The Moabites are concerned when Bnei Yisrael camp in Arvot Moav, and ask the elders of Midyan to join them in facing this imminent threat. The opening lines of Parshat Balak are puzzling. The Jewish nation is referred to by various names in two short verses: 'Yisrael,' 'The Nation,' 'Bnei Yisrael' and 'The Horde.' It is surprising that Bnei Yisrael are perceived as a threat that demands such concern and attention.
Bnei Yisrael do not threaten Moav's territory, nor do they initiate war; yet they claim: "Now this horde will lick clean all that is about us as an ox licks up the grass of the field..." (Numbers 22,4). What exactly are Moav concerned that Bnei Yisrael will do to their surroundings? What is the meaning of the ox parable, and why is it utilized to described this perceived threat?
A parable is a unique literary device that can be utilized in various ways: It can be a metaphor, an image, a symbol or a myth. A parable therefore lends itself to a variety of interpretations.
Metaphor
"An Ox" – Just as the ox's strength is in his mouth, so too this nation's strength is in its mouth
Just as nothing the ox licks is blessed, so too any nation that comes in contact with this nation is not blessed.
Just as the ox gores with its horns, so too this nation gores with its prayers.
(Midrash Rabbah)
The Midrash refers to various qualities possessed by the ox: the strength of its mouth, its consuming lick, and its goring horns. These qualities parallel the spiritual qualities of Bnei Yisrael: This spiritual 'ox' acts with strength, its supremacy does not necessitate protection, and it poses a threat to its surroundings even if it does not attack directly. It might leave behind a scorched earth, and therefore even its presence is feared.
Image
According to Daat Zekeinim MiBa'alei Hatosfot, the comparison to the ox should be limited to the description of "as an ox licks." One should not address the ox in general, but to one habit of the ox: licking.
"They only feared that they would loot and pillage the entire surroundings, and therefore the word "lick" was used."
According to this explanation in Midrash Aggada Buber, the image of the licking ox is very precise. Bnei Yisrael do not threaten Moav directly, and do not engage them in battle, but Moav fear that Bnei Yisrael plan to exploit their neighbors and will devour anything left near them accidentally, like mice in a house. Mice threaten neither lives nor property directly, but they pose an undermining that could be harmful nonetheless. The Moabite perception of Bnei Yisrael is that they undermine their sense of security and comfortability, and that their presence may ultimately constitute a threat to their agriculture.
Symbol
In the Zohar, the consuming ox is a symbol of redemption, as symbols of redemption are often related to consumption.
"The House of Jacob shall be fire, And the House of Joseph flame, And the House of Esau shall be straw; They shall burn it and devour it..."
According to the Baal HaTurim, this verse refers to the redemption: Yosef is compared to an ox, and Yosef is a symbol of redemption. According to thgis interpretation, the oz is not a metaphor, but rather a symbol of redemption through consumption. According to this interpretation, the Moabites are sending us to a different time period altogether, a time in which the redemption of Bnei Yisrael will impact surrounding surrounding nations.
Myth
Rabbi Tzadok presents an entirely different approach. The ox does not intend to hurt anyone: it is unaware of the damage it inflicts upon its surroundings. The ox eats and licks grass to satiate itself, and is not involved in wanton destruction. This is the foundational story of Bnei Yisrael: By its very existence, Bnei Yisrael must influence the world. They permeates the belief in one God, define holiness, and spread God's morality. Their existence consumes others by removing impurity and evil from the world. In this sense, Bnei Yisrael, by their very existence, are an existential threat to their surroundings, even without being active.
Conclusion
The use of these four literary types to understanding the ox metaphor might shed light on the foundation for anti-Semitism throughout history. The "ox" gores with its prayer; its strength is in its mouth, as opposed to the other nations who live by brute force. This distinction leads to hatred of that which is different and cannot be understood. Bnei Yisrael pose a threat to the safety, economics, and social structure of other nations by virtue of their "otherness." They will always be considered a leech and the parasite, living at the expense of others. The 'threat' of their redemption forges religious hatred, while the ideologies they represent pose a cultural threat.
Facing this ever changing hatred we turn to God and ask that in every generation the curse should be transformed to a blessing.