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Parashat Balak - פָּרָשַׁת חֻקַּת־בָּלָק
Chukat (“Law Of”) opens by describing the process of burning the red heifer and using its ashes for purification. It also tells the stories of the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ striking of a rock to bring forth water, a plague of venomous snakes, and battles against the Emorite kings Sihon and Og. Balak tells the story of the Moabite king Balak, who hires Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam’s donkey speaks along the way, and Balaam ends up blessing the Israelites. The portion ends with a story about Israelite men sinning with Moabite women and the stabbing of an Israelite and a Midianite.
Torah Portion: Numbers 22:2-25:9
Parashat Chukat-Balak is the 39,40th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Next read on June 27th, 2026 / 12 Tamuz 5786
- Annual Reading
Read Annually
1:
22:2 - 22:12· 11 p’sukim
2:
22:13 - 22:20· 8 p’sukim
3:
22:21 - 22:38· 18 p’sukim
4:
22:39 - 23:12· 15 p’sukim
5:
23:13 - 23:26· 14 p’sukim
6:
23:27 - 24:13· 17 p’sukim
7:
24:14 - 25:9· 21 p’sukim
Maftir:
25:7 - 25:9· 3 p’sukim
Haftarah:
Micah 5:6 - 6:8· 17 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 3
July 8th, 2028
1:
22:39 - 23:5· 8 p’sukim
2:
23:6 - 23:12· 7 p’sukim
3:
23:13 - 23:26· 14 p’sukim
4:
23:27 - 23:30· 4 p’sukim
5:
24:1 - 24:13· 13 p’sukim
6:
24:14 - 24:25· 12 p’sukim
7:
25:1 - 25:9· 9 p’sukim
Maftir:
25:7 - 25:9· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah:
Joshua 24:1 - 24:14· 14 p’sukim
About Parashat Parashat Balak
At its heart, Balak (Numbers 22:2–25:9) is a meditation on divine protection and the futility of cursing a people God has blessed. King Balak hires Balaam precisely because he believes words of cursing carry power, yet the narrative repeatedly shows God overriding human intention so that Balaam can speak only the blessings God places in his mouth. The talking-donkey episode sharpens this irony, since a pagan seer proves less perceptive than his own beast in recognizing God's messenger. The portion's sudden turn to the sin of Baal-Peor reframes the danger: having survived an external enemy's curse, Israel nearly destroys itself through idolatry and seduction, and zealotry steps in to halt the resulting plague. Together these strands explore providence working through unlikely agents, the contrast of blessing versus curse, and the moral vulnerability that persists even after miraculous deliverance.
The Haftarah
In most communities the Haftarah for Balak is Micah 5:6–6:8 (cited in some editions as Micah 5:7–6:8 due to differing verse numbering), and the available sources indicate both Ashkenazi and Sephardi rites read the same passage. The connection is explicit: Micah 6:5 calls on Israel to "remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam son of Beor answered him," recalling the parashah's central episode as a paradigm of God's saving intervention that turned an intended curse into blessing. Commentators also note a thematic echo between Balaam's praise of Israel's "goodly" tents (Numbers 24:5) and Micah's culminating statement of what is "good" that God requires (Micah 6:8).
Notable passages and verses
Balak is the source of one of the most beloved lines in the liturgy: Mah Tovu — "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel" (Numbers 24:5) — words spoken by Balaam that open the traditional weekday morning service and are often described as the only prayer in the siddur attributed to a non-Jew. The talking-donkey episode (Numbers 22:21–35) is among the Torah's best-known narratives. The Haftarah supplies another widely quoted verse, Micah 6:8: "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: only to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Balak is read on an ordinary Shabbat, typically in late June or July.
Frequently asked questions
What is parashat Balak about?
Balak (Numbers 22:2–25:9) recounts how Balak, king of Moab, hires the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites, only for God to turn every intended curse into a blessing — including the famous talking-donkey episode and Balaam's oracles praising Israel. It closes with the sin of Baal-Peor, where a plague is halted by Phinehas. With TropeTrainer you can hear and practice this reading with its trope, learning the melody verse by verse.
What is the haftarah for Balak?
In most communities the Haftarah for Balak is Micah 5:6–6:8 (numbered 5:7–6:8 in some editions), and the sources reviewed indicate both Ashkenazi and Sephardi congregations read the same passage. It ties to the portion through Micah 6:5, which directly recalls Balak and Balaam as an example of God's protective acts, and it concludes with the celebrated verse Micah 6:8. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice the Haftarah chant with its trope.
What are the themes of Balak?
Key themes include God's protection of Israel and the futility of curses against a people God has blessed, blessing versus curse, divine providence working through an unlikely non-Israelite prophet, and the moral danger of idolatry and seduction even after miraculous deliverance. The talking donkey and the closing zealotry at Baal-Peor dramatize these ideas. You can hear and practice the full reading with trope on TropeTrainer.
Where does Mah Tovu come from?
Mah Tovu — "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob" (Numbers 24:5) — comes from Balaam's oracle in parashat Balak and opens the traditional weekday morning prayer service; it is often noted as the only prayer in the siddur attributed to a non-Jew. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this reading with its trope so you can master the chant for the verse and those around it.
Where to go next
See the complete list of weekly parashot with links to every reading and detail page.
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