One last try to appeal to an unresponsive judge

(Cont.)

And Balak brought Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, where the LORD himself resides, from which place one can see the whole of the Middle of Nowhere, known as Jeshimon, where the freebooters were wilding. And Balaam gazed upon the horrors. Soon, he said: “Enough. Bring seven grills, and prepare seven bullocks and rams.”

So Balak did as Balaam instructed, and they commenced to barbecue.

§

When Balaam returned from the fiery vortex atop Mount Peor, he proceeded not, as at the other times, to chant a spell at his companions on behalf of Yahweh, but instead he turned resolutely and faced the frenzied, blood-spattered gang of despoilers below, as they were pillaging in the wild land. Balaam fixed his attention upon this remainder of the workforce from the Empire; and the spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he addressed the mob directly, saying:

Balaam, the son of Peor 

Whose eyes are open, knowing wisdom 

Is hearing now the passion of his brother:  

Yahweh Peor is casting a trance, 

The vision of truth is before us: 

How wonderful are your tabernacles, 

Your habitations, O you workers of the world, 

You who outmaneuvered the Empire! 

You shall be as the valley of paradise, 

As the garden by the river’s side, 

As the twin trees that Yahweh planted: 

Which give pure life and open the eyes! 

Higher than Lucifer, 

Higher than David, 

Higher than Adam 

Shall your kingdom be exalted! 

The Almighty saved you from the Empire, 

He who is stronger than a unicorn: 

Now shall you enhance the nations; 

Enrich while receiving enrichment 

From the peoples, each from each: 

Becoming one flesh, all shall increase. 

God damns who damns,  

Praises who praises: 

Each is judged as each has judged, 

And all debts canceled.

Now Balak stood wondering at the content of this utterance. He agreed completely with its sentiment, but he did not understand how the picture it painted of a peaceful world increasing in love and harmony could ever connect with the scene below, where the plundering troops were drunk off murder and rapine. So, after an interval, he said to Balaam the seer:

“I don’t know what else to do. I called you to put a stop to this genocidal group, but three times now you’ve repeated the same idea: ‘Let them continue their brutal rampage,’ you say, ‘because someday they will change and begin to act otherwise.’ It seems that we are in agreement, you and I – or Yahweh the god, or whoever’s view you’ve been channeling – it seems that we are eager to see the same outcome, so our disagreement concerns the speed at which the desired change should occur, and whether or not to interfere. I still don’t understand what the LORD finds so distasteful about disciplining these maniacs – if he were a human parent and they were simply his children, we would say that he is spoiling them – but, for some reason, which I guess shall forever remain a mystery, this one subsection of humankind needs to be allowed to plumb the depths of barbarity while the rest of us remain passive. It makes me wonder why we even have an international law. Should it ever be enforced; and, if not now, when? Ah, before this day, I believed that the LORD was upright and compassionate. I will still worship him (because he is powerful: what can one do?) – but, now that I have seen him in action, I shudder with sorrow for mortal clay.”

And Balaam replied to Balak: “I said that I’m sorry: I even apologized in advance. Remember, I explained to you, through your angels, when they came to me in your prayer-visions: I sent them back to you with a message, saying: ‘Even if Balak would offer me comelier concubines, plus mansions filled with silver and with gold, it would be of no avail, for I will only act in accordance with the volcano of potential.’ You see? I shall never go beyond the word of the LORD, my brother Yahweh, to do less or more.”

Balak and Balaam remained standing there together on Mount Peor, watching the armies of Moses continue their slaughter below.