Topical Encyclopedia
Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, is a complex figure in the biblical narrative, primarily appearing in the Book of Numbers. He is the son of Beor and hails from Pethor, near the Euphrates River (
Numbers 22:5). Balaam is renowned for his interactions with Balak, the king of Moab, and his unique role in the unfolding account of Israel's journey to the Promised Land.
The Call of BalaamThe Israelites, having left Egypt, were encamped in the plains of Moab, and their presence caused great fear among the Moabites. Balak, the Moabite king, sought to hire Balaam to curse the Israelites, hoping to weaken them. Balaam was known for his ability to bless and curse, and Balak believed that Balaam's words would have a tangible effect on the fate of Israel (
Numbers 22:6).
Balaam's JourneyInitially, God forbade Balaam from going with Balak's messengers, stating, "You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed" (
Numbers 22:12). However, after Balak's persistent entreaties and the promise of great reward, God permitted Balaam to go, but only under the condition that he would speak only what God commanded (
Numbers 22:20).
As Balaam set out on his journey, God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the Angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam's donkey saw the Angel and turned aside, but Balaam, unaware of the divine presence, struck the donkey. This led to the miraculous event where the donkey spoke, questioning Balaam's actions. Subsequently, Balaam's eyes were opened to see the Angel, who reiterated the command to speak only God's words (
Numbers 22:22-35).
Balaam's OraclesUpon meeting Balak, Balaam was taken to various high places to view the Israelites and pronounce curses. However, each time Balaam opened his mouth, he could only pronounce blessings over Israel, as God had instructed. These oracles affirmed Israel's blessed status and prophesied their future prosperity and dominance (Numbers 23-24). Notably, Balaam's fourth oracle includes a messianic prophecy: "A star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel" (
Numbers 24:17).
Balaam's DownfallDespite his initial obedience to God's command, Balaam's legacy is marred by his later actions. He is implicated in leading Israel into sin through the counsel he gave to Balak, which resulted in the Israelites engaging in idolatry and immorality with the Moabite women. This led to a divine plague as a consequence of their unfaithfulness (
Numbers 25:1-9; 31:16).
New Testament ReferencesBalaam is mentioned in the New Testament as a cautionary example. In
2 Peter 2:15, he is cited as one who "loved the wages of wickedness."
Jude 1:11 warns against following "the error of Balaam," and
Revelation 2:14 speaks of those who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who enticed Israel to sin.
LegacyBalaam's account serves as a profound lesson on the dangers of compromising divine commands for personal gain. His narrative illustrates the sovereignty of God, who can use even reluctant prophets to fulfill His purposes and protect His chosen people. Despite Balaam's initial obedience, his ultimate legacy is one of warning against the seduction of wealth and the consequences of leading others into sin.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Balaamthe ancient of the people; the destruction of the people
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Balaam(B.C. 1451), the son of beor, a man endowed with the gift of prophecy. (Numbers 22:5) He is mentioned in conjunction with the five kings of Midian, apparently as a person of the same rank. (Numbers 31:8) cf. Numb 31:16 He seems to have lived at Pethor, (23:4;Numbers 22:5) on the river Euphrates, in Mesopotamia. Such was his reputation that when the Israelites were encamped in the plains of Moab, Balak, the king of Moab, sent for Balaam to curse them. Balaam at first was prohibited by God from going. He was again sent for by the king and again refused, but was at length allowed to go. He yielded to the temptations of riches and honor which Balak set before him; but God's anger was kindled at this manifestation of determined self-will, and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. See (2 Peter 2:16) Balaam predicted a magnificent career for the people whom he was called to curse, but he nevertheless suggested to the Moabites the expedient of seducing them to commit fornication. The effect of this is recorded in (Numbers 25:1) ... A battle was afterwards fought against the Midianites, in which Balaam sided with them, and was slain by the sword of the people whom he had endeavored to curse. (Numbers 31:8)
ATS Bible Dictionary
BalaamA celebrated diviner, of the city Pethor, on the Euphrates,Numbers 22:5. Balak, king of Moab, having seen the multitudes of Israel, and fearing they would attack his country, sent for Balaam, who was famous for his supposed supernatural powers, to come and curse them. Balaam, though eager for gain, was led to ask counsel of God, who forbade his going. Balak afterwards sent other deputies, whom Balaam finally accompanied without the approval of God, who sent an angel to meet and warn him in the way. Here occurred the miracle of Balaam's ass,Numbers 22:22,35. But instead of cursing, he was constrained by the Spirit of God to bless the children of Israel. This he did a second and a third time, to the extreme mortification of Balak, who dismissed him in great anger. Balaam subsequently foretold what Israel should in future times do to the nations round about; and after having advised Balak to engage Israel in idolatry and whoredom, that they might offend God and be forsaken by him, quitted his territories for his own land. This bad counsel was pursued; the young women of Moab inveigled the Hebrews to the impure and idolatrous worship of Baal-Peor, for which 24,000 Israelites were slain,Numbers 25:1-9 31:162 Peter 2:15Jude 1:11Revelation 2:14.
