Bilam’s Power of Sorcery Revealed

One of the greatest sorcerers who ever lived was Bilam. In fact it was Bilam who was hired by King Balak to use his sorcery to try and curse the Jews but he blessed them instead. This seemingly contradicts the Rambam who claims that there is no such thing as sorcery or black magic. The meforshim find this Rambam very difficult to understand since it seemingly contradicts a parsha in the Torah.

In order to answer this apparent contradiction, let’s remember that Bilam was a prophet who had the extraordinary power to know the moment of the day that Hashem became angry. The Gemorah in Brochos tells us that any curse said at that moment would come true. It was this knowledge that Bilam used in order to destroy his enemies. While he made believe that it was his magical incantations and sorcery that killed his enemies this was only a cover-up for his real powers. He knew that it was really Hashem who did the actual killing, and all his supposed magical abilities were just a camouflage. He knew that as long as Hashem did not get angry, his “sorcery,” which was in reality his curse said at the appropriate time, would not work. The Gomorah tells us that during all the days that Bilam tried to curse the Jews Hashem withheld His anger. Bilam waited for this moment of anger but it never came and therefore blessed the Jews instead.

The Gemorah says that all magic dissolves or is undone when we say “Ein od milvado” - “There is no one but He.” When we realize that the only one who has the power to change nature is only Hashem Himself, then we will truly realize that all magic or sorcery must be nothing but a clever trick or optical illusion. This is why he told Bolok’s messengers that he needed G-d’s permission to go along with them. Even after getting a no he thought he could get Hashem to change His mind if he could get the Jews to sin.

All of magic and sorcery is an attempt at defying the laws of nature that Hashem created. According to the Rambam, they are nothing but clever tricks. In ancient times, magnets were used to suspend the two golden calves, giving the appearance that the calves possessed godly powers. G-d’s holy Name was used to get the golden calf to proclaim “I am god your god.” Magic and sorcery are forbidden by the Torah because it easily leads one to believe that idols have powers of their own and therefore people begin to worship them.

Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum