Some rabbis inflated the importