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“... Notwithstanding the contrary misconception, the New Testament is in no manner contrary to the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) or to the Talmud.
… the real Yeshua was held in high esteem by our most revered rabbis, who cite his words with approval… … most of them [the New Testament writers] were of the sect of the Pharisees, thus being students of the Talmud. Even Paul the shaliach said: ‘I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee’…
… the writers of the New Testament were mostly, or entirely, masters of the Talmud.“
–Rabbi Eliyahu Tzvi Soloveitchik, Kol Kore
“Certainly, therefore, there is no doubt that one who seeks truth will agree with our thesis, that the Nazarene and his Apostles never meant to abolish the Torah of Moses from one who was born a Jew…
It is therefore a habitual saying of mine (not as a hypocritical flatterer, G-d forbid, for I am of the faithful believers of Israel, and I know well that the remnant of Israel will not speak falsehood, nor will their mouths contain a deceitful tongue) that the Nazarene brought about a double kindness in the world. On the one hand, he strengthened the Torah of Moses majestically, as mentioned earlier, and not one of our Sages spoke out more emphatically concerning the immutability of the Torah. And on the other hand, he did much good for the Gentiles (provided they do not turn about his intent as they please, as some foolish ones have done because they did not fully understand the intent of the authors of the Gospels. I have recently seen someone publish a book, and he had no idea about what he was writing. For if he had understood the subject, he would have kept his silence and not wasted the paper and ink. There are also found among us foolish scholars who know not their right from their left in the Written and Oral Torahs and cause the people to err with their pompous pronouncements. But there are true scholars among the Christians, just as there are the chosen few among Torah scholars; and there are few of the truly great.) by doing away with idolatry and removing the images from their midst. He obligated them with the Seven Commandments so that they should not be as the beasts of the field. He also bestowed upon them ethical ways, and in this respect he was much more stringent with them than the Torah of Moses, as is well-known…“
-Halachic authority and Rabbi Jacob Emden (Yaavetz), SEDER OLAM RABBAH
VEZUTA
Jews and Christians would both be sorely mistaken to think that any “Jesus” that’s mentioned in the Talmud is actually referring to the true historical Yeshua of the Gospels in the New Testament. Obviously, there are many people in the Bible and Judaism with the same name as Jesus (e.g. Joshua, Jehoshua, Yeshua, etc.). Even according to Judaism, not every “Jesus of Nazareth” in the Babylonian or Jerusalem Talmud is talking about the same person, as we demonstrated in our analysis of “Jesus In the Talmud.”
The “Jesus” of the Talmud (either Ben Stada or Yehoshua’s disciple) can be a sorcerer, idolater, and inciter of the masses to sin, just like Balaam was. Actually, it is a popular opinion that several references to “Balaam” in the Talmud are actually coded references to Jesus, as we will see. If it can be said that the “Balaam” of the Talmud is not really Balaam, but Jesus, then certainly we can say that the “Jesus of Nazareth” of the Talmud is not really the historical Yeshua, but someone else entirely.
“The Sages taught: It should always be the left, weaker, hand that pushes another away and the right, stronger, hand that draws him near. In other words, even when a student is rebuffed, he should be given the opportunity to return. This is not like Elisha, who pushed Gehazi away with both hands, and not like Yehoshua ben Peraḥya, who pushed Jesus the Nazarene, one of his students, away with both hands.“
-Sotah 47a:6
“Joshua ben Perahiah and Nittai the Arbelite received [the oral tradition] from them. Joshua ben Perahiah used to say: appoint for thyself a teacher, and acquire for thyself a companion and judge all men with the scale weighted in his favor.“
-Pirkei Avot 1:6
In a famous commentary, the Lubavitcher Rebbe said that Yehoshua ben Perachiah’s most important teaching of “judging all men favorably” is a lesson he specifically learned as a consequence of his mistake in pushing away Jesus of Nazareth “with both hands.” This means that if there is any Jew that Judaism teaches us to judge favorably, it is “Jesus of Nazareth.” Not only that, but if he was unjustly pushed away from Judaism with both hands, this teaches us that he must be brought back with both hands (via only “judging favorably”).
“… thus, everyone who acknowledges [Yeshua], that is, anyone who judges [Yeshua] favorably, the Holy One, blessed be he, will judge him favorably, as we find in the Talmud…“
–Rabbi Eliyahu Tzvi HaLevi Soloveitchik, Kol Kore
“The remarks in the Talmud, therefore, may quite well refer to the Jesus as projected by the Church and not to the one that appears in the NT, notwithstanding the inconsistencies related to the dating of these stories. It is the portrait of Jesus created by the Church that has prevailed as the most common and perhaps the most authoritative one in Western civilization. In its determination to separate Christianity from Judaism, the Church went out of its way to rewrite the story of Jesus in such a way that he became a strong opponent of Judaism and, above all, of Halacha.”
-Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, “The Trouble With Jesus”
“I think you understand, all of you, that there are really two Jesus figures. There’s the Jesus of Christianity and tragically in his name, millions of Jews have been murdered through the generations and I always mention this and every Christian audience to whom I mention this asks forgiveness, shows empathy and pain. But there’s the Jewish Jesus, who kept commitments to the Bible, to the Torah even as we understand it, and in strengthening the personality of the Jewish Jesus, one begins to understand in depth how Christianity emerged from Judaism truly and that strengthens the connection…“
-Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, founding chief rabbi of Efrat, Israel
Judging Yeshua favorably, specifically applied within Judaism, means that any time something seemingly negative is said about some “Jesus of Nazareth” in the Talmud, then we must “judge favorably” that it is not actually referring to the historical Yeshua, but to these figures (e.g. Ben Stada, etc.) who lived either a hundred years before or after the historical Yeshua (and therefore, could not be him). As Rabbi Cardozo wrote, these negative things could also be a coded reference to the theological rewriting of ‘Jesus’ (who we call the true ‘Antichrist’), and not to the historical Jewish Yeshua. Since there are a few historical or positive things that these other “Jesus’s” or Balaam of the Talmud have in common with the historical Yeshua (as we will review), then “judging favorably” means that we should attribute these things as a reference to the true, historical Yeshua. Even seemingly negative things written can and should have a positive interpretation.
Again, if we use the same methodology to “judge {Yeshua] favorably,” then we should say that the negative things attributed to Balaam properly apply to the wicked Balaam, whereas the positive or historical things about Yeshua applied to Balaam, may be properly applied to Yeshua.
“With regard to the verse: “And he took up his parable, and said: Alas, he who lives from what God has appointed him [Gematria of ‘Yeshua,’ 386]” (Numbers 24:23), Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says: Woe unto one who resurrects himself in the name of G-d. Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Woe unto the nation that will be found hindering the Jewish people at the time when the Holy One, Blessed be He, redeems His children. Who places his garment between a male lion and a female lion when they are mating? One who does so will certainly die.”
-Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 106a:5
“Balaam, who resurrects himself by the name of G-d,” making himself God. Another reading has it : “who resurrects himself as to the name of God,” that is, woe to those men that vivify and amuse themselves in this world and tear the yoke of the Torah from their neck and make themselves fat.”
-Rashi, Sanhedrin 106a:5
In this passage, it compares Balaam to one who “resurrects himself” from the dead and Rashi comments that he also made “himself God.” In the next part, Rashi compares those who “tear the yoke of the Torah from their neck” to those who hinder the Jewish people from redemption. Nowhere in the Bible do we see these ideas about Balaam being resurrected, making himself God, or hindering the Jewish people from the final redemption, but we do see all these ideas in Christianity. There’s even a version of a Midrash where Balaam prophesies explicitly about the domination of Christianity, which we call the true religion of the Antichrist (not the true Jewish Yeshua, but the Christian Jesus who was wrongly transformed into a god/idolatry).
“He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice” (Prov. xxvii. 14). How strong was the voice of Balaam? Rabbi Jochanan said: (It was heard) sixty miles. Rabbi Jehoshua’ ben Levi said: Seventy nations heard the voice of Balaam. Rabbi Ele’azar ha-qappar says: God gave strength to his voice, and he went up from one end of the world to the other, because he was looking about and seeing the nations adoring the sun and the moon and the stars and wood and stone. And he looked about and saw that a man, son of a woman, will arise, who seeks to make himself God and to seduce all the world without exception. Therefore, he gave strength to his voice, that all nations of the world might hear it, and thus he spake: Take heed that you go not astray after that man, as it is written (Num. xxiii. 19) “God is not a man, that he should lie”—and if he says that he is God, he is a liar; and he will fall into error and say that he is going away and will come again at certain spaces of time, he hath said and will not do it. Look what is written (Num. xxiv. 23) “And he took up his parable and said, Alas, who shall live when he makes himself God!” Balaam intended to say: Alas, who shall live from that nation which gives ear to that man who makes himself God?“
-Yalkut Shimoni, Number 23:7
“It is said that in Rome, there is a statue made of marble with the likeness of a beautiful virgin upon it. This statue was not crafted by human hands; rather, the L-rd created it with His might. The wicked followers of Edom [Roman Christianity], the sons of Belial, come and heat it, lying next to it. The L-rd preserves a drop of their sweat within the stone, creating life within it and forming a creature. The statue then cracks open, and the figure of a man emerges, and his name is Armilus the Satan. This figure is referred to by the nations as Antichrist. His height is twelve cubits, and his width is twelve cubits. Between his two eyes, there is a horn, and they are deep red, and the hair on his head is like the color of gold. His feet are green, and he has two crowns. He goes to Edom, the wicked, and says to them, “I am the Messiah, I am your God.” Immediately, they believe in him, crown him as their king, and unite with him. All the sons of Esau join him, and he conquers all the nations. He commands the sons of Esau to bring him the Torah that was given to them. And they bring their scrolls and he says to them, “It is true that I gave you the Torah.” He then says to the followers of Edom, “Believe in me, for I am your Messiah.” Immediately, they believe in him. At that moment, Nehemiah, the son of Hushiel, and all of Israel rise up, and he [Armilus] says to them, “Bring me your Torah and testify about me that I am God… At that moment, all the followers of Edom persecute the Jews in their countries, not allowing them to reside peacefully in their territories.“
-Otzar Midrashim, Rabbi Yehuda David Eisenstein, Midrashim on The Messiah, Otot Mashiach 10
The Talmud says that Bilaam was much younger when he died than he should have been, but exactly the age that Yeshua is believed to have been killed. He is said to have been killed by “Pinchas the robber,” but this name doesn’t make sense (Pinchas was a robber?). Rather, this name, ‘Pinchas Listaah,’ sounds a lot like, ‘Pontius Pilatus,’ who killed Yeshua at age 33.
