Balaam

By Mary Jane Chaignot

Categories: Men in the Old Testament, Obedience

Stories about Balaam occur in Numbers 22-24.
He is the son of Beor and a prophet in Pethor near the Euphrates River.
Scholars aren’t certain of the meaning of his name.
Some think it might mean either “glutton” or “foreigner.”
Others see a compound of “Bel” and “Am.” Both are names of deities.
It could mean “lord.”
The king of Moab, Balak, sends messengers to Balaam asking him to pronounce a curse upon the Israelites as they are moving toward settling in the Promised Land.
The messengers take money to pay Balaam a divination fee.
Balaam invites them to spend the night; he intends to consult with the Lord and will give them his answer in the morning.
God comes to Balaam and asks about the men with him.
Balaam tells God about the request from Balak, the king of Moab.
God tells Balaam not to go back with them. He tells Balaam not to curse the Israelites “because they are blessed.”
The next morning, Balaam tells the messengers to go home and that the Lord has refused to let him accompany them.
Balak sends more important messengers in an attempt to change Balaam’s mind.
Balaam says, “Even if Balak gives me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything…beyond the command of the Lord my God.”
Nonetheless, he invites them to spend the night while he again talks to the Lord.
That night God tells him he can go, but he must only do what God instructs.
The next morning Balaam saddles his donkey and goes with the officials.
God, however, is upset with his decision.
On the way, Balaam’s donkey sees an angel of the Lord standing in the road with its sword drawn.
The donkey turns off the road, and Balaam beats it to get it back on the road.
Then the angel appears in a narrow passageway.
In order to avoid the angel, the donkey presses close to one side, crushing Balaam’s foot.
Balaam again beats the donkey.
The angel appears again completely blocking their path.
The donkey simply lies down.
Balaam beats it again.
Then the Lord opens the donkey’s mouth, and it speaks to Balaam, “Why have you beat me three times?”
Balaam answers the donkey, saying he’s made a fool of him and threatens to kill him.
The donkey asks Balaam if he has ever done this before.
Balaam says “no,” and at that moment sees the angel standing before them.
The angel tells Balaam that the donkey has saved his life.
Balaam offers to return home, but the angel repeats the words of the Lord.
“Go with these men, but speak only what you are told.”
When he arrives, Balaam asks Balak to build seven altars. They sacrifice a bull and a ram on each altar.
Then Balaam goes off to await a message from the Lord.
The Lord meets with him and gives him a message for Balak: “How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?”
Balak is very angry.
They go to another spot where they can see the Israelites camped.
Balak again asks him to curse them, and they build more altars and make more sacrifices.
Balaam goes aside to await word from the Lord.
The Lord tells him, “There can be no divination against Jacob, no evil omens.”
Everything is repeated a third time.
Balaam received the spirit of the Lord and pronounces a blessing upon Jacob.
Then Balak’s anger burns against Balaam; he tells him to go home and refuses to pay him.
Balaam speaks more oracles, essentially prophesying that the Canaanite nations will be defeated by the Israelites.
Balaam returns home and is killed in a battle between the Israelites and the Midianites.
Over time, Balaam becomes a symbol for those who entice others to sin.
This is based on him setting up the altars and sacrificing upon them in the hopes of persuading the Lord to give him a favorable answer that would be pleasing to Balak.

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