Balaam was probably a descendant of Shem, and possessed many just ideas of the true God. He calls Him "the Lord my God,"Numbers 22:18; and yet he seems to have been only an enchanter and false prophet, like many in the times of the kings of Israel, until he came in collision with the people of God. In this transaction he was made a bearer, against his own will, of the sublime messages of Jehovah; yet his heart remained unchanged, and he did not "the death of the righteous,"Numbers 31:8Joshua 13:22.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Lord of the people; foreigner or glutton, as interpreted by others, the son of Beor, was a man of some rank among the Midianites (
Numbers 31:8; Comp. 16). He resided at Pethor (
Deuteronomy 23:4), in Mesopotamia (
Numbers 23:7). It is evident that though dwelling among idolaters he had some knowledge of the true God; and was held in such reputation that it was supposed that he whom he blessed was blessed, and he whom he cursed was cursed. When the Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, on the east of Jordan, by Jericho, Balak sent for Balaam "from Aram, out of the mountains of the east," to curse them; but by the remarkable interposition of God he was utterly unable to fulfil Balak's wish, however desirous he was to do Songs The apostle Peter refers (
2 Peter 2:15, 16) to this as an historical event. In
Micah 6:5 reference also is made to the relations between Balaam and Balak. Though Balaam could not curse Israel, yet he suggested a mode by which the divine displeasure might be caused to descend upon them (
Numbers 25). In a battle between Israel and the Midianites (q.v.) Balaam was slain while fighting on the side of Balak (
Numbers 31:8).
The "doctrine of Balaam" is spoken of inRevelation 2:14, in allusion to the fact that it was through the teaching of Balaam that Balak learned the way by which the Israelites might be led into sin. (seeNICOLAITANES.) Balaam was constrained to utter prophecies regarding the future of Israel of wonderful magnificence and beauty of expression (Numbers 24:5-9, 17).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) A paragraph describing something wonderful, used to fill out a newspaper column; -- an allusion to the miracle of Balaam's ass speaking.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BALAAMba'-lam bil`am, ("devourer"): The son of Beor, from a city in Mesopotamia called Pethor, a man possessing the gift of prophecy, whose remarkable history may be found inNumbers 22:2-24:25; compareNum 31:8, 16;Deuteronomy 23:4Joshua 13:22;Joshua 24:9Nehemiah 13:2Micah 6:52 Peter 2:15;Jude 1:11Revelation 2:14.
1. History:
When the children of Israel pitched their tents in the plains of Moab, the Moabites entered into some sort of an alliance with the Midianites. At the instigation of Balak, at that time king of the Moabites, the elders of the two nations were sent to Balaam to induce him, by means of a bribe, to pronounce a curse on the advancing hosts of the Israelites. But, in compliance with God's command Balaam, refused to go with the elders. Quite different was the result of a second request enhanced by the higher rank of the messengers and by the more alluring promises on the part of Balak. Not only did God permit Balaam to go with the men, but he actually commanded him to do so, cautioning him, however, to act according to further instructions. While on his way to Balak, this injunction was strongly impressed on the mind of Balaam by the strange behavior of his ass and by his encounter with the Angel of the Lord.
Accompanied by Balak who had gone out to meet the prophet, Balaam came to Kiriath-huzoth. On the next morning he was brought up "into the high places of Baal" commanding a partial view of the camp of the Israelites. But instead of a curse he pronounced a blessing. From there he was taken to the top of Peor, yet this change of places and external views did not alter the tendency of Balaam's parables; in fact, his spirit even soared to greater heights and from his lips fell glowing words of praise and admiration, of benediction and glorious prophecy. This, of course, fully convinced Balak that all further endeavors to persuade the seer to comply with his wishes would be in vain, and the two parted.
Nothing else is said of Balaam, until we reachNumbers 31. Here in 31:8 we are told of his violent death at the hands of the Israelites, and in 31:16 we learn of his shameful counsel which brought disgrace and disaster into the ranks of the chosen people.
2. Problems:
Now, there are a number of interesting problems connected with this remarkable story. We shall try to solve at least some of the more important ones.
