Tutti coloro che possiedono questi tre attributi sono dei discepoli di nostro padre Abramo; e (tutti quelli che possiedono) altri tre attributi sono dei discepoli del malvagio Bilam: (Se possiede) un buon occhio, uno spirito umile e un'anima umile, è dei discepoli di nostro padre Abramo. [Ha imparato da lui e ha camminato a modo suo: "Un buon occhio"— accontentandosi di ciò che ha e non desiderando la ricchezza degli altri, come troviamo con Abramo, che disse al re di Sodoma (Genesi 14:22): "Niente — da un filo fino a un fermo di sandalo (devo tenere per me stesso, né prenderò tutto ciò che è tuo. "" E uno spirito umile " —superando l'umiltà, come troviamo con Abraham, vale a dire. (Ibid. 18:27): "e io sono polvere e cenere"; "e un'anima umile"—vigilanza e separazione dalla lussuria, come troviamo con Abraham, vale a dire. (Ibid. 12:11: "Ecco, ora so che sei una bella donna", non essendo stata consapevole della sua bellezza a causa della sua grande modestia.] (Se possiede) un occhio cattivo, uno spirito altero e un anima "ampia", è dei discepoli del malvagio Bilam. [Bilam aveva "un occhio malvagio", sapendo che agli occhi di Dio era male per lui andare a Balak, eppure andare comunque per amore di ricompensa, vale a dire (Numeri 22:18): "Se Balak mi dà la sua casa piena di argento e oro, ecc."; "e uno spirito altero", (dicendo di se stesso) (Ibid. 24:16): "Il il discorso dell'ascoltatore delle parole dell'Onnipotente e il conoscitore della conoscenza dell'Altissimo ";" e un'anima "vasta". "Se non fosse stato estremamente lussurioso, non avrebbe consigliato di abbandonare le figlie di Moav alla prostituzione. E i nostri saggi dissero (Sinedrio 105a): "Bilam viveva con il suo asino".] Qual è la differenza tra i discepoli di nostro padre Abramo e i discepoli del malvagio Bilam? I discepoli di nostro padre Abramo mangiano in questo mondo ed erediterò il mondo a venire, come è scritto (Proverbi 8:21): "Ho molto da lasciare in eredità ai miei amanti [nel mondo a venire], e i loro negozi dovrò riempire [in questo mondo.]" "[Abraham si chiama "amante" vale a dire. (Isaia 41: 8): "il seme di Abramo, mio amante".] Ma i discepoli del malvagio Bilam ereditano Gehinnom e scendono nella fossa della distruzione, come è scritto (Salmi 55:24): "E tu, O Do, li calerà nella fossa della distruzione. Uomini di spargimento di sangue [(es. Bilam, che con il suo consiglio uccisero ventiquattromila di Israele)] e l'inganno non dimezzerà i loro giorni, ma mi fiderò di Te. "
Bartenura
From the students of Abraham, our father: He has learned from him and walks in his ways.
A good eye: We have explained many times that the matter of a good eye is sufficing and [that] a small appetite is carefulness and [that] a humble spirit is extreme humility as was explained in the chapter before this one (Rambam on Pirkei Avot 4:4). And the three [negative traits] that correspond to them are zeal to acquire money and that is an evil eye, and much desire and that is a broad appetite and arrogance and that is a haughty spirit. And these three virtues are publicized in Abraham, our father. And because of this, anyone who is found to have these virtues is called one of the students of Abraham, our father - as he followed his traits. And anyone within whom is found these three vices is of the students of Bilaam the evildoer - as he followed his traits. And I will mention the places in which are elucidated these virtues in Abraham and these vices in Bilaam, and they are all found in the Torah. Indeed, the sufficing of Abraham is in his saying to the king of Sedom (Genesis 14:23), "If from a thread to a sandal strap, and if I take from any of what is yours, etc." And that is the epitome of sufficing - that a man leave much money and not benefit from it, even a little bit. But his caution is his saying to Sarah on the day they came to Egypt (Genesis 12:11), "Behold, I have known that you are a woman of beautiful appearance." And the explanation comes that he did not fully look at her form besides that day - and that is the epitome of carefulness. And [it is also shown] in his saying about Hagar after he married her (Genesis 16:6), " Behold, your maidservant is in your hands - do to her as is good in your eyes." [This] shows that he did not wish to enjoy himself with her. And so [too] when Sarah requested from him to expel her with Yishmael such that he would be prevented from inclining towards [Hagar] for sexual matters, the verse testifies that it was only bad in his eyes about Yishmael, and that is its stating (Genesis 21:11), "And the matter was very bad in the eyes of Abraham on account of his son." These are all signs of carefulness. And, indeed, his humility is his stating (Genesis 18:27), "and I am dust and ashes." And Bilaam the evildoer's zeal for money was publicized and that is his coming from Aram Naharaim for the sake of the money with which he was hired to curse Israel. And that is His, may He be blessed, stating (Deuteronomy 23:5), "since he hired against you Balaam son of Beor, etc." And, indeed, his great desire in sexual matters is the reason for his advice to Balak that he set loose the women to be promiscuous with [the men of] Israel and to place known harlots [in front of them]. As were it not for the great desire that he had and that harlots were good in his eyes, he would not have commanded this - since the commands of people are only according to their opinions. As the good will not command to [do] evil, but will rather warn against it. And the language of Scripture (Numbers 31:16) is "They are the very ones against the children of Israel by the word of Bilaam, etc." And the sages said (Sanhedrin 105a) [that] Bilaam had sexual relations with his donkey. And there is no doubt about it that one with such an opinion will have actions [like] this. And indeed, his arrogance is his stating (Numbers 24:16), "Speaks the one who hears the words of God." And indeed that which it brought a proof about Bilaam from its stating (Psalms 55:24), "And You, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; the people of blood, etc." - [its] explanation is [that it is] because he was a man of blood - as he was the cause of the Israelites' death in the plague; and he was also a man of deceit in his creating a machination to bring about the evil. And its bringing a proof about the students of Abraham from its stating (Proverbs 8:21), "There is what for those that love Me to inherit, and their treasuries will I fill" is like that which He called him (Isaiah 41:8), "the seed of Abraham, the one I love."
EXPANSIVE SOUL. Rav: were he not possessed by desire, he would not have advised Balak to have the daughters of Moab prostitute themselves.Rambam: for a person only orders done that which is in accordance with his thoughts. Good people do not order wicked things done, they warn others against doing them. And the Torah says, “they were the ones who, upon Balaam’s advice, induced the Israelites to betray G-d” (Numbers 31:16).