## Chizkuni, Numbers

###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:1:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:1:1)

**בנה לי בזה שבעה מזבחת** כדי להכריע שבעה מזבחות שבנו שבעה צדיקים עד משה. אדם, הבל, נח, אברהם, יצחק, יעקב, משה, כדי להציל בהם ארץ שבעה עממים וכנגדם נשא משלו שבע פעמים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
בנה לי בזה שבעה מזבחות, “build seven altars for me in this location!” Bileam wanted to equal the numbers of altars which righteous people had built in honour of G-d up until now. They were Adam, Hevel, Noach, Avraham, Yitzchok , Yaakov, and Moses. By sacrificing offerings to the Jewish G-d on each of these altars he hoped to stave off the destruction decreed by G-d on the seven Canaanite nations. This is also why he composed seven separate poems extolling G-d. (Compare 23,7, 1824.)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:1:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:1:2)

**שבעה פרים ושבעה אילים** כך מנהג דברי בני אדם וגם בתורה מצינו בכמה ענינים שבעה שבעה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
שבעה פרים ושבעה אלים, “seven bullocks and seven rams.” Matching the number seven was a common custom amongst people in those days, and even the Torah, on occasion, also reflects this custom.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:2:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:2:1)

**פר ואיל במזבח** על כל מזבח.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
פר ואיל במזבח, “a bullock and a ram to be offered on each of these altars.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:3:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:3:1)

**וילך שפי** מכותת ונשבר מלחיצת הקיר ומרוב שנאתו אותם לא המתין עד שנתרפא.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
וילך שפי, “he was limping,” as a result of the ass having squeezed his leg against the wall. He was so consumed with hatred for the Jewish people that he did not even take time out to wait until his injury had healed.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:3:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:3:2)

**שפי** לשון שפו עצמותיו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
שפי, the expression in this sense occurs in Job 33,21: עצמותיו and his bones were rubbed away.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:4:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:4:1)

**ויקר אלקים** הקוף בפת״‎ח (בקמ״‎ץ) ולשון מקרה דוגמא וירא שהוא כמו ויראה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויקר אלוקים, “and G-d met;” the letter ק has the vowel patach under it, to make sure we would understand that this “meeting” of G-d with Bileam would be understood as if per chance, מקרה. Bileam was not able to prearrange a date with G-d. Other examples of the use of this word in a similarly adjusted construction, are found in וירא, instead of ויראה, from the root ראה “to see.” Here we would have expected ויקרה.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:5:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:5:1)

**וכה תדבר** לא הוצרך לפרש כאן הדיבור שהרי בלעם פירשו בשעת הנבואה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
וכה תדבר, “and thus you shall say;” there was no need to spell out the precise wording Bileam was to use at this stage, as long as he would know what would follow.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:7:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:7:1)

**מהררי קדם** כפל מלה הוא שהרי כתוב ארם מקדם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
מהררי קדם, “from the mountains of the East.” This was a repetition as we know that Aram is in the East, (Isaiah 9,11)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:8:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:8:1)

**מה אקב** וגו׳‎ שהרי מראש צורים שאני עומד כדכתיב ויעלהו במות בעל.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
מה אקוב וגו, “how can \_ curse where G-d has not cursed;” seeing that Bileam stood on the top of high rocks, as we have read in 22,41.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:9:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:9:1)

**[אשורנו** מביט מרחוק]


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:9:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:9:2)

**ומגבעות אשורנו** שהם לבדם שוכנים ואין שום אומה יכולה להם שהרי בוראם הבטיחם להושיבם לבטח כדכתיב וישבתם לבטח עליה, וישבתם לבטח בארצכם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ומגבעות אשורנו, “and from the hills I see it.” They encamp by themselves and are totally self sufficient. No other nation can hope to attack them successfully as their Creator has assured them of His ensuring their security. This was the promise we read in Leviticus 25,19, and 26,5.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:10:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:10:1)

**מי מנה עפר יעקב** מי יוכל למנות עפרוריתו של יעקב הם הבנים דקים כלומר גם יש בהם בנים קטנים שאינן בני מניין שהרי ישראל לא נמנו רק מעשרים שנה ומעלה נמצא עפר יעקב הוא הטף מרובה על הגדולים כמה ידות ואם הגדולים חטאו הקטנים לא חטאו לכך אינו חפץ בקללתם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
מי מנה עפר יעקב, “Who has counted the dust of Yaakov?” Who can even count the small dust particles of Yaakov, the young children. They have small children en masse that are never part of any census. The only Israelites that have ever been subject to a census are the ablebodied men between the ages of 2060. In other words, the number of Israelites who have never been couned by far outnumber those that have been counted. Even if we were to assume that some of the adults had been guilty of some sins, the vast majority of them, the children, certainly have not been guilty of any sins. Therefore I am unable to make any curses effective against them.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:10:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:10:2)

**ומספר את רובע ישראל** אחד מרביעיותיהן של ארבעת דגליהם כדכתיב אפס קצהו תראה וגו'

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ומספר את רובע ישראל, “nor who has numbered even one quarter of Israel?” Balak himself had told Bileam that only a small section of it was visible from their vantage point. (verse 13)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:10:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:10:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:10:3)

**תמת נפשי מות ישרים** ראה באיצטגנינותו שעתיד ליפול בחרב.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
תמות נפשי מות ישרים, “let me die the death of the righteous!” He had foreseen in the stars that he was destined to die by the sword.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:13:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:13:1)

**לך נא אתי אל מקום אחר** בכ״‎ף כפולה אעפ״‎י שהוא לשון הליכה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
לך נא אתי אל מקום אחר, “please go with me to another location.” The letter ך here is as if it had been repeated, even though the root is still הליכה, “walking.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:15:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:15:1)

