The Chumash Questions

“And Balak saw,” etc. What did he see that scared him?

We know that Moav and Midyan (nations) were enemies. Why were they at peace?

Even so, why did Moav decide to ask the elders of Midyan for advice?

Balak was said to be a temporary ruler. Why? Proof?

And why was a non-Jew given the power of prophecy?

What did this prophet (Bilam) accomplish for the nations?

How did Balak describe the Jewish nation and its threat to Bilam?

What was the praise that Balak gave Bilam at the outset?

Why did the elders of Moav and Midyan bring along tools for magic?

Prove that the elders of Midyan left early because Bilam failed their test.

To Bilam (and his kind) prophecy appears at night. Why? To whom else did it happen?

Prove that Bilam hated the Jewish people more strongly than Balak.

What example from a bee is used to explain the answer to Bilam?

What answer and reason did Bilam give to the elders of Moav? Proof?

How did Balak respond to this refusal of Bilam?

?

What was Bilam told in prophecy the second night? Still he went. Why?

What kind of (similar) behavior is caused by either extreme of love or hate?

When did Bilam admit that he could not do anything on his own?

Was it an angry angel or a merciful one who stopped Bilam from going?

How many people must accompany an important person’s trip? Why?

Why did the donkey see the angel and Bilam didn’t?

Why did the angel carry a sword against Bilam?

What did the donkey do when she saw the angel the first, second, and third time? What happened to Bilam’s foot?

Why did the angel change his positions three times? (Two reasons.)

“If I had a sword,” etc. Why was this an embarrassing statement for Bilam?

What did the donkey say to Bilam when he hit her? What did he answer?

What did Bilam do when he was given permission to see the angel?

What did the angel do to the donkey? Why? Another example for it?

When Bilam apologized to the angel he admitted another embarrassing fact about himself. Which?

In Bilam’s offer to return, excuse, and complaint, he used an example from Avrohom Avinu. Which?

Finally the angel told him to go ahead. What do we learn from it concerning a person’s choice of behavior?

Why did Balak arranged to meet Bilam in his metropolis twice?

Why did Balak and Bilam offer seven sacrifices on seven altars?

Why did Balak get a daytime prophecy here (but never before)?

What is the need in mentioning Yaakov and Yisroel in the planned curses?

Bilam asked how he could curse if G-d didn’t curse them. What are the historic examples when the Jews were deserving of curses but didn’t get them?

What did Bilam mean when he said, “But Hashem didn’t get angry at them”?

What do we learn here about Bilam’s special power for cursing?

Why does he compare our early foundations to rocks and hills?

“And among the nations he is not counted.” What is meant here? (Two meanings.)

What did Bilam mean when he said, “Who counted Yaakov’s sand”?

Prove that Balak was better at certain types of magic than Bilam.

In posuk 23:18, what proves Bilam’s anger at Balak? Cause of anger?

Bilam explained to Balak that Hashem is not like a human, how?

How does Hashem relate to us when we do aveiros?

“Because there is no witchcraft in Yaakov,” etc. What is the reward for this?

A time will come, according to Bilam’s prophecy, that the Jewish nation will be superior to the angels. How?

Why is there no need for witchcraft among our nation?

In which one did Bilam compare us to lions? (AM and PM.)

What prophecy of doom did Bilam hint at about himself?

What qualities did Bilam notice by looking at their tents?

Both Balak and Bilam were greater than their fathers. How? Proof?

What were the three bad traits that Bilam had?

Why did Bilam fall down whenever Hashem appeared to him?

According to the Midrash which mishkanos was Bilam praising?

How did he praise them? And the praise for the (destroyed) Beis Hamikdash?

According to posuk 24:6 how did he describe the tents and tabernacles?

What did Bilam mean by saying, “His king will be higher than Agag,” etc.?

What will happen to those who bless the Jewish people? And the reverse?

What did Balak say to Bilam after he clapped his hands in anger?

What did Bilam reply, and what final advice did he give to Balak?

What did Bilam predict about King David? About Rome?

In what way was Amalek the first among the nations? What’s his end?

What was Bilam wondering about the Keini (Yisro’s descendants)?

With whom were the Keini exiled? What is their destiny?

Prove that through immoral relationships one may come to worship idols. What question did Pinchas ask Moshe? What did Moshe forget? Why?

By which rule did Moshe send Pinchas to do his mitzvoh?

Which posuk from Bilam’s prophecy is included in our daily davening?