Commentary for Avodah Zarah 8:2
מאי דעת בהמתו לא הוה ידע בעידנא דחזו ליה דהוה רכיב אחמריה אמרו ליה מאי טעמא לא רכבתא אסוסיא אמר להו ברטיבא שדאי ליה מיד ותאמר האתון הלא אנכי אתונך אמר לה לטעינא בעלמא
What is meant by the words “he did not know the mind of his animal”? At the time when he was seen riding on his donkey, they said to him, “Why do you not ride on a horse?” And he replied, “I consigned mine to the meadow.” Whereupon the donkey said, “Am I not your donkey.” He said back, “You are just for carrying loads.”
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Only Bilaam could determine precisely that one infinitesimally small moment when God’s anger is unleashed every day. Interestingly, while Bilaam is vilified, the rabbis do acknowledge him as a prophet.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
How could Bilaam know God, but not even understand his own animal. This leads to a reconstruction of Bilaam’s discussion with his famous donkey. Each passage is based on the donkey saying a verse back to Bilaam.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
This is probably something you did not know from the Bible. Not usually taught in Hebrew school.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
This is the conclusion of the passage. Bilaam did not really know God—he only knew when exactly during the day God would get angry. This would assumedly help him in his attempt to curse Israel.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
This statement is here because it again connects with the Bilaam and with God’s wrath. Note that “Israel’s enemies” is a euphemism. The statement should read “none would have remained in Israel.” But the copyist did not even want to write such a terrible statement.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Abaye provides a natural phenomenon by which to determine when God’s wrath occurs.
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Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
This statement appeared earlier in the context of God asking the non-Jews to perform the mitzvot at the end of days.
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