{"id":47955,"date":"2019-01-22T21:34:46","date_gmt":"2019-01-22T19:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=47955"},"modified":"2022-08-17T08:34:28","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T05:34:28","slug":"the-irony-of-balaams-blindness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-irony-of-balaams-blindness\/","title":{"rendered":"The Irony Of Balaam\u2019s Blindness"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[363,821,369],"acf":{"old_id":"47955","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":39525,"related_cahpter":"139","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Donkeys who can speak are less of a surprise than a Seer who cannot see.","content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balaam\u2019s donkey not only refused to cross the angel\u2019s path, she began to speak, protesting Balaam\u2019s harsh treatment. Balaam retorts that had he possessed a sword he would kill the animal. There is irony in this response; the prophet set to destroy an entire nation with words could not control one relatively harmless animal. It is the angel in the story who possesses the sword, and it is the angel who poses a threat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1626, Rembrandt painted Balaam and his donkey in all of its violence and force. One of his earliest paintings, Rembrandt\u2019s colors are brighter than in his later works. By choosing a vertical composition, the artist brings the characters nearer each other and closer, in perception, to the viewer, creating greater dynamism and tension. Our eyes travel from the left hand corner with the angel\u2019s blunt sword to the golden hue of Balaam\u2019s left foot. The donkey is not looking at the angel but staring with pleading eyes at his cruel and blind master. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balaam\u2019s raised arm is tensed and muscular as his right hand tightens the reins on his poor, suffering beast. Enhancing the vertical flow, Balaam pulls the stick from a satchel holding maps. This, too, adds a touch of irony. The donkey knows his way and should be his guide, but Balaam did not trust the donkey. He needed maps which remain unopened and useless in the current circumstances. In the background we find Moabite delegates staring blankly at the events unfolding before them. What was a royal mission has turned into a dangerous confrontation. The animal\u2019s front leg is again bent unnaturally &#8211; in contrast to the calm horse and rider behind Balaam who do not know what was happening &#8211; but this time it is to stop his master. The donkey\u2019s mouth is open and he is about to speak, in the painting as well as in the text.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balaam wears the regalia that we have come to expect of one of Rembrandt\u2019s biblical characters. His clothing is aflame in gold and crimson, the colors of his fiery anger. The dark sockets of his eyes give the impression of blindness and in this painting the vision is amiss. No one looks at another. No one makes eye contact. The eyes of all are still veiled. Rembrandt\u2019s message is clear. Donkeys who can speak are less of a surprise than a Seer who cannot see.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>image: by Rembrandt &#8211; Mbzt, Public Domain, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=23551459<\/p>\n","image":{"ID":47956,"id":47956,"title":"Num22-Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_122","filename":"Num22-Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_122.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num22-Rembrandt_Harmensz._van_Rijn_122.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-irony-of-balaams-blindness\/num22-rembrandt_harmensz-_van_rijn_122\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"num22-rembrandt_harmensz-_van_rijn_122","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":47955,"date":"2019-01-22 19:31:14","modified":"2019-01-22 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