Balaam and Balak Numbers 22:1-12

Bible References to Balaam Numbers chapters 22-24 Numbers 31:8, 16 Deuteronomy 23:4-5 Joshua 13:22 Joshua 24:9-10 Judges 11:25 Nehemiah 13:2 Micah 6:5 2 Peter 2:15 Jude 11 Revelation 2:14

Balak Balak was the king of Moab when Israel was preparing to enter the land God had promised them. Balaam, son of Beor, was a renowned non-Israelite “seer” (perhaps Ammonite) The text locates him at Pethor near the Euphrates River 350 miles from Moab. God used Balaam to take messages to Balak.

The Narrative (Numbers 22-24) After the Israelites conquered lands held by Amorites (Sihon) and the region of Bashan (Og), they camped on the plain of Moab east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho.

Balak was afraid for his people and sent messengers to Balaam with a diviner’s fee to ask him to come curse the Israelites. But God came to Balaam and told him not to go with them because Israel was blessed (22:1-12).

Balaam refused to go: “Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more” (Num 22:18; see Micah 6:5).

  When they returned without Balaam, Balak sent princes more numerous and honorable with an offer that Balaam could write his own ticket if he would come curse Israel. Balaam said the right thing to them but asked them to spend the night so he could know more the will of God.

This time, God said for him to go but to say only what He was told. Nonetheless, God was angry because he went.

  As Balaam went with the princes, God sent an angel to stand in his way with sword drawn as an adversary. Balaam could not see the angel but his donkey did.

Three times the donkey moved to avoid the angel: going off into a field, crushing Balaam’s foot on a wall, and lying down under Balaam). Each time Balaam beat the donkey.

“Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’ And Balaam said to the donkey, ‘Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!’ So the donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?’ And he said, “No.” (Num. 22:28-30).

The third time God let the donkey talk to Balaam. Funny! The donkey talked to Balaam. Funnier! Balaam talked to the donkey.

Balaam also apologized to the Angel who repeated God’s allowing Balaam to go but said to speak only what God told him to say (Num. 22:31-41).

After he arrived, Balak went out to the border of Moab to meet him and took him to the high places of Baal to observe the people and perhaps curse Israel. Balaam had Balak build seven altars and on each they offered a bull and a ram. Then Balaam met with God and was caused to bless Israel in a poetic prophecy (Num. 23:1-12).

Obviously upset, Balak took Balaam to the top of Pisgah overlooking the field of Zophim where he could see a greater part of the people. They built seven more altars and offered similar sacrifices with Balak again asking Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam spoke another oracle blessing Israel (Num 23:13-26).

On a third occasion, this time to the top of Peor, Balak took Balaam to over-look all the people by tribes. They offered sacrifices again but Balaam knew what the Lord would say and so he again blessed Israel (Num 23:27-24:9).

Balak became angry and sent Balaam away, but not before Balaam issued a fourth message containing four oracles against Balak and his allies (Num 24:10-25; Dt. 23:1-5).

Balaam’s Wickedness Exposed in New Testament If the record so far were all we had, Balaam would appear to be a faithful prophet of God, although hesitating at times while desiring to do otherwise.

But chapter 25 discusses how Israel remained in lands occupied by Moab committing idolatry and harlotry with the people there. God ordered the ones seduced to be killed and 24,000 died. We are later told that Balaam was also slain by them (Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:22).

In the New Testament we learn more about how God viewed this man.   In the New Testament we learn more about how God viewed this man. Peter spoke of false teachers “having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Beor who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:14-15).

Jude says that some like Balaam “run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit” (Jude 11). This tells us that Balaam wanted to take the prophet fee and curse Israel.

And Jesus warned the church at Pergamum: “You have those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14).

Balaam in Jewish Tradition and Legend The Rabbis used the term “rasha” (wicked one) in referring to Balaam (Talmud Berachot I.c.; Taanit 20a; Midrash Numbers Rabbah 20:14.)

Balaam was seen as one of seven Gentile prophets: Beor, Balaam, Job; & Job’s four friends (Talmud, B. B. 15b; Midrash, Numbers Rabbah, 7, 20).

  The Rabbis wrote that after Balaam was not allowed to curse Israel, he advised Balak to tempt the Israelites to worship Baal and to engage in immoral acts. This, they said, brought on the plague in which 24,000 died and Balaam himself was killed at age 33, during which all four legal methods of execution were used—stoning, burning, decapitating, and strangling (Sanh. I.c; x.2; 90a; 106a; Yer. Ib. x. 28d). (See Numbers 31:8 “with sword”).

Lessons seen in the Balaam Events God may use unusual aids to accomplish His will (even a donkey). God may use both righteous and unrighteous men. God allows us to act as we wish but judges our hearts and actions. God’s revealed will must be accepted and we must refuse to add to it or take from it.

Balaam refused to go: “Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more” (Num 22:18; see Micah 6:5).

Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book: And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The End