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Balaam 


Text:  lord of the people; foreigner or glutton, as interpreted by 
others, the son of Beor, was a man of some rank among the Midianites 
(Num. 31:8; comp. 16). He resided at Pethor (Deut. 23:4), in 
Mesopotamia (Num. 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 so. The apostle Peter refers (2 Pet. 
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 (Num. 25). 
In a battle between Israel and the Midianites (q.v.) Balaam was slain 
while fighting on the side of Balak (Num. 31:8). The "doctrine of 
Balaam" is spoken of in Rev. 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. (See NICOLAITANES.) Balaam was 
constrained to utter prophecies regarding the future of Israel of 
wonderful magnificence and beauty of expression (Num. 24:5-9, 17).