Balak 23:10 · unit 2 — death of the upright
Parashas Balak · Aliyah 4 · Passuk 10 · TT unit 2
The Complete Passuk
מִ֤י מָנָה֙ עֲפַ֣ר יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּמִסְפָּ֖ר אֶת־רֹ֣בַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תָּמֹ֤ת נַפְשִׁי֙ מ֣וֹת יְשָׁרִ֔ים וּתְהִ֥י אַחֲרִיתִ֖י כָּמֹֽהוּ׃
Who has counted the dust of Yaakov, or numbered the stock of Israel? May my soul die the death of the upright, and may my end be like his.
Chabad.org — 23:10
Source Citation
Torah Temimah: Avodah Zarah 25a — “death of the upright” refers to the Patriarchs.
Sefaria — Avodah Zarah 25a
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text
״מוֹת יְשָׁרִים״ — זֶה אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב.
English: “The death of the upright” — this is Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov.
Type of Learning
Identification of the referent of ישרים.
What Is Learned
Bilam envies the end of the Patriarchs — even the enemy of Israel recognizes the blessed death of the upright.