Why did the editor/author (ie: God) choose to put these two stories side by side?
errr...to maintain chronological order???
Per Khazal quoted in Rashi after Bilaam failed to arouse Divine anger against the B'nei Yisrael through cursing he advised Balak to arouse Divine anger against the B'nei Yisrael through entrapment in sexual immorality.
Ask better; Why did the "Editor" "rewrite" Bilaam's cursing plans but not thwart his sexual liscence scheme?
Why are you certain it was his scheme. I know this idea exists in the drashot, but do you see it int he text, too?
hy did the editor/author (ie: God) choose to put these two stories side by side
We're not told everything that happens, and often not int he order it happens either.
often not in the order...agreed
אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה
DB:
The message of the juxtaposition is part what Bray said but also something you alluded to in the post.
We are our own worst enemy. Others can try and destroy us but their power is limited.
However, give us the opportunity and we will destroy ourselves.
(and Bray, this answers your "better" kashya as well.)
A curse would remove bechira and we are promised bechira by God. When Bilaam realized he could not circumvent God's will for us to have moral choices, he made the logical conclusion: GIVE THEM A MORAL CHOICE!
So he gave us a wonderful selection of promiscuous women, and it worked...
DB:
The Midarashim say it was Balak and Bilaam's next venture, It is logical as well because Balak was king of Moav.
So he gave us...
Again, is this drash, or in the story?
see above
First...
Why are you certain it was his scheme.
I'm not. There may be Midrashos Khalukos and/or Authentic parshanus HaMiqra dissenting from the Midrash Rashi cites that I am unaware of. I am after all, an ahm Ha'Aretz.
I know this idea exists in the drashot, but do you see it int he text, too?
Can't say that I do.
THEN....We're not told everything that happens
precisely.. Which is why I turn to Khazal and the Gedolei haMeforshim to fill in the balnks for me and add flesh and sinew to the skeleton of the text.
Isn't keba the stomach, i.e. a gastrointestinal rather than a reproductive organ?
Others may turn to Alter, semantics, DH, anthropology, archeology and /or original speculation to achieve the same end.
Ya make your bed and ya sleep in it.
DB:
Also, the sifsei chachamim indicates that it is "mucach b'hedya m'kra" that is was Bilaam. Not sure I see how, but he addresses the issue.
Numbers 25:1 Rashi L'Znos, Sifsei Chachamim letter Pey.
Kay-Va = stomach
Koo-Bah = ?
Hershey... does Kayvah= stomach become "Kubahsah" acc. to diqduq when we make the noun singular, feminine possessive?
Wouldn't it be "Kayvasah" if it was her stomach?
Others may turn to Alter, semantics, DH, anthropology, archeology and /or original speculation to achieve the same end.
I turn to that, and to midrashim too as you would know if you would buy jmy book
I see it in the text too, DB. Billam was killed in the war that ensued this affair. So this story might be the link between the introduction and end of Billam.
Admit it Bray. Alter's observation about kuba's possible etymology is interesting.
too intellectual for me.
Hershey. doesn't it say that Balak and Bilamm parted ways and went to their respective lands BEFORE the parsha of shitim?
How/when/why did Bilaam return to be killed in the ensuing war?
I turn to that, and to midrashim too as you would know if you would buy jmy book
Do מלאכת בורר and create for me a personalized copy containing all the Midrashic אוכל but none of the interdisciplinary פסולת and I might consider it.
Sure. Pay the 20 bucks, plus the 10 dollar special editing charge
you work cheaply. What I'm suggesting would require hundreds of man-hours.
Why did Bilam leave then return?
Hershey. doesn't it say that Balak and Bilamm parted ways and went to their respective lands BEFORE the parsha of shitim?
How/when/why did Bilaam return to be killed in the ensuing war?
That's everybody's guess. Maybe the Midianites called upon his help again in the looming war.
We all the know the midrash, but the question is: How long does it take to pick up a paycheck? What a coincidenence he was caught in a war zone.
Bear -
I'm curious...do you own "The Living Torah" by Rav Aryeh Kaplan z"l ?
Hershey... does Kayvah= stomach become "Kubahsah" acc. to diqduq when we make the noun singular, feminine possessive?
Wouldn't it be "Kayvasah" if it was her stomach?
First of all, the inkud is kovosoh and not kobosoh. I concede it would be an irregular construct, but not at all lonely among the irregularities in Tanach.
