Bilaam’s Strategy

The Netivot Shalom gives an unusual explanation as to Bilaam’s strategy in harming the Jewish people. His ultimate goal was to prevent עם ישראל from ארץ ישראל. Bilaam realized that the שלימות, completeness or perfection, of the Jewish nation was only in the land of Israel. If they would lose their merits to enter the Land, it would also prevent Hashem from having a דירה בתחתונים, a dwelling place in the lower world. This entire evil plot was not to allow goodness, holiness and spirituality, to exist on earth. The Jewish people would then not be able to fulfill their ultimate purpose of teaching morality to a very mundane world. We see that the real strength of the Jewish people comes when they are dwelling in ארץ ישראל, and serving Hashem in His dwelling place on earth.