Balak 24:02 · unit 1 — tent openings not aligned

Parashas Balak · Aliyah 6 · Passuk 2 · TT unit 1

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א בִלְעָ֜ם אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֹׁכֵ֖ן לִשְׁבָטָ֑יו וַתְּהִ֥י עָלָ֖יו ר֥וּחַ אֱלֹהִֽים׃

And Bilam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

Chabad.org — 24:2

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Bava Basra 60a — he saw that tent openings were not aligned opposite one another.

Sefaria — Bava Basra 60a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיַּרְא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. מָה רָאָה? רָאָה שֶׁאֵין פִּתְחֵי אָהֳלֵיהֶם מְכֻוָּנִים זֶה כְּנֶגֶד זֶה. אָמַר: רְאוּיִים הַלָּלוּ שֶׁתִּשְׁרֶה עֲלֵיהֶם שְׁכִינָה.

English: “And he saw Israel.” What did he see? He saw that the openings of their tents were not aligned opposite one another. He said: These are fit that the Divine Presence should rest upon them.

Type of Learning

Inference from what “dwelling by tribes” showed the seer.

What Is Learned

Modesty in the camp — doors not facing doors — is itself a ground for the Shechinah.