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The end of parshat Balak tells us the story that B'nai Yisra'el involved themselves with licentiousness by relating with the daughters of Midian. Only later, In Bemidbar 31:16, when Moshe gets angry that the army captured and kept alive Midianite women, do we see some mention that Bil'am advised Balak (Context - Bil'am was from Moab, not Midian.) See Rash"i on this verse and Avot Derav Natan 1:4 for details on what the advice was.

Question relayed from my rav:

Why doesn't the Torah reveal outright or even the fact that Bil'am advised Balak (without details of what the advice was) directly in parshat Balak just prior to the story of the event, itself?

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  • Note that even in 31:16 the Torah does not say outright that he advised Balak. In fact according to some (e.g. Chizkuni) Bil'am didn't advise at all; they figured out the plan from Bil'am's words.
    – Alex
    Jul 2, 2018 at 21:38
  • Yes. I upvoted but need to read this again before honestly accepting it.
    – DanF
    Jul 4, 2018 at 18:55
  • I'll correct the location in Avot Derav Natan. The verse he cites is Bemidbar 31:16, so that's correct based on its reference. @רבותמחשבות
    – DanF
    Jul 4, 2018 at 18:58
  • @DanF I think I understand now.
    – רבות מחשבות
    Jul 4, 2018 at 19:33

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If I understand the question correctly, this is a good answer.

According to both Avos Derabbi Nasan and Rashi (as well as various other Mefarshim to Bamidbar 24:14), the Torah specifically states that Bil'am advised Balak in this capacity, and it immediately precedes the story of the Jews sinning with the daughters of Midian/Moav. Here is how Rashi puts it (Alhatorah translation):

לך איעצך COME AND I WILL COUNSEL THEE what you have to do. And what is the counsel? The God of these people hates unchastity, therefore tempt them to sin by means of thy women-folk, as is related in the chapter חלק (Sanhedrin 106a) — You can know that it was Balaam who gave this counsel, to make them fall by the sin of unchastity, for it is stated, of the women of Midian (Numbers 31:16), "Behold, these were an enticement to the children of Israel through the word of Balaam".

אשר יעשה העם הזה לעמך WHAT THIS PEOPLE SHALL DO TO THY PEOPLE – This is an elliptical verse, the meaning being: I will give thee counsel how to make them fall into sin, and I also will tell thee what evil they will once do to thy people Moab in later days: viz., (v. 17) "they will pierce the corners of Moab". — The Targum explains at length what is implied by the terseness of the Hebrew text ("Come I will give thee counsel what thou shouldst do and I will show thee what this people etc.")

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The answer is..... billamm said it as a secret to them and that’s why here the torah does not say it clearly to allude to it being a secret (meforshim)

maybe .... being the holy se’er of the world,he was embarrassed at how low he stoops

or

the jews should not hear the preparation for this attack coming from midyan

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