With Parshat Vayishlach (Bereshis 36:35) clearly stating that Midyan and Moav went to war against each other and portraying them as eternal enemies of each other, why do they suddenly join forces in Parshat Balak?
And why to the extend that the Moavites agree to the chief Midyanite prince, Balak, serving as king over them?
After all, their origins (which people still knew and respected in those times) remained totally different.
And why to the extend that the Moavites agree to the chief Midyanite prince, Balak, serving as king over them?
After all, their origins (which people still knew and respected in those times) remained totally different.
The Quintessential Middle Eastern Mentality: The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend
The Ohr Hachaim explains that the joined forces out of their fear of the growing power and numbers of Am Yisrael.
Here, he references a parable from the Gemara Sanhedrin, which compares Moav and Midyan to two hostile dogs who join forces after a wolf attacks one of them.
According to the Kli Yakar, Moav feared the power of Am Yisrael and the amazing support Hashem gave them.
Moav also feared the great increase in Am Yisrael, via the Erev Rav (whom they didn't like or trust either).
Please see this short Kli Yakar for important details:
The Kli Yakar - Parshat Balak (Or, How History is Still Repeating Itself)
But why did Moav agree to Midyan taking over (at least temporarily)?
Here, he references a parable from the Gemara Sanhedrin, which compares Moav and Midyan to two hostile dogs who join forces after a wolf attacks one of them.
According to the Kli Yakar, Moav feared the power of Am Yisrael and the amazing support Hashem gave them.
Moav also feared the great increase in Am Yisrael, via the Erev Rav (whom they didn't like or trust either).
Please see this short Kli Yakar for important details:
The Kli Yakar - Parshat Balak (Or, How History is Still Repeating Itself)
But why did Moav agree to Midyan taking over (at least temporarily)?
Why Moav Submitted to Midyan
The Ohr Hachaim notes how Moav needed the Midyanites' counsel and prestige.
Moshe Rabbeinu sojourned in Midyan for quite a long time and even married the Midyanite tzaddeikes, Tzipporah.
So Moav considered Midyan as the expert for dealing with Am Yisrael.
Additionally, though Bilaam surpassed King Balak in prophecy, King Balak surpassed Bilaam and most others in the occult (kishuf/sorcery).
King Balak owned a type of bird he utilized to operate his occult powers. He considered this bird his father and his commander. Hence, his name "Balak ben Tzipor" – Balak, the son of a bird.
Moshe Rabbeinu sojourned in Midyan for quite a long time and even married the Midyanite tzaddeikes, Tzipporah.
So Moav considered Midyan as the expert for dealing with Am Yisrael.
Additionally, though Bilaam surpassed King Balak in prophecy, King Balak surpassed Bilaam and most others in the occult (kishuf/sorcery).
King Balak owned a type of bird he utilized to operate his occult powers. He considered this bird his father and his commander. Hence, his name "Balak ben Tzipor" – Balak, the son of a bird.
There's No Fight like a Family Fight
As usual, Tanach lineage fascinates me, including how that lineage affects or responds to national dynamics.
All the people involved in this parsha descend from Shem (except the Emorites, who descended from Cham via Canaan).
The Ohr Hachaim states that Bilaam the evil prophet descended from Chatzermavet, but not necessarily the son of (unless Bilaam is very, very old in this parsha); he didn't list the descendants who came between Chatzermavet and Bilaam.
(You can read a bit more about Chatzermavet here, if you scroll down to the section titled "Shem": The Me'am Lo'ez on the Descendants of the Sons of Noach. Also, today I learned the Yemenite city of Hadhramaut derives from the name Chatzermavet, which kinda contradicts the idea of Chatzermavet as the origin of that wacky cult in India, mentioned in the linked post. Or maybe not. Maybe some remained in India and some migrated to Yemen. That particular idea is conjecture on my part, so feel free to reject it.)
Just to make it easy, here's a list of all the lineages in columns:
All the people involved in this parsha descend from Shem (except the Emorites, who descended from Cham via Canaan).
The Ohr Hachaim states that Bilaam the evil prophet descended from Chatzermavet, but not necessarily the son of (unless Bilaam is very, very old in this parsha); he didn't list the descendants who came between Chatzermavet and Bilaam.
(You can read a bit more about Chatzermavet here, if you scroll down to the section titled "Shem": The Me'am Lo'ez on the Descendants of the Sons of Noach. Also, today I learned the Yemenite city of Hadhramaut derives from the name Chatzermavet, which kinda contradicts the idea of Chatzermavet as the origin of that wacky cult in India, mentioned in the linked post. Or maybe not. Maybe some remained in India and some migrated to Yemen. That particular idea is conjecture on my part, so feel free to reject it.)
Just to make it easy, here's a list of all the lineages in columns:
| Bilaam Shem Arpachshad Shelach Ever Yaktan Chatzermavet *** Be'or Bilaam | Moav Shem Arpachshad Shelach Ever Peleg Reu Srug Nachor Terach Haran Lot Moav | Midyan Shem Arpachshad Shelach Ever Peleg Reu Srug Nachor Terach Avraham Avinu Midyan (from Keturah) | Am Yisrael Shem Arpachshad Shelach Ever Peleg Reu Srug Nachor Terach Avraham Avinu Yitzchak Avinu (from Sara Imeinu) |
So it's interesting to see the close genetics (and at that time, they still knew well their lineage and relationships).
How ironic such enmity developed against each other, even though Am Yisrael was perfectly happy to get along with everyone (while still dwelling apart from the other nations).
But the other nations refused.
From another interesting angle, Midyan and Yishmael are full brothers.
Keturah was Hagar's name after she fully did teshuvah and returned.
Yishmael is the first-born of Hagar/Keturah and Avraham Avinu, while Midyan is Yishmael's younger brother of those same parents.
Interestingly, when Midyan persecutes Am Yisrael in Sefer Shoftim, they're described as coming on camels and wearing crescents – much like the Yishmaelim of today.
Islam took the moon-worshipping symbol – the crescent – popular throughout the Arab world and simply turned it into "the sword of Islam."
Additionally, the Erev Rav who joined Am Yisrael descended from Cham via Mitzrayim, and stood out as a completely different ethnic group, who would look very different than Am Yisrael, in whose midst they dwelled.
And there you go.
How ironic such enmity developed against each other, even though Am Yisrael was perfectly happy to get along with everyone (while still dwelling apart from the other nations).
But the other nations refused.
From another interesting angle, Midyan and Yishmael are full brothers.
Keturah was Hagar's name after she fully did teshuvah and returned.
Yishmael is the first-born of Hagar/Keturah and Avraham Avinu, while Midyan is Yishmael's younger brother of those same parents.
Interestingly, when Midyan persecutes Am Yisrael in Sefer Shoftim, they're described as coming on camels and wearing crescents – much like the Yishmaelim of today.
Islam took the moon-worshipping symbol – the crescent – popular throughout the Arab world and simply turned it into "the sword of Islam."
Additionally, the Erev Rav who joined Am Yisrael descended from Cham via Mitzrayim, and stood out as a completely different ethnic group, who would look very different than Am Yisrael, in whose midst they dwelled.
And there you go.
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