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Why does the Torah (תורה) emphasize that Balak "saw" what the Jews did, when everyone witnessed their victories? The Hebrew "vayar" means "looking" with a preconceived agenda, not objective "seeing." This distinction reveals the fundamental Jewish approach to existence - observing God's world objectively rather than looking to exploit it for personal gratification.
Rabbi Zweig explores a fundamental distinction in the Hebrew language between seeing and looking that illuminates the Jewish worldview. The parsha begins with "Balak saw" what the Jews did to the Amorites, but everyone witnessed these victories. Why single out Balak's seeing? A Midrash states it would be better for wicked people to be born blind, citing examples like the generation of the flood, Cham, Pharaoh's officers, and Shechem - all involving problematic "seeing." The key insight is that Hebrew "vayar" means "looking" - seeing through a preconceived paradigm to achieve predetermined goals - versus objective "seeing." When someone is "looking," they already have an agenda and use what they observe as tools to fulfill that agenda. Balak wasn't objectively observing Jewish military success; he was looking for ways to destroy the Jewish people, seeking justification for his preexisting hatred.
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Parshas Balak 22:2
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