Parashas Pinchas

Last week (Parashas Balak) we asked a question on the Torah and not on Rashi. .

Ch. 22:18 Bilaam refuses to go with messengers of Balak and he says:

"If Balak will give me his house full of silver and gold I am not able to transgress the word of Hashem my G-d to do even a small thing or a big thing."
Later after Bilaam in fact does go to curse the Jewish people but fails Balak balls him out In verses 24:12,13 Bilaam defends himself. He says: "Didn't I also tell your messengers which you sent saying: If Balak will give me his house full of silver and gold I am not able to transgress the word of Hashem to do either good or evil from my own heart, that which Hashem will speak that I will speak."

Compare the two verses. Very similar, right? But not exactly. If Bilaam remembered so well what he had said originally, why did change the words "even a small thing or a big thing" to "good or evil" ?

An ANSWER : Bilaam originally refused to curse the Israelites and he said "I am not able to transgress the word of Hashem my G-d to do even a small thing or a big thing." At that time he was uncertain whether G-d would allow him to make any kind of curse. But it never dawned on him that his curses would be turned into blessings. That possibility was so unlikely it never occurred to him. So all he could "assure" Balak was maybe I can do something (a small thing or a big thing) but maybe not even that.

But after his debacle of not only not cursing the Israelites but even blessing them, Bilaam had to "cover his tracks." He repeated what he had said originally but with a slight (but significant) change in his words. Now he said: " I am not able to transgress the word of Hashem to do either GOOD or EVIL from my own heart." Because now he had done "evil" in the eyes of Balak, by blessing the Israelites. So he had to say "didn't I tell you so?!" But of course he hadn't told Balak that. A Subtle change that Bilaam figured Balak wouldn't notice. He didn't, but we did!

Now to this week's sedra:

Parashas Pinchas

Numbers 25:11
"Pinchas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned back My wrath from upon the children of Israel, when he was zealously avenged Me among them, so I did not consume the children of Israel in My vengeance."

RASHI

Pinchas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest: RASHI: Because the tribes spoke disparagingly of him, saying "Have you seen the grandson of Puti, the father of whose mother (Putiel) used to fatten calves for idolatrous sacrifices and he has dared to kill a prince of one of Israel's tribes." Therefore the Scripture comes and shows his relationship to Aaron.

What Is Rashi Saying?
Pinchas' father, Eleazar, took a wife from the daughters of Putiel (see Exodus 6:25). The Talmud says he was called Putiel because he fattened ( in Hebrew "putie") calves for idol worship. Rashi tells us that after Pinchas killed the prince, Zimri, people jeered him reminding him of his embarrassing ancestor.

Questioning Rashi
A Question: Why this drash? What about this verse is bothering Rashi?
Your Answer:

Next week, IY"H, we will suggest an answer.

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