Bilam sought to curse the Israelites three times; instead, he was compelled to bless them those three times. The Sages explain the meaning of some of these blessings.

Bilam said: “Who has counted the dust of Jacob?” (Numbers 23:10). Who can count the mitzvot that the Israelites perform with the dust: “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together” (Deuteronomy 22:10); “You shall not sow your vineyard with diverse kinds” (Deuteronomy 22:9).… Bilam said: “Or tallied one-quarter [rova] of Israel” (Numbers 23:10). This is a reference to their pregnancies [reviiyot]: Who can tally the population that emerged because the Israelite women cleaved to and treasured the mitzva to bear children, even when slaves in Egypt…. He continued: “He did not see evil in Jacob” (23:21). Bilam said: God does not look at the transgressions that they perform, but looks only at their good deeds. Bilam said: “The Lord his God is with him” (23:21). You, Balak, told me: “Go curse Jacob for me” (23:7). A thief cannot harm an orchard that has a guard, but if he sleeps, the thief enters. But concerning these people: “Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalms 121:4), how will I be able to harm them? Balak said to him: Since you cannot touch them because of Moses, who serves them, see what will be with the one who will serve as leader after him. Bilam responded: Joshua, too, is tough like Moses. Bilam continued: “And the blast of the King is in its midst” (23:21); Joshua sounds a (Bemidbar Rabba 20)