We should pray that your enemies become our friends
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FROM EDITOR:
The Chofetz Chayim had some to say about this passage concerning Balak's decision to curse Israel. Here is what Balak believed concerning Balaam's powers, "... I know that whomever you bless is in fact blessed, and whomever you curse is in fact cursed." The Chofetz brings out the true antisemitic and violent nature of Babak by pointing out that according to what he believed were Balaam's powers, Balak had the choice to have Balaam either curse Israel, or bless his own people with protection.
Here is an anecdote to illustrate the point:
The non-Jews of the city of Telshe greatly respected Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, the Rabbi of Telshe and founder of its Yeshiva, and many of them would ask him to pray for their welfare. One a non-Jewish farmer came to Rabbi Gordon and asked him to pray that his enemy should die. Rabbi Gordon explained to him that the proper thing for him to do was not to curse his enemy, but to pray that his enemy become his friend. (Tnuas Hamusar, vol 2, p.433)
King David sang about this in,
תערך לפני שׁלחן נגד צררי
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; (Psa 23:5 ESV)
His son, King Solomon followed suit in:
When a man's ways please Adonai, he makes even the man's enemies be at peace with him. (Pro 16:7 CJB)
The idea comes from Isaac, the patriarch. King Abimelech tried to steal Isaac's wells which he inherited from his father Abraham. When he realized that Isaac was truly the heir of Abraham and that inheritor of the covenant made between his family than that of the belated patriarch, he repented. He then came to Isaac and wanted to act as if nothing had happened. Instead of seeking revenge and vindication, Isaac set up a banquet in front Abimelech. You can the story in Genesis 26. Jacob acted according to the same principle towards his brother Esau in Genesis 32 and 33.
According to these story which constitute the basic context and foundation of the Torah our Master Yeshua also taught:
"You have heard that our fathers were told, 'Love your neighbor -- and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
(Mat 5:43-48 CJB)
Paul followed suit in:
Till this very moment we go hungry and thirsty, we are dressed in rags, we are treated roughly, we wander from place to place, we exhaust ourselves working with our own hands for our living. When we are cursed, we keep on blessing; when we are persecuted, we go on putting up with it; when we are slandered, we continue making our appeal. We are the world's garbage, the scum of the earth -- yes, to this moment! ... Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
(1Co 4:11-16 CJB)
* * * * * * *
FROM EDITOR:
The Chofetz Chayim had some to say about this passage concerning Balak's decision to curse Israel. Here is what Balak believed concerning Balaam's powers, "... I know that whomever you bless is in fact blessed, and whomever you curse is in fact cursed." The Chofetz brings out the true antisemitic and violent nature of Babak by pointing out that according to what he believed were Balaam's powers, Balak had the choice to have Balaam either curse Israel, or bless his own people with protection.
Here is an anecdote to illustrate the point:
The non-Jews of the city of Telshe greatly respected Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, the Rabbi of Telshe and founder of its Yeshiva, and many of them would ask him to pray for their welfare. One a non-Jewish farmer came to Rabbi Gordon and asked him to pray that his enemy should die. Rabbi Gordon explained to him that the proper thing for him to do was not to curse his enemy, but to pray that his enemy become his friend. (Tnuas Hamusar, vol 2, p.433)
King David sang about this in,
תערך לפני שׁלחן נגד צררי
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; (Psa 23:5 ESV)
His son, King Solomon followed suit in:
When a man's ways please Adonai, he makes even the man's enemies be at peace with him. (Pro 16:7 CJB)
The idea comes from Isaac, the patriarch. King Abimelech tried to steal Isaac's wells which he inherited from his father Abraham. When he realized that Isaac was truly the heir of Abraham and that inheritor of the covenant made between his family than that of the belated patriarch, he repented. He then came to Isaac and wanted to act as if nothing had happened. Instead of seeking revenge and vindication, Isaac set up a banquet in front Abimelech. You can the story in Genesis 26. Jacob acted according to the same principle towards his brother Esau in Genesis 32 and 33.
According to these story which constitute the basic context and foundation of the Torah our Master Yeshua also taught:
"You have heard that our fathers were told, 'Love your neighbor -- and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
(Mat 5:43-48 CJB)
Paul followed suit in:
Till this very moment we go hungry and thirsty, we are dressed in rags, we are treated roughly, we wander from place to place, we exhaust ourselves working with our own hands for our living. When we are cursed, we keep on blessing; when we are persecuted, we go on putting up with it; when we are slandered, we continue making our appeal. We are the world's garbage, the scum of the earth -- yes, to this moment! ... Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
(1Co 4:11-16 CJB)
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