In this week's parsha we learn about Bilaam. Although Bilaam was great in prophecy, he was quite great in evil as well. The Torah tells us (Bamidbar 22:12) that Hashem told Bilaam not to curse the Jewish people, yet Bilaam defied the word of Hashem and cursed anyway. How many people hear directly from Hashem not to do something, and completely disregard it? Further, the Mishna (Pirkei Avos 5:22) tells us that there are three qualities that make someone a "student of Bilaam". They are 1) an evil eye, 2) an arrogant spirit, 3) a greedy soul. Bilaam, who epitomized these three traits, certainly wasn't righteous or noble in any sense.The mishna refers to Bilaam as Bilaam Harasha (the wicked Bilaam).

Bilaam made an interesting request. Bilaam asked Hashem (23:10) "Tamos Nafshi Mois Yesharim Usihi Achrisi Kamohu, May my soul die the death of the upright, and may my end be like his". The Gemara (Avodah Zarah25a) teaches us that the "upright" that Bilaam referred to are our forefathers. Bilaam asked to merit a portion in the World to Come. Not only did he want a regular portion, he wanted a portion like our forefathers! The question begs to be asked, how could Bilaam, who was such a wicked man, ask to die like the righteous and merit a most prestigious portion in the World to Come? The Ohr Hachaim explains that Bilaam was not asking for a free pass. He was saying that although he didn't live a satisfactory life, he was going to turn it around before he died. He wanted to repent at the end of his life and then all would be good. He wanted to live the good life, and then die the good death. The Ohr Hachaim relates that many people told him that they would repent if they knew that it was their last day. But, since they didn't know when their time would come, they didn't repent because they couldn't live such a life for a long time.

Unfortunately, many people feel this way. During their lifetime they want to indulge in all the pleasures this world has to offer, without giving too much thought to the mitzvos and Torah study. Although they believe in the concepts of punishment, reward, and the World to Come, they aren't too concerned. They feel that there is much time to deal with Torah and mitzvos. This is the attitude of Bilaam and it doesn't work. A person must give a din ve'cheshbon (full accounting) for his whole life, and can't just bank on repenting later in his life.

On a similar note, the Seforno explains the latter part of Bilaam's request. Bilaam had asked "and may my end be like his". The Seforno understands this to mean that may my children be like the Jewish people. (He understands the word "achrisi", which literally means my end, to refer to his children.) Many people fall prey to this mistake. Many people live one type of life, while advocating to their kids to live a different and better life. This too is not proper. We must live the correct lifestyle ourselves while teaching our children the proper path. (This is besides the fact that if we don't practice what we preach it simply won't work.) May we all merit to take the lesson from this week's parsha and learn from Bilaam's mistake. May we all live a life completely dedicated to avodas Hashem and pass that on to our children.