Does it matter if the donkey talks?
Israel comes nearer to its destination. The locals are getting nervous. Three battles already prove the Hebraic might. Even Og the giant of Bashan has been slain. Balak, king of Moab, seeks unconventional warfare and sends for a famed sorcerer to cast a spell on Moses and his people. The story of Balaam, the one-eyed prophet and seer dominates the next three chapters; mix of myth and poetry, a tale told from outside the camp, the other’s perspective, all about prophecy and politics, and is in fact about the mounting tensions between Israel and the other nations of the world. It’s also about the limits of myth and the suspension of belief. What’s with the donkey?
One of the most memorable and puzzling moments of the tale is when Balaam’s donkey speaks up. The Hebrew ‘Aton’ indicates her as female. Most English translations choose ‘She-Ass’ though there are modern names like a Jinny, Molly or Mare. Anyway, this particular She-ass kicks ass, entering the world myth hall of fame. Balaam rides on his way to view Israel, when his mare stops on the narrow road. She encounters a threat in the form of an armed angel, tries in vain to alert Balaam, and then opens her mouth to warn him with words that he, and we, can understand:
יִּפְתַּ֥ח יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־פִּ֣י הָאָת֑וֹן וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לְבִלְעָם֙ מֶה־עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי לְךָ֔ כִּ֣י הִכִּיתַ֔נִי זֶ֖ה שָׁלֹ֥שׁ רְגָלִֽים׃
“Adonai opened the ass’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?” (Ba. 22:28)
Balaam’s donkey’s mouth is one of the ten wonders created on the eve of the first sabbath of creation, God’s last minute liminal treasures. The list, recorded in the Talmud, also includes the mouth of the earth that opened up to swallow Korach and his fellow rebels, and the mouth of the well that we will encounter tomorrow. Also, the rod of Moses, the tablets of the Torah, Manna, and rainbows.
Not too many animals talk in the Bible but we find them in many myths and children’s books, totems of traditions that are often composed of layers combined. There's, of course, Donkey in Shrek.
Balaam’s mare is just one of two in the Torah - the snake is the first, and is sometimes interpreted allegorically as the animal part of us; our inner instincts, gut-feeling, what to listen to. It’s an ironic twist on the story of the prophet hired to see and speak and reluctant to do so.
And she is also evidence of literary intervention and edits of this tale - on political grounds. Close analysis of the lengthy Balaam story shows two historical layers, from different moments in our history. The earlier version depicts Balaam as a noble prophet of the people beyond, with powers to know the divine, and gifts of blessing. This older historical memory/version honors other faiths and deities, navigating relationships with the neighboring nations with respect. The latter version, circa 5th century bce or later, adds the donkey narrative, plus irony, distance, and ridicule - echoes of that period’s historical reality of religious/national tensions, expressed as scorn towards the magic of strangers.
So when this animal talks, we pause to listen.
What’s the purpose or the power of this fictitious or factual story? Franz Rosenzweig, one of the most compelling Jewish philosophers and theologies of the 20th century paused to listen - and has a famous quote on the question of miracles for the modern mind, and how to work with myth:
“All the days of the year, Balaam's talking ass may be a mere fairy tale for me, but not on the Sabbath when this portion is read out loud in the synagogue, when it speaks to me out of the open Torah...It is certainly not a fairy tale, but that which is communicated to me - provided I am able to fulfill the command of the hour, namely, to open my ears."
Lots to unpack here.. But for now, along with Rosenzweig in his Berlin synagogue, we pause to listen to this story as it’s chanted from the scroll, listening to the lower layers of the meanings of this myth.
Balaam finally listens, too, and is then ready to go on this journey where he, and we, will learn about letting go of control, paying attention to open mouths - and letting the voice speak through us, even if it seems like we are talking through our ass.
Want to learn more, discuss your thoughts and feelings about the Book of Wilderness and Below the Bible Belt? Join me on Monday August 22 2022, 1pm ET for a one hour conversation on Zoom. Link here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87084369168
Meeting ID: 870 8436 9168
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