1)

Why did Bil'am instruct Balak to stand by his Olah?

1.

Seforno: In order to have the appropriate Kavanah as each part of the sacrifice was being sacrificed. 1

2.

Oznayim la'Torah: Because it is correct for the owner to stand by his Korban whilst it is being sacrificed. 2


1

Seforno: Lke the Torah writes in Vayikra 17:11 ?ki ha?Dam hu ba?Nefesh Yechaper?.

2

As the Gemara states in Sotah, 8a.

2)

Why did Bil'am insert the word "Ulai"?

1.

Rashi: Because Hashem was not accustomed to appearing to him by day. 1

2.

Seforno: Because he was not on the level of Moshe, who, once he was established, was assured of Hashem's attention at any time. 2 And he figured that perhaps Hashem would come to meet him, like He came to meet Moshe when he first became a prophet. 3


1

Refer to 22:8:1:1.

2

Seforno: As the Torah wrote 12:7 "b'Chol Beisi Ne'eman hu".

3

At the burning bush - See Sh'mos, 3:4.

3)

What is the meaning of "Vayeilech Shefi"?

1.

Rashi, R. Bachye #1 and Targum Onkelos: It means 'He went alone'.

2.

R. Bachye #2 (citing the Ibn Ezra): It means ?to a high place? - as if it had written ?Vayeilech el Shefi?. 1 2

3.

R. Bachye #3: It means he was lame in one leg. 3 4

4.

Rashbam: It means 'He went limping', 5

5.

Targum Yonasan: It means 'He went doubled-over 6 like a snake'. 7


1

Like ?Nas?u ha?Am Chatzeros? (11:35).

2

R. Bachye: He went from one high place to another is search of a location from where he could see them gathered in one group, in order to curse them, buthe could only see them scattered across the four corners of the globe - the acronym of ?Shefi? is ?Seh Pezurah Yisrael?.

3

See answer #5 and note.

4

R. Bachye: As opposed to Shimshon, about whom the Torah writes in - in Bereishis 49:17 ?Shefifon? - because he was lame in both legs.

5

As in Iyov, 33:21. The Gemara in Sotah, 10a proves from here that Bil'am was lame in one leg. See Torah Temimah, note 1 and Ba?al ha?Turim.

6

As in Iyov, 33:21. Because he was lame - Refer to 22:24:1:1. See also Ba'al ha'Turim

7

'Shefifon' is a kind of snake - See Bereishis 49:17.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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