es Pa'asei Mo'av"?
Rashi and Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It refers to David ha'Melech 1 (Mashi'ach - Targum Onkelos [the powerful king - Targum Yonasan]) killing the nobles of Mo'av.
To whom is "Kol B'nei Sheis" referring?
Rashi: It refers to all of mankind - since all the world descended from Sheis (Adam ha'Rishon's son).
Targum Yonasan: It refers to the camp of Gog, who are destined to fight with Yisrael in the days of Mashi'ach.
Hadar Zekenim (citing the Riva): It refers to the B'nei Amon, who descend from Ervah 1 (the son of Lot from his daughter). 2
Chizkuni: It refers to Mo'av, who descend from Ervah. 3 (See answer #3).
R. Bachye: It refers to the foundations - the nations of the world. 4
R. Chaim Paltiel: It refers to all children of Z'nus. 5
"Sheis" refers to Ervah, as in Yeshayah 20:4 "va'Chashufei Sheis [Ervas Mitzrayim]".
How can Kol Bnei Shes refer only to Amon, and not to Mo'av? Both descend from Ervah! (PF)
How can Kol Bnei Shes refer only to Mo'av, and not to Amon? (PF)
R. Bachye: As in "Tehilim 11:3 "Ki ha'Shasos Yeharesun
R. Chaim Paltiel: as it says in Mishlei 7:10 "Shis Zonah" and "va'Chashufei Shes."
What is the translation of of "ve'Karkar Kol B'nei Sheis"?
Rashi: 'He will pierce all the sons of Sheis'.
Targum Onkelos: 'He will rule over all the B'nei Sheis'.
Targum Yonasan: 'And all the'nei Sheis will fall dead before him'.
Ibn Ezra (citing Midrash Agadah): 'He will destroy all the B'nei Sheis'. 1
Ibn Ezra (Ibid.): As in Yeshayah 22:5 "Mekarker Kir ve'Sho'a el ha'Har".
Rashi (and Targum Onkelos) write that "Kol B'nei Sheis" is all of mankind. If so, Yisrael are included! But Earlier, the Pasuk implies that Yisrael will have power?
Da'as Zekenim: Since earlier, the Pasuk implies that Yisrael have power, Yisrael are automaticlly excluded from this statement.
Refer to 24:17:4:2-5.