(1) Was Balaam a prophet of Jeh? For an answer we must look toNumbers 22-24. Nowhere is he called a prophet. He is introduced as the son of Beor and as a man reputed to be of great personal power (compareNumbers 22:6). The cause of this is to be found in the fact that he had intercourse of some kind with God (compareNumbers 22:9, 20;Numbers 22:22-35; 23:04; 23:16). Furthermore, it is interesting to note how Balaam was enabled to deliver his parables. First it is said: "And Yahweh put a word in Balaam's mouth" (Numbers 23:5; compareNumbers 23:16), a procedure seemingly rather mechanical, while nothing of the kind is mentioned inNumbers 24. Instead we meet with the remarkable sentence: "And when Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments. "(Numbers 24:1), and then: "the Spirit of God came upon him" (24:2b). All this is very noteworthy and highly instructive, especially if we compare with it 24:3 the Revised Version, margin andNumbers 24:4: "The man whose eye is opened saith; he saith, who heareth the words of God, who seeth the vision of the Almighty," etc. The inference is plain enough: Balaam knew the Lord, the Yahweh of the Israelites, but his knowledge was dimmed and corrupted by heathen conceptions. He knew enough of God to obey Him, yet for a long time he hoped to win Him over to his own selfish plan (compare 23:4). Through liberal sacrifices he expected to influence God's actions. Bearing this in mind, we see the import ofNumbers 24:1. After fruitless efforts to cajole God into an attitude favorable to his hidden purpose, he for a time became a prophet of the Lord, yielding to the ennobling influences of His spirit. Here was a chance for his better nature to assert itself permanently and to triumph over the dark forces of paganism. Did he improve this opportunity? He did not (compareNumbers 31:8, 16).
(2) Is the Balaam ofNumbers 22-24 identical with the person of the same name mentioned inNumbers 31 ? Quite a number of scholars deny it, or, to be more accurate, there are according to their theory two accounts of Balaam: the one inNumbers 22-24 being favorable to his character, and the other inNumbers 31 being quite the reverse. It is claimed the two accounts could only be made to agree by modifying or eliminatingNumbers 24:25. Now, we believe thatNumbers 31:16 actually does modify the report of Balaam's return contained inNumbers 24:25. The children of Israel slew Balaam with the sword (Numbers 31:8). Why? Because of his counsel of Num 31:16. We maintain that the author ofNumbers 24:25 had this fact in mind when he wroteNumbers 25:1: "And. the people began to play the harlot," etc. Thus, he closely connects the report of Balaam's return with the narrative contained inNumbers 9:5. Therefore, we regardNumbers 31:8, 16 as supplementary toNumbers 22-24. But here is another question:
(3) Is the narrative inNumbers 22-24 the result of combining different traditions? In a general way, we may answer this question in the affirmative, and only in a general way we can distinguish between two main sources of tradition. But we maintain that they are not contradictory to each other, but supplementary.
(4) What about the talking of the ass and the marvelous prophecies of Balaam? We would suggest the following explanation. By influencing the soul of Balaam, God caused him to interpret correctly the inarticulate sounds of the animal. God's acting on the soul and through it on the intellect and on the hearts of men-this truth must be also applied to Balaam's wonderful prophetic words. They are called meshaliym or sayings of a prophet, a diviner.
In the first of these "parables" (Numbers 23:7-10) he briefly states his reasons for pronouncing a blessing; in the second parable (Numbers 23:18-24) he again emphasizes the fact that he cannot do otherwise than bless the Israelites, and then he proceeds to pronounce the blessing at some greater length. In the 3rd (Numbers 24:3-9) he describes the glorious state of the people, its development and irresistible power. In the last four parables (Numbers 24:15-24) he partly reveals the future of Israel and other nations: they are all to be destroyed, Israel's fate being included in the allusion to Eber. Now, at last, Balaam is back again in his own sphere denouncing others and predicting awful disasters. (On the "star out of Jacob,"Numbers 24:17, see ASTRONOMY, ii, 9; STAR OF THE MAGI.)
3. Balaam's Character:
This may furnish us a clue to his character. It, indeed, remains "instructively composite." A soothsayer who might have become a prophet of the Lord; a man who loved the wages of unrighteousness, and yet a man who in one supreme moment of his life surrendered himself to God's holy Spirit; a person cumbered with superstition, covetousness and even wickedness, and yet capable of performing the highest service in the kingdom of God: such is the character of Balaam, the remarkable Old Testament type and, in a sense, the prototype of Judas Iscariot.
4. Balaam as a Type:
In2 Peter 2:15 Balaam's example is used as a means to illustrate the pernicious influence of insincere Christian teachers. The author might have alluded to Balaam in the passage immediately preceding2 Peter 2:15 because of his abominable counsel. This is done inRevelation 2:14. Here, of course, Balaam is the type of a teacher of the church who attempts to advance the cause of God by advocating an unholy alliance with the ungodly and worldly, and so conforming the life of the church to the spirit of the flesh.
LITERATURE.
Butler's Sermons, "Balaam"; ICC, "Numbers."
William Baur
Greek
903.Balaam --Balaam, an unrighteous prophet... 902, 903.
