הכתב והקבלה — לא תלך עמהם / קום לך אתם

Q — Hashem first tells Bilam 'לא תלך עמהם' — don't go with them. Then later: 'קום לך אתם' — get up and go with them. Did Hashem change His mind? Or did Bilam break Hashem?

A — HaKtav VeHaKabbalah finds the resolution in the Hebrew distinction between two seeming synonyms. 'עם' (with) implies *partnership of purpose* — going with someone to share in their mission. 'את' (with) implies *mere physical accompaniment* — traveling alongside, for travel or honor, without joining the project. The first prohibition was therefore 'לא תלך *עמהם*' — don't go *as their partner* in cursing Yisrael. The second permission was 'קום לך *אתם*' — you may *physically accompany* them, but Hashem immediately clarifies the limitation: 'ואך את הדבר אשר אדבר אליך אותו תעשה.' No change of mind, no divine relenting. Two different prepositions, two different relationships — and Bilam's tragedy is that he never grasped the difference.