I'm not saying it does mean stomach. It's just I never thought it may mean something else. I'm being enlightened here.
"koo" or for denizens of KJ "kee"
Interesting. So what is the religious symbolism of DB and his "cubbies"? 
you work cheaply. What I'm suggesting would require hundreds of man-hours.
Ah, there's the rub: It wouldnt
DB - Per the Talmud, the name Peor puns on a Hebrew verb that means "to gape open."
Dov, I can't find this in the gemara. Where is it? I looked in Avoda Zarah and can't find it there.
I don't know a mareh moqom but I'v eoften come across the expression, usually referring to an impudent loudmouth to be פוער פיו=to open his "trap" or "maw" wide.
"peor" means 'worse' in Spanish... i've always found that sort of funny
It Is always good to read and ponder meaning of the Torah..however, today we are experiencing anti-semetic behavior all over the world, this I believe should be pondered and thought about, even trying to figure out, why? How do other Jews see this, how do they relate to how we are treated all over the world.
From my perspective I have come up with a few ideas..
There are only two possible strategies for Jewish survival in a Gentile world. One is to be tolerated, the other is to be indispensable.
The first strategy hopes that if every minority is tolerated, then perhaps even the Jews the minority with the longest history of persecution might also be tolerated.
The second hopes that the Gentiles will in some way acknowledge Israel election and thus safeguard Israel because Jewish holiness is indispensable.
However, we have forgot a couple things, the Islamic world is making it harder for the Jews of today. Also our past survival, meaning those of us that made it thru the Holocaust still fail to impress the Nations of Europe.
But we as a people know first hand the evils of intolerance, the horrors of the Holocaust. It Is very easy for me to relate to the 2009 movie "Definance" in which the spiritual leader of a partisan band of Jews in WWII Balarus cried out to God in his dismal existance, and also those around him, this is the prayer he cried out:
"We have no more prayers, no more tears, we have run out of blood. Choose another people...Grant us one more blessing..Take back the gift of our holiness.
Some of you have turned away from Holiness, but it has not profited us..because as we do this, we pass it on to our own children, and they as Jewish youth of today, mainly in America, think less than their elders about the state of Israel, and Jewish survival.
So, the question is did God saved just a few Jews, was it for a greater purpose. Why are we here today, do we have a purpose that must be fullfilled? Would appreciate any answers.
eloquent
Dovie, Bray, and Rabbi Fink:
The answer to your question will be revealed if you pay attention to the keriah of parshat Matot. Let me give to you now, however. Num. 31:6 mentions the killing of Bilaam during the Midianite war, while verse 16 mentions that Bilaam was the one who instigated the bnot Moav/Ba'al Peor scheme to undermine the Israelites.
Y. Aharon
A curse would remove bechira and we are promised bechira by God. When Bilaam realized he could not circumvent God's will for us to have moral choices, he made the logical conclusion: GIVE THEM A MORAL CHOICE!
So he gave us a wonderful selection of promiscuous women, and it worked...
Such male bull. Sounds more like both Pinchas and God were jealous of the guy who won the witch. Goddess is not even through with this story.
And, despite God's best efforts, Pagans and Witches are still around just like Jews. The Eternal Witch, yep, we are. Ancient operation Cannatite failed miserably, even to this day.
Goddess loves witches, thank Goddess.
And another thing, it's really not smart at all to kill a witch because witches will haunt you, forever.
Just look at Salem, Mass - now witches overrun it! LOL.
cackle, cackle
Now there are even Jewitches - poetic justice for sure.
and Sarah, the witch, laughed ... LOL
you just never know how many women are witches with so many of us still in the broom closet ... you just don't know how many we are
cackle cackle
It Is very easy for me to relate to the 2009 movie "Definance"
Dude, everyone can relate to that - it's why we're bailing out GM.
מה אקב לא קבה א-ל
1. I am pretty sure the rabinnic explanation that they worshiped defecation is a later invention. Baal was worshiped with sex. That was what he was all about, but there is no reason to assume they also defecated to him.
2. Did you notice the use of the root q-b-h throughout the parasha? Bilam goes to qavah Israel, Pinhas goes into the qubah to kill Zimri and he spears them through qovatah. As you rightly point out qubah and qovah are not usual words. I am pretty sure that there is a play on words here which explains the strange usage.
"A curse would remove bechira and we are promised bechira by God."
why does a curse remove bechira and a blessing not?
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