What it’s about

The Israelites fell into the trap set by Balaam, who advised the daughters of Moab and Midian to lead the Israelites into sin. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz explores the story and the reasons behind God’s command to take vengeance against the Midianites.

Why it matters

This episode underscores the challenges Israel faced in preserving its nationhood and faith. By understanding the motivations behind Moab’s and Midian’s actions, we gain insight into distinguishing between evil intentions and actions driven by fear, which has implications for ethical and political decisions.

Details

Two weeks ago, in Parashat Balak, we read about King Balak of Moab’s attempt to curse the Israelites through the sorcerer Balaam. When this failed, Balaam advised using another method to harm the Israelites—seducing them into promiscuity and idolatry. Balak, along with the Midianites, followed through, resulting in 24,000 Israelites dying from a plague due to their sins.

The Connection Revealed

In this week’s parasha, “Matot,” the connection between these incidents is revealed. God commands Moses to exact vengeance on the Midianites, emphasizing that the daughters of Midian were the instigators who followed Balaam’s advice to lead the Israelites into sin.

Balaam’s Sinister Plan

Balaam devised a trap using the daughters of Midian and Moab. Tempting the Israelites with licentious behavior and idolatry, he sought to harm them since he failed to curse them. The Talmud elaborates on this strategy, showing Balaam’s understanding of exploiting human weaknesses to achieve his goals.

The Importance of Intent

Only the Midianites were targeted for vengeance. Rashi explains this distinction: the Moabites acted from fear of being conquered by the Israelites, while the Midianites, who had no such fear, acted out of malice and a desire to cause destruction.

The Lesson

This story teaches us an important principle about motivations. Actions driven by fear are different from those driven by malice. Understanding the motives behind actions can inform fair and just responses.

Conclusion

The story of the Israelites, Moab, and Midian illustrates the discernment required to distinguish between acts born out of fear and those rooted in pure malice—a crucial distinction that continues to be relevant in contemporary ethical decisions.

The writer is the rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites.

This story was first published on jpost.com.