Topical Encyclopedia
Balaam is a complex figure in the Bible, known for his interactions with the Israelites during their wilderness journey. He is primarily mentioned in the Book of Numbers, chapters 22 to 24, and is later referenced in other parts of Scripture. Balaam was a non-Israelite prophet or diviner from Pethor, near the Euphrates River, whose account serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's integrity and the consequences of opposing God's will.
Background and CharacterBalaam is introduced in
Numbers 22 as a man of significant reputation for his ability to bless and curse. Balak, the king of Moab, fearing the encroaching Israelites, sought Balaam's services to curse the people of Israel. Despite being a pagan diviner, Balaam had some knowledge of the God of Israel, as evidenced by his initial refusal to curse Israel without God's permission.
The Donkey IncidentOne of the most memorable episodes involving Balaam is his encounter with his donkey, as recorded in
Numbers 22:21-34. As Balaam set out to meet Balak, God sent an angel to oppose him. Balaam's donkey saw the angel and refused to proceed, leading to Balaam striking the animal. Miraculously, the donkey spoke, questioning Balaam's actions. This event opened Balaam's eyes to the angel's presence, and he realized the seriousness of his mission. The incident underscores the theme of divine intervention and the futility of resisting God's plans.
Balaam's OraclesDespite Balak's insistence, Balaam was unable to curse Israel. Instead, he delivered a series of oracles that blessed the Israelites and foretold their future prosperity. In
Numbers 23:8, Balaam declared, "How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?" These oracles affirmed God's covenantal promises to Israel and highlighted His sovereign control over nations and individuals.
Balaam's DownfallAlthough Balaam initially obeyed God's command not to curse Israel, his account takes a darker turn.
Numbers 31:16 and
Revelation 2:14 reveal that Balaam later advised Balak to entice the Israelites into sin through idolatry and immorality, leading to God's judgment upon His people. This act of treachery is often referred to as "the doctrine of Balaam," symbolizing the corrupting influence of greed and compromise.
Legacy and LessonsBalaam's legacy is one of warning against the perils of greed and the temptation to use spiritual gifts for personal gain. His account is a reminder of the importance of aligning one's actions with God's will and the consequences of leading others astray. Balaam's name is invoked in various New Testament passages (
2 Peter 2:15,
Jude 1:11) as a symbol of false teaching and moral failure.
In summary, Balaam's narrative serves as a powerful illustration of the conflict between divine purpose and human ambition, emphasizing the necessity of faithfulness and obedience to God.
Strong's Hebrew
1109a. Bilam -- a prophet... a prophet. Transliteration: Bilam Short Definition:
Balaam. Word Origin from bala
Definition a prophet NASB Word Usage
Balaam (58),
Balaam's (2). 1109, 1109a
...Library
Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
...BALAAM'S PROPHECY. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19.). Carried by the Spirit into the
far distant future,Balaam sees here how a star goeth out...
Balaam's Wish Num 23:10
... NUMBERS Hymn 20BALAAM's wish Num 23:10. John Newton 6,6,8,6.BALAAM's wish Numbers
23:10. How blest the righteous are. When they resign their breath!...
Balak's Inquiries Relative to the Service of God, andBalaam's...
... SERMON XVIII. Balak's inquiries relative to the service of God, andBalaam's
answer, briefly considered. Micah vi.6, 7, 8. "Wherewith...
On Numbers. By the Holy Bishop and Martyr Hippolytus, from...
... Part I."Exegetical. On Numbers. By the Holy Bishop and Martyr Hippolytus,
fromBalaam's Blessings. Now, in order that He might...
The Witness ofBalaam to Israel
... STORIES II THE WITNESS OFBALAAM TO ISRAEL. And Balak the son of Zippor
saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was...
Discipline
... But such a people, the wiseBalaam saw, would not be mere conquerors, like those
savage hordes, or plundering armies, which have so often swept over the earth...
The Debt of Iren??us to Justin Martyr
... (9) The combination ofBalaam's prophecy with words of Isaiah, and the attribution
of the whole to Isaiah, strikes us as a strange piece of carelessness....
Balaam
... SERMON XIV.BALAAM. NUMBERS xxiii.19. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither
the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?...
Savonarola -- the Ascension of Christ
... When Balak heard of Israel's march, he was afraid and sent to callBalaam
to curse Israel for him.Balaam set out on his way with...
Upon the Character ofBalaam. Preached the Second Sunday after...
... SERMON VII. UPON THE CHARACTER OFBALAAM....Balaam requires the king of Moab to build
him seven altars, and to prepare him the same number of oxen and of rams....
Thesaurus
Balaam's (6 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Balaam's (6 Occurrences). Jude 1:11 wo to them!
because in the way of Cain they did go on, and to the deceit
...Balaam (62 Occurrences)
... When the Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, on the east of Jordan,
by Jericho, Balak sent forBalaam "from Aram, out of the mountains of the east...
Donkey (84 Occurrences)
... NIV). Numbers 22:21Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey,
and went with the princes of Moab. (WEB NAS NIV). Numbers...
Smote (281 Occurrences)
... angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the
ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: andBalaam smote the...
Beat (85 Occurrences)
... of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey
turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: andBalaam struck the...
Struck (373 Occurrences)
... of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey
turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: andBalaam struck the...
Ass (95 Occurrences)
... and their attachment to their master (Isaiah 1:3). They are frequently spoken of
as having been ridden upon, as by Abraham (Genesis 22:3),Balaam (Numbers 22:21...
Kindled (83 Occurrences)
... Numbers 22:27 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down underBalaam:
andBalaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff....
Nest (22 Occurrences)
... The first Biblical reference to the nest of a bird will be found inBalaam's fourth
prophecy in Numbers 24:21: "And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his...
Magi (4 Occurrences)
... Intro, chapter vi). Median astronomers would thus knowBalaam's prophecy
of the star out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17). That the Jews...
Resources
Did Balaam's donkey really talk to him? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Balaam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the doctrine of Balaam? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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