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Pinchas and Bilam
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki

In this week's parsha, Matot-Mas'ei, the People of Israel wage a war of vengeance against the Midianites. The Midianites had engaged Israel in a pagan orgy (Bamidbar 25:1-2) that led directly to the deaths of twenty-four thousand Israelites by G-d's plague. (ibid 25:9) The plague was halted when Pinchas publicly killed an Jewish leader and Midianite princess who were publicly fornicating as part of this orgy. (ibid. 25:8) In response, G-d commanded Israel to exact vengeance on the Midianites.(Bam. 25:16-18)

The battle is recorded as follows: "They mounted a campaign against Midian as God had commanded Moshe and they killed every male. They killed the Midianite kings upon those they had slain; Evi, Rekem, Tzur, Chur, and Reva - the five kings of Midian, and Bilam the son of Beor they killed with the sword." (Bam. 31:6-8)

Bilam was the evil prophet who had attempted to curse the People of Israel. He was prevented by G-d from doing so and was forced to bless Israel instead. (Bam. chaps. 22-24) Unable to curse Israel, he sought to harm Israel by drawing them into idolatry and immorality. It was Bilam who orchestrated the Midianite orgy that claimed the lives of twenty-four thousand Israelites. (Bam. 31:16)

Targum Yonatan ben Uziel describes the scene of Bilam's death in the war.

"When Bilam the wicked saw Pinchas the kohen chasing after him he uttered a magic word and flew up in the air heavenward. Immediately, Pinchas uttered the Great and Holy Name and flew after him. [Pinchas] seized him by the head and pulled him down. [Pinchas] unsheathed his sword and was about to kill him. [Bilam] opened his mouth with words of supplication and he said to Pinchas, 'If you let me live I will subjugate myself to you; for all the days that I live I will not curse your nation.'

[Pinchas] answered, 'But you are Lavan the Aramean who tried to finish Yaacov our father. You went down to Egypt to destroy his offspring. After they left Egypt, you incited the wicked Amalekites against them. When you were jealous, you were incited to curse them. When you saw that your words would not succeed and God would not accept it from you, you advised the evil king Balak to places his [nation?s] daughters at the crossroads to lead [the People of Israel] astray. As a result, twenty-four thousand of us fell. As such, I cannot let you live.' Immediately, Pinchas unsheathed his sword and killed him." (Targ. Yonatan Num. 31:8)

Why is Bilam identified as Lavan- Yaacov's swindling father-in-law - and as the one who incited Amalek to attack Israel shortly after their departure from Egypt? What lesson is Targum Yonatan teaching us?

Lavan and Amalek share one important trait in common with Bilam. All three seek to destroy Israel despite the fact that Israel poses no threat to them. Also, all three seek to destroy Israel despite the fact that it is clear to them that G-d has blessed Israel.

Regarding Lavan, both of these facts are made clear in one verse. When Yaacov approaches Lavan and requests to leave Lavan's house, Lavan says to Yaacov, "I have divined that G-d has blessed me because of you." (Bereshit 30:27) Lavan understood that Yaacov was blessed by G-d. He understood that this blessing was a benefit to him as G-d had blessed him with great wealth for housing Yaacov. Despite this, Lavan attempted to cheat Yaacov, accused him of theft, and even threatened to kill him.

Amalek lived in the area that is today called the Negev. The People of Israel emerging from Egypt posed no threat to them. They were far from approaching Amalekite territory when Amalek attacked them. Furthermore, Amalek attacked Israel only a few days after G-d had split the sea and drowned the powerful Egyptian army in it. Amalek and everyone else in the region had heard of this miracle and of the plagues that devastated Egypt. They understood that G-d had blessed Israel. Nevertheless, Amalek attacked.

Bilam was approached by Balak, king of Moav, to curse Israel. Balak feared the onslaught of the Israelites. Bilam - not a Moavite - was in no danger. Bilam was explicitly told by G-d that Israel is blessed. Still, Bilam sought to harm Israel.

Unlike hatred motivated by self-interest, hatred of Israel with nothing to gain despite awareness of Israel's greatness is pure evil. These enemies hate Israel because Israel is G-d's chosen people. They see that Israel is blessed and want to destroy it. They hate Israel because they hate G-d. Their weapons are the deceit of Lavan, the sword of Amalek, the curses of Bilam, and the seduction of the daughters of Moav.

When they are under attack - like Bilam on the battlefield - the wicked plead for mercy and claim victimhood. They know that we Jews are merciful. But to have mercy on evil is not mercy at all. Pinchas knew this. Pinchas understood that the triumph of good depends on our unwavering vigilance in the destruction of evil. This is true mercy.

May we all have the strength of Pinchas in these times.