Balak 23:23 · unit 3 — at half the days of the world

Parashas Balak · Aliyah 5 · Passuk 23 · TT unit 3

The Complete Passuk

כִּ֣י לֹא־נַ֔חַשׁ בְּיַעֲקֹ֖ב וְלֹא־קֶ֣סֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כָּעֵ֗ת יֵאָמֵ֤ר לְיַעֲקֹב֙ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַה־פָּ֖עַל אֵֽל׃

For there is no divination in Yaakov, and no sorcery in Israel; in due time it is said to Yaakov and to Israel what God has wrought.

Chabad.org — 23:23

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Yerushalmi Shabbos 6:9 — R. Chanina son of R. Avahu: Bilam stood at the midpoint of the world’s days.

Sefaria — Yerushalmi Shabbos 6:9

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אַבָּהוּ: כְּבַחֲצִי יָמָיו שֶׁל עוֹלָם הָיָה אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע עוֹמֵד. מַאי טַעְמָא? ״כָּעֵת יֵאָמֵר לְיַעֲקֹב וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל מַה פָּעַל אֵל״.

English: R. Chanina son of R. Avahu said: That wicked one was standing at half the days of the world. What is the reason? “In due time it is said to Yaakov and to Israel what God has wrought.”

Type of Learning

Chronological midrash from the word כעת.

What Is Learned

Bilam’s moment is fixed at the midpoint of history — the verse’s “now” is cosmic, not merely situational.