He crouched, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness — who will rouse him? Those who bless you are blessed, and those who curse you are cursed.
Torah Temimah: Berachos 12b — R. Abahu: were it not for the burden on the community, they would have fixed the parsha of Balak in the Shema.
English: R. Abahu ben Zutarti said: Were it not for the burden on the community, they would have fixed the section of Balak in the reading of the Shema, because it is written in it, “He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness — who will rouse him?”
Liturgical consideration based on thematic fitness to Shema.
The image of Israel as an unrouseable lion was judged fit for daily recital — only communal burden kept it out of the Shema.