The two words for “with” – Balak
The story of King Balak and the prophet Bil’am offers an instructive example.
Twice God tells Bil’am how to handle the king’s emissaries, but the two Divine commands seem to contradict one another. The first time it is, “Do not go with them”, and the second time. “Arise and go with them”. Even more puzzling is why, when Bil’am finally does go with the men, God is “angry because he went”.
The answer is suggested by the fact that each command uses a different Hebrew word for “with”. The first time it is im, the second time et.
The Vilna Gaon explains that the first word means to be fully and enthusiastically with someone, whereas the second denotes a mere perfunctory proximity – you are with the person physically but you do not really believe in all that they stand for.
God told Bil’am not to embrace Balak’s purposes. But when it was clear that Bil’am still wanted to go with the king’s men, he was told he could go but to show no enthusiasm. Bil’am, however, went with (using the Hebrew im) them, i.e. ignoring God’s warning. No wonder the Almighty was annoyed.
The story teaches us that though there may be times when it is impossible for us not to be seen in a certain place or company or not to talk or walk with a certain person or group, we have to make it clear that we do not necessarily go along with all that they are, do and stand for. We have to retain our conscience, convictions and independence of judgment at all times.