“A certain heretic said to Rabbi Ḥanina: Have you heard how old Balaam was when he died? Rabbi Ḥanina said to him: It is not written explicitly in the Torah. But from the fact that it is written: “Bloody and deceitful men shall not live half their days” (Psalms 55:24), this indicates that he was thirty-three or thirty-four years old, less than half the standard seventy-year lifespan. The heretic said to him: You have spoken well, I myself saw the notebook of Balaam and it was written therein: Balaam the lame was thirty-three years old when Pinchas Listaah (the robber) killed him.“
-Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 106b:2
“Hizkuni writes. The Talmud says in [tractate] Sotah that Balaam also sat as an advisor to destroy Israel and to torment them. How is it possible that Balaam lived for so long, until Israel were in the wilderness and waged war with Midian, at which time Phinehas killed Balaam? How is it possible that he lived for so long? We also find in [tractate Sanhedrin], chapter ten, that Balaam was only thirty-three years old when he was killed…”
-Tze’enah Ure’enah, Shemot 16
Balaam is called, ‘lame,’ which in Hebrew has the same letters as, ‘Passover’ (Pesach, Piseach). Perhaps this is also an allusion to the date and symbolism of when Pontius Pilate killed Yeshua, the Passover.
“It is stated: “And Balaam, son of Beor, the diviner, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among the rest of their slain” (Joshua 13:22). The Gemara asks: Was he a diviner? He is a prophet. Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Initially he was a prophet, but ultimately, he lost his capacity for prophecy and remained merely a diviner. Rav Pappa says that this is in accordance with the adage that people say: This woman was descended from princes and rulers, and was licentious with carpenters.“
-Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 106a:17
According to some sources, Yeshua’s mother was licentscious with a Roman and this was Yeshua’s actual father. But in the New Testament, a carpenter (Joseph) was Yeshua’s actual father and he was a descendant of “princes and rulers.” This seems to be another allusion to Yeshua in relation to Balaam, who began as a prophet, but was turned into a sorcerer.
“Whoever possesses these three things, he is of the disciples of Abraham, our father; and [whoever possesses] three other things, he is of the disciples of Balaam, the wicked. A good eye, a humble spirit and a moderate appetite he is of the disciples of Abraham, our father. An evil eye, a haughty spirit and a limitless appetite he is of the disciples of Balaam, the wicked. What is the difference between the disciples of Abraham, our father, and the disciples of Balaam, the wicked? The disciples of Abraham, our father, enjoy this world, and inherit the world to come, as it is said: “I will endow those who love me with substance, I will fill their treasuries” (Proverbs 8:21). But the disciples of Balaam, the wicked, inherit Gehinnom (hell), and descend into the nethermost pit, as it is said: “For you, O God, will bring them down to the nethermost pit those murderous and treacherous men; they shall not live out half their days; but I trust in You” (Psalms 55:24).”
-Pirkei Avot 5:19
We are not told in the Bible that Balaam had disciples, but Yeshua had disciples and the same Psalm applied to Balaam in the passage alluding to Yeshua (Sanhedrin 106b), is used here in reference to his disciples. The meaning of the name of Balaam (“Belo Am”) in the Talmud can be a reference to Gentile Christians, even as Paul wrote.