**ואנכי אקרה כה** האל״‎ף בחיריק.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואנכי אקרה כה, “and I will go toward a meeting yonder.” The letter א in אקרה has the vowel chirik.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:18:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:18:1)

**בנו צפור** וי״‎ו יתרה.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:19:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:19:1)

**לא איש אל ויכזב** אינו איש לחזור מברכתו כיון שברכתים היום בשמו שהרי לא פשעו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
לא איש אל ויכזב, “G-d is not man who is apt to deceive;” Bileam tells Balak that G-d will not revoke a blessing once He had bestowed it, seeing that the blessings Bileam had bestowed on the Jewish people in His name had been bestowed on a people free from sin.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:19:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:19:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:19:2)

**ובן אדם ויתנחם** שלש נחמות מצויות, אחת במי שאינו עומד בדבורו, ואחרת במי שאינו יכול, והשלישית בפשיעת המקבל ועל השתיים אמר בלעם ובן אדם ויתנחם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ובן אדם ויתנחם, “nor is He a human being liable to repent what He had said.” There are three different kinds of “repents.” 1) One does not keep one’s word.” 2) One cannot keep it for reasons beyond one’s control. 3) One fails to keep a promise because the intended recipient had committed a sin against the party who made the promise. Concerning the latter two, Bileam says: “nor a human being who repents.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:20:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:20:1)

**וברך ולא אשיבנה** למה שהרי לא הביט און ביעקב.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
וברך ולא אשיבנה, “and when He has blessed, I am unable to reverse this.” The reason is explained in the verse following, i.e. that he had not seen any iniquity amongst the Israelites.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:21:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:21:1)

**ותרועת מלך בו** במחנה ישראל הה״‎ד והרעותם בחצוצרות ונזכרתם לפני ה׳‎ אלקיכם ונושעתם מאויבכם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ותרועת מלך בו, “and their King’s acclaim is in their midst.” A reference to the camp of Israel; Bileam refers to what we have read in Numbers 10,9 about the efficacy of the trumpets.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:22:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:22:1)

**כתועפת** לשון כפל כמו מגילה עפה כלומר בכפלי כפלים כחו כפול מכח ראם אין דמות וערך לכחו אלא אחז לו הכתוב ראם לפי שהוא בריה גדולה כדי להסביר לעולם כפי מדעם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
כתועפות, like the lofty horns;” the construction of this word implies that there is more than one of these horns. Our author cites Zecharyah 5,2 as a parallel, מגלה עפה, “a flying scroll.” The horns of the Reem, are twice as strong as ordinary horns. Although there is no known animal nowadays that is called Reem, the Torah uses the mythical animal as an example of this creature possessing strong horns. People in Moses’ time were still familiar with that species.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:23:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:23:1)

**כי לא נחש ביעקב** לשון נחשתי ויברכני כי נחש ינחש בו, אתה אמרת לך נא אתי אל מקום אחר אין שום ניחוש ואין שום נסיון מועיל ביעקב ואין שום קסם מועיל בישראל לקללם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
כי לא נחש ביעקב, “for there is none in Yaakov who relies on enchantments.” Compare use of that term in Genesis 30,27, where Lavan credits his financial success during Yaakov’s stay with him to such enchantments. We find it again when Joseph’s servant upon searching for the missing goblet credits his master with using it as such an instrument (Genesis 44,15). Here it is used by Bileam to tell Balak about the futility of engaging in such enchantments when dealing with the Jewish people. No sorcery will succeed in bringing a curse on Israel.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:23:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:23:2)

**כעת יאמר ליעקב** לשנה הבאה לאחר עברם את הירדן **כעת** הזאת **יאמר ליעקב**, על יעקב ועל ישראל, כמה פעולות פעל הקב״‎ה עם אלו דוגמא מה רבו מעשיך שהוא כמו כמה רבו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
כעת יאמר ליעקב, “now it will be said of Yaakov;” Bileam refers to the year following after the Israelites have crossed the river Jordan. At that time many of the miracles that G-d has performed on behalf of the Jewish nation will be recited in public. The expression is similar to: 'מה רבו מעשיך ה, “how great and manifold are Your works o Lord.” (Psalms 104,24) We know the expression


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:23:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:23:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:23:3)

**כעת** כמו אשוב אליך כעת חיה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
כעת, as referring to the same time in the following year when the angel announces to Avraham that his wife will have son at the same time a year hence. (Genesis18,14)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:23:4
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:23:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:23:4)

**ליעקב ולישראל** על יעקב ועל ישראל כמו אמרי לי אחי הוא ומה שהזכיר יעקב לפי שהיתה מטתו שלמה מה שאין כן באברהם ויצחק.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ליעקב ולישראל, concerning Yaakov and Israel;” but not concerning Avraham and Yitzchok, as only Yaakov/Israel had managed to raise all his children in the Avrahamitic tradition.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:24:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:24:1)

**ודם חללים ישתה** לעיל קאי **וכארי יתנשא** שאוכל טרף ושותה דם חללים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ודם חללים ישתה, “and he shall drink the blood of the slain.” This refers to the statement about the lion drinking the blood of the prey he has slain. He eats the flesh and drinks the blood.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 23:25:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 23:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/23:25:1)

**גם ברך לא תברכנו** כסבור בלק שבלעם מברכם בנבואה של עכשיו והוא לא היה יודע שמתנבא רק מה יהיה בסופם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
גם ברך לא תברכנו, “at least do not bless it!” Bileam was concerned that Bileam’s blessings for the Jewish people were referring to the immediate future. He had no idea that Bileam spoke of what would occur in the distant future.