BaMidbar (Numbers) 22:2

1st Aliyah

Balak, son of Zippor, saw all that Yisra'el had done to the Amorites. Moab became very frightened of the people, because it was numerous, ad Moab was disgusted in the face of the Children of Yisra'el.

The Torah teaches us that in contrast with Jethro, Balak is described as having seen rather than as having heard of Yisra'el's victories.  What Balak saw were the gestures of Zippor, his master.  Balak was the greatest magician of his time, a student of the bird called Yadua.  Having seen what Y'israel did to the Emorites, Balak placed his trust completely in his bird.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 22:13

2nd Aliyah

Balaam arose in the morning and said to the officers of Balak, "Go to your land, for HaShem refuses to let me go with you."

The Torah teaches us that Balaam stated that if he could not go with the messengers, he would want to curse Y'israel from where he was.  To this, HaShem replied, You will not curse this nation.  Balaam then suggested that, since he could not curse them, he would e happy to bless them.  HaShem's reply was, They do not need your blessing, for they are blessed.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 22:21

3rd Aliyah

Balaam arose in the morning and saddled his she-donkey and went with the officers of Moab. Elohim's wrath flared because he was going, and an angel of HaShem stood on the road to impede him.

The Torah teaches us that Balaam's hatred of Y'israel was so intense that he himself, the great soothsayer, disregarded his dignity and saddled the she-ass, rather then wait for a servant to do it.  There were two servants who came along with him.  Balaam suffers by comparison with Avraham who saddled his ass when the opportunity came to do a mitzvah of HaShem.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 22:39

4th Aliyah

Balaam went with Balak and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and sent to Balaam and to the officers who were with him.

The Torah teaches us that the use of the singular form here for cattle and sheep teaches us that Balak sent to Balaam and accompanying princes only one ox and one sheep so that he should not spend time in feasting and delay his cursing of Y'israel.  But when Balaam saw what Balak had sent, he grew angry at the smallness of the gift.  And so the next day he ordered the king to sacrifice seven bullocks and seven rams.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 23:13

5th Aliyah

Balak said to him, "Go now with me to a different place from which you will see them; however, you will see its edge but not see it all--and you will curse it for me from there."

The Torah teaches us that the places to which Balak took Balaam represents three trails which would decide whether Yisrael lived or perished.  The first was the mountain top, the physical endurance of Yisrael was being tested.  Baal symbolized fertility.  Balak used Baal to challenge Yisrael, to test whether Yisra'el's physical strength could withstand the curse Baal.  The second was here, the field of lookouts.  At the field of lookouts Yisrael had to show that they had sufficient spiritual vision and clarity of the mind to withstand the curse arising out of the darkness of witchcraft.  The third was the summit of Peor, overlooking the Wilderness, Yisra'el's morality was put to test.  At that place a depraved form of idol-worship was practiced, which consisted in exposing oneself to honor the idol.  Balaam felt he could curse Yisrael if they weakened by immoral tendencies.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 23:27

6th Aliyah

Balak said to Balaam, "Go, now, I shall take you to a different place, perhaps it will be proper in Elohim's eyes that you will curse them for me from there."

The Torah teaches us that Balak actually knew more magic than Balaam.  Balaam followed Balak blindly to where he was to curse.  They operated like a surgical team: one had the knife but did not know where to operate; for the other, the reverse was true.  Thus, here Balaam let Balak show him the place where he was to operate with his cutting words.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 24:14

7th Aliyah

And now, behold! I go to my people. Come, I shall advise you what this people will do to your people in the End of Days.

The Torah teaches us that this is where Balaam advised Balak that he could bring harm to Yisrael by seducing them into debauchery.  Balaam told Balak that if you attack the Children of Yisra'el, they will cut your people to pieces.  You must therefore find a way to weaken them without actually going to battle, and this way is through harlotry.

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