724. Balak Saw

“And Balak Ben Tzipor saw,” etc. We should understand why “Moab feared,” since it is written, “Do not harass Moab.”

The Hatam Sofer explains, as Maimonides wrote in eight chapters, that the Creator strengthened the heart of Egypt and the heart of Sihon in order to avenge the transgressions they had committed, not that that were done now, for this, since the Creator is the one who strengthened and hardened their hearts against their own good, so how would they be punished for it?

Balak knew that Israel would not go against him, since they were warned, “Do not harass Moab.” However, he feared that the Creator would strengthen his heart until he begins to afflict them with wicked afflictions, and then they would have permission to go against him. This is why he said that he saw and understood what Israel did to Sihon, meaning that his heart was made strong, and also that they took over Egypt, meaning also, as said above, “And he feared from the people.”