“§ The mishna teaches that four prominent commoners, Balaam, Doeg, Ahithophel, and Gehazi, have no share in the World-to-Come. The Gemara elaborates: The name Balaam is interpreted as a contraction of: Without a nation [belo am], or one who has no share in the World-to-Come with the Jewish nation. Alternatively, the name Balaam is interpreted as one who wore down the Jewish people [bila am]. He is the son of Beor, one who engaged in bestiality [be’ir].“
-Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 105a:7
“”Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
-Romans 10:19
I will use those who are not a nation [“belo Am”] to make you jealous;
with a foolish nation I will provoke you.””
“Balaam was blind in one of his eyes, as it is stated: “Whose eye is open” (Numbers 24:3), indicating that one eye was open and the other was blind.”
-Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 105a:16
Balaam was said to have only one eye, which is reminiscent of how one letter ‘ayin’ (‘eye’) was removed from Yeshua’s name (making his name instead, ‘Yeshu’).
“it is taught: “There has not arisen another prophet in Israel like Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:10) – in Israel one has not arisen, but among the nations of the world he has arisen, so that there will not be recourse for the nations of the world to say: Had we had a prophet like Moses, we would have worshipped the Holy One blessed be He. What prophet did they have like Moses? This was Balaam son of Beor.”
-Bamidbar Rabbah 14:20
Balaam is said to have been the greatest prophet for the Gentiles, as great or greater than Moses was for Israel. This does not make sense when we look at the greatest world religions today or throughout history. However, if we also interpret this as alluding to Yeshua, it makes perfect sense. A majority of the world population holds Yeshua to be a greatest prophet and the Messiah of Israel (Christians & Muslims), even greater than Moses. This description is also given in Judaism to the Messiah.
“The general rule is that no one has been renewed to the level of signs and wonders performed by G-d through Moses our teacher. However, the truth that emerges from this verse is that no prophet arose again like Moses, who was a prophet specifically for Israel alone. Nevertheless, it is possible that there will be a prophet among the nations of the world as well, and this will be the Messiah, the King… Therefore, you should know that what we said in the portion of Balaam—that a prophet will arise in Israel and among the nations like Moses—refers to the Messiah, the King… ‘He who gives life and causes death’ – this root concept has been fully explained through the words of the prophets. We also find in the cases of Elijah and Elisha, who revived the dead. It seems that this miracle will take place when G-d Almighty desires to transform the nations, giving them a clear language. Then, this miraculous act will be demonstrated through the Messiah, the King.”
-Ralbag (Gersonides) on Torah, Numbers 24:1:8, Deuteronomy 3:23:10, 32:1:18
With all of the above, we still know that not every passage about Balaam in the Talmud must be a reference to Yeshua because in at least one place, they are mentioned together, but as separate.
“Onkelos then went and raised Balaam from the grave through necromancy. He said to him: Who is most important in that world where you are now? Balaam said to him: The Jewish people. Onkelos asked him: Should I then attach myself to them here in this world? Balaam said to him: You shall not seek their peace or their welfare all the days (see Deuteronomy 23:7). Onkelos said to him: What is the punishment of that man, a euphemism for Balaam himself, in the next world? Balaam said to him: He is cooked in boiling semen, as he caused Israel to engage in licentious behavior with the daughters of Moab. Onkelos then went and raised Jesus the Nazarene from the grave through necromancy. Onkelos said to him: Who is most important in that world where you are now? Jesus said to him: The Jewish people. Onkelos asked him: Should I then attach myself to them in this world? Jesus said to him: Their welfare you shall seek, their misfortune you shall not seek, for anyone who touches them is regarded as if he were touching the apple of his eye (see Zechariah 2:12).”
-Talmud Bavli, Gittin 57a:1-3
Here, in the Talmud, Balaam and Yeshua give opposite answers with regards to treatment of the Jewish people. This shows that rather than being the same historically or one as a type of the other, they were actually opposites, as also demonstrated in the only place where Yeshua says he “hates” something in the New Testament (‘Balaam,’ and, ‘Nicholas,’ have synonymous name meanings).
“Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the followers of Nicholas, which I also hate… I know where you are living, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the People of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and engage in sexual immorality. So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the followers of Nicholas. Repent, then. If not, I will come to you soon and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.”
-Revelation 2:6, 13-16
Using the “judge favorably” method and seeing parallels between what is written in the Talmud about Yeshua and Balaam, we can establish at least the following facts about Yeshua just from the Talmud and Jewish sources:
- Yeshua represented the opposite of Balaam
- Yeshua was the greatest prophet for the Gentiles, as the Messiah will be
- Yeshua was resurrected from the dead
- Yeshua died about 33-34
- Yeshua lost an ‘ayin’ (‘eye’)
- Yeshua was connected to Passover
- Yeshua was connected to carpentry
- Yeshua was descended from “princes and rulers”
- Balaam represents Armilus the Satan – the idolatrous Antichrist (Kelipah of the Jewish Yeshua)
Eye To Zion 