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First Reading, Second Reading, Third Reading, Fourth Reading, Fifth Reading, Sixth Reading, Seventh Reading, Last Reading |
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First Reading, Second Reading, Third Reading, Fourth Reading, Fifth Reading, Sixth Reading, Seventh Reading, Last Reading |
Balak |  |
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| | 22:28 |
God then gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you that you beat me these three times?'
Vayiftach Adonay et-pi ha'aton vatomer le-Vil'am meh-asiti lecha ki hikitani zeh shalosh regalim. |
| 22:29 |
'You have been playing games with me!' shouted Balaam at the donkey. 'If I had had a sword in my hand just now, I would have killed you!'
Vayomer Bil'am la'aton ki hit'alalt bi lu yesh-cherev beyadi ki atah haragtich. |
| 22:30 |
The donkey replied to Balaam, 'Am I not your [old] donkey? You have been riding on me as far back as you remember. Have I ever been in the habit of doing this to you?' 'No,' replied [Balaam].
Vatomer ha'aton el-Bil'am halo anochi atonecha asher-rachavta alay me'odcha ad-hayom hazeh hahasken hiskanti la'asot lecha koh vayomer lo. |
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Commentary:
gave the donkey...
Literally, 'opened the donkey's mouth.' However, some say that the donkey did not actually speak, but that this was a prophetic vision (Moreh Nevukhim 2:42).
| playing games
(Radak, Sherashim). Hith-olal in Hebrew; see Exodus 10:2. Or, 'embarrassed' (Rashi), 'insulted' (Lekach Tov). Or, 'rebelled' (Saadia).
| as far back as you remember
Literally, 'From when you first started until now.'
| been in the habit
(Saadia; Ibn Ezra; Radak, Sherashim). Or, 'have I ever been unmindful' (Septuagint). Also, possibly, 'have I ever endangered you.'
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