1)

?Ne?um Shome?a Imrei Keil ? ?. Why did Bil'am only praise himself during the current Nevu'ah and during the following one, but not during the first four prophesies?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah (on Pasuk 3): Because there he prophesied with "Koh Amar Hashem", which meant that he was obligated to repeat what Hashem had said without adding anything of his own, 1 which was not the case here, and which therefore allowed him to add even what Hashem had not told him to say.

1

See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'u'Ne'um ha'Gever Sh'sum ha'Ayin' #1.

2)

? ? asher Machazeh Shakai Yechezeh?. What is the definition of ?Machazeh Shakai??

1.

Ramban and R. Bachye: It is one level of prophecy lower than that of the Avos 1 - who prophesied with ?Keil Shakai?. 2

1

It was equivalent to that of the ?B?nei ha?Nevi?im? (the student prophets). See R. Bachye.

2

Which, in turn, was one level of prophecy lower than that of Moshe Rabeinu (who prophesied with the Name Havayah). See R. Bachye, who elaborates.

3)

What are the implications of the word "Nofeil u'Geluy Einayim"?

1.

Rashi #1 (citing Targum Onkelos) and Rashbam: It implies that Hashem appeared to Bil'am ("u'Gelui Einayim") at night-time when he was lying in bed. 1

2.

Rashi (citing the Midrash Agadah), R. Bachye (on Pauk 25) and Targum Yonasan in Pasuk 3): It implies that whenever Hashem appeared to Bil'am, he was unable to remain standing 2 and he would fall on his face. 3

3.

R. Bachye: It means that a deep sleep fell upon him prior to the prophecy. 4

4.

Sanhedrin, 105a: It teaches us via a Gezeirah Shavah "Nofeil" "Nofeil" from Haman - "ve'Haman Nofeil al ha'Mitah" (Esther, 7:8) - that Bil'am performed sorcery via his penis. 5

1

Rashbam: Though now Hashem had appeare to him in the day - as implied in the words ?u?Geluy Einayim?.

2

Rashi: Because he was uncircumcised and it was disgusting for him to stand upright before Hashem when Hashem revealed Himself to him. See also Ba'al ha'Turim.

3

Targum Yonasan (Ibid.): Because he was uncircumcised he fell on his face until the angel (conveying the prophecy) had finished. (It is not clear however, why Targum Yonasan mentions this in the previous Pasuk and not here)?

4

R. Bachye: As in Bereishis 15:12 ?ve?Tardeimah Naflah al Avraham?.

5

See Torah Temimah, note 3.

4)

What is the meaning of "u'Geluy Einayim"?

1.

R. Bachye: With reference to 224:4:1:3 - it means that, in spite of the fact that he was asleep, he saw (the prophecy). 1

2.

Targum Onkelos: Refer to 24:4:1:1.

3.

Targum Yonasan: Deep secrets that were hidden from other prophets were revealed to him. 2

4.

Hadar Zekenim (on Pasuk 1): Also when he falls and lies down, whether in the day or in the night, he sees [prophetic] visions.

1

R. Bahye: As in Shir Hashirim 5:2 ?Ani Yesheinah ve?Libi Er?.

2

Refer also to 24:3:3:4.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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