Balak 23:11 · EXTRA 1 — what have you done to me

Parashas Balak · EXTRA · Passuk 23:11 · Bamidbar Rabbah

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לָקֹ֤ב אֹיְבַי֙ לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּ֖ה בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ׃

And Balak said to Bilam: What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.

Source Citation

Bamidbar Rabbah 20:19 — Balak’s protest after the first forced blessing.

Sefaria — Bamidbar Rabbah 20

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
מֶה עָשִׂיתָ לִי. אָמַר לוֹ: לְקַלֵּל לְקַחְתִּיךָ, וְאַתָּה מְבָרֵךְ. אָמַר לוֹ בִּלְעָם: הֲלֹא אָמַרְתִּי לְךָ מִתְּחִלָּה — כֹּל אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים ה׳ בְּפִי אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּר.

English: “What have you done to me.” He said to him: I took you to curse, and you bless. Bilam said to him: Did I not tell you from the beginning — whatever Hashem puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.

Type of Learning

Dialogue midrash reinforcing the constraint on Bilam’s speech.

What Is Learned

Even after the first blessing, Bilam insists the words are not his — the protest of Balak is answered by the same disclaimer that opened the mission.