Parshas Balak 5785

Although Kiryas Chutzos appears as merely a brief geographical note in the Balak-Balaam narrative, a place where Balak brought the Bilaam before Bilaam began his cursing assignment, this stop on the way has many details waiting to be uncovered.

Etymology of Kiryas Chutzos - A better understanding of the meaning of "Kiryas Chutzos" (literally "City of Plazas")

The City's Character - What the name reveals about Kiryas Chutzos and its function in the Moavite region.

Balak's Strategic Choice - Why Balak chose this city in particular to take Balak in preparation to curse Klal Yisrael.
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Onkelos adds a few details into this passuk that reveal more about this city and the purpose of why Balak brought Balaam to this place:

By translating the word "Vayavau" not in its literal sense "and they came", which would connote the natural path of travel, and rather "and they went up to" (according to some versions of Onkelos), Onkelos is trying to steer the connotation to be that Balak went out of his way to take Balaam "up to" this place.
See Beurei Onkelos:

What was so special about this place?

Rashi provides the answer:

Beurei Onkelos also notes how Onkelos adds the possessive, "his" cities of plazas, to the passuk. This addition emphasizes Balak's personal connection to his cities and their inhabitants, making his plea to Balaam more emotionally compelling—he is asking Balaam to protect not just any cities, but his own people from invasion by the Israelites.

While it is clear that this city had busy streets, it is left to be explored why this town was so bustling. What was the identity of this city?

Let's turn back to Onkelos. The word "chutz" in the context of the name of the city "Kiryas Chutzos", means "a plaza/store." (From Rashi it is also clear that the city was known for its marketplaces; Rashi's source is from the Tanchuma)

The term "chutz" to be referring to stores and plazas has precedent from other pesukim in Nach. In Parshas Noach, Onkelos renders the term "chutz" to refer to a store.

Another place is in Parshas Vayeishev.

See also Mishlei 8:26 with Ibn Ezra (cited by Aderes Eliyahu):

The Nachal Kedumim notes, and cites Onkelos in Bamidbar as a source, that the by the city being called "Kiryas Chutzos" in plural, it is a clue to tell us that this city had a lot of stores and plazas.

Nachal Kedumim also describes the unique layout of the town as being organized by sectors according to each of the surround town's specialties.

The Etz Yosef on the Medrash Tanchuma (which is the source for Rashi) also describes the city as "a bazaar where they sold all types of things."

This is a rendering of mine of the general layout of Kiryas Chutzos, according to Nachal Kedumim.

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The term שוקא usually refers to a market, but more generally, to any area teeming with people. The other time Onkelos renders in this way is in Vayeishev, every time it says that Yosef ran החוצה, i.e., he ran straight into the busiest part of town.

Rav Veiser (תרגום אונקלוס המוגה והמדויק) explains that the common denominator is a lack of kavod. חם didn’t care about Noach’s kavod, and Yosef didn’t care about his own במקום שיש בו חילול יהוה. I propose to sharpen it a little: Cham davka wished to humiliate his father and chose the venue that would inflict the greatest damage.

Yosef may have chosen the bustling market for a different reason: to ensure the availability of witnesses, knowing that his tyrant mistress would surely try to turn the tables and accuse him, as she indeed do.

Regarding mechozohi in Parashas Korach, the baal מרפא לשון (ר' יחיא קרח) explains as follows. מחוז always means a regional capital or important center of sorts. חוצות here also means שוק, but it was the central shuk, to which all the surrounding areas would bring their wares. Thus the קרית מחוזוהי was the “market city.”

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