Balaam. 904 .
Balaam, an unrighteous prophet. Part of Speech:
Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Balaam Phonetic
...961b. beor -- Beor, father ofBalaam
... 961a, 961b. beor. 962 . Beor, father ofBalaam. Transliteration: beor
Short Definition: Beor. Word Origin of Hebrew origin Beor...
1007. Bosor -- Bosor.
... Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Bosor Phonetic Spelling:
(bos-or') Short Definition: Bosor Definition: Bosor, father ofBalaam....
1649. elegxis -- reproof
... See 2 Pet 2:16 (the only occurrence of 1649 ) where the rebuke fits, being upbraided
by a (where the ass had more sense thanBalaam)! See 1651 (). rebuke....
Strong's Hebrew
1160. Beor -- "a burning," father of an Edomite king, also the...... Beor. 1161 . "a burning," father of an Edomite king, also the father of
Balaam.
Transliteration: Beor Phonetic Spelling: (beh-ore') Short Definition: Beor.
...6604a. Pethor -- home ofBalaam
... home ofBalaam. Transliteration: Pethor Short Definition: Pethor. Word Origin of
foreign origin Definition home ofBalaam NASB Word Usage Pethor (2)....
6604. Pthowr -- home ofBalaam
... 6603, 6604. Pthowr. 6604a . home ofBalaam. Transliteration: Pthowr Phonetic
Spelling: (peth-ore') Short Definition: Pethor. Pethor...
1109a. Bilam -- a prophet
... a prophet. Transliteration: Bilam Short Definition:Balaam. Word Origin from bala
Definition a prophet NASB Word UsageBalaam (58),Balaam's (2). 1109, 1109a...
1109. Bil'am -- a prophet
Bil'am. 1108, 1109. Bil'am. 1109a . a prophet. Transliteration: Bil'am Phonetic
Spelling: (bil-awm') Short Definition:Balaam.Balaam, Bileam...
Library
Balaam
... THE BOOK OF NUMBERSBALAAM.... See Bishop Butler's great sermon. I. How much knowledge
and love of good there may be in a bad man.Balaam was a prophet:...
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?...
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...
ConcerningBalaam the Prophet and what Kind of Man He Was.
... From The Rejection Of That Generation To The Death Of Moses. CHAPTER 6.
ConcerningBalaam The Prophet And What Kind Of Man He Was....
Fragment xv. When, in Times of Old,Balaam Spake These Things in...
... Fragment XV. When, in times of old,Balaam spake these things in parables?... Wherefore
[Balaam], foreseeing this, and wondering at it, exclaimed, "Alas! alas!...
Fragment Xlv. "AndBalaam the Son of Beor they Slew with the Sword...
... Fragment XLV. "AndBalaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword.? "And
[4889]Balaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword...
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...
Examples from the Old Testament,Balaam, Moses, and Hezekiah, to...
... Chapter XXVIII."Examples from the Old Testament,Balaam, Moses, and Hezekiah, to
Show How Completely the Instruction and Conduct of Christ Are in Keeping...
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!...
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 (62 Occurrences)... When the Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, on the east of Jordan,
by Jericho, Balak sent for
Balaam "from Aram, out of the mountains of the east
...Balaam's (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceBalaam's (6 Occurrences). Jude 1:11 wo to them!
because in the way of Cain they did go on, and to the deceit...
Beor (11 Occurrences)
... (2.) The father ofBalaam (Numbers 22:5; 24:3, 15; 31:8). In 2 Peter 2:15
he is called Bosor. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BEOR....
Be'or (11 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 2:15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way
ofBalaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing; (See RSV)....
Balak (42 Occurrences)
... and king of the Moabites (Numbers 22:2, 4). From fear of the Israelites, who were
encamped near the confines of his territory, he applied toBalaam (qv) to...
Peor (14 Occurrences)
... Opening. (1.) A mountain peak (Numbers 23:28) to which Balak ledBalaam as
a last effort to induce him to pronounce a curse upon Israel....
Pierce (30 Occurrences)
... And what -- am I indignant? -- Jehovah hath not been indignant! (YLT). Numbers
23:11 And Balak saith untoBalaam, 'What hast thou done to me?...
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...
Pethor (2 Occurrences)
... (seeBALAAM.). Int.... PETHOR. pe'-thor (pethor; Phathoura, Bathoura): The
dwelling-place ofBalaam, situated on "the river" (the Euphrates) (Numbers 22:5)....
Princes (324 Occurrences)
... Numbers 22:8 He said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word
again, as Yahweh shall speak to me." The princes of Moab stayed withBalaam....
Resources
Who was Balaam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the doctrine of Balaam? | GotQuestions.orgDid Balaam's donkey really talk to him? | GotQuestions.orgBalaam: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
