tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314914268727443114.post6130564286164731045..comments2023-10-31T12:43:06.690-04:00Comments on NishmaBlog: Schadenfreude I - Parshat BalakNishmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04237299801109329429noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314914268727443114.post-63928121861520905372008-07-18T09:27:00.000-04:002008-07-18T09:27:00.000-04:00Blessings and curses are opposite sides of the sam...Blessings and curses are opposite sides of the same coin. A is fighting B. He arranges for B to be cursed. B's curse is, by default, A's blessing since he can now more easily win the battle.<BR/><BR/>The practical difference between blessing A and cursing B is quite simple. By cursing B, A gets to win without incurring any obligations on his part, other than payment of the cursing agency. On the other hand, had he opted for the blessing, it might have come with obligations that he wouldn't feel comfortable with. By cursing B, he avoids that.<BR/><BR/>Imagine Balak's situation now. If he gets the blessing from Bilaam, then he becomes obliged to recognize God as the true ruler of the universe instead of his idols. He probably didn't want to do that. So instead he wanted Bilaam to curse Bnei Yisrael with their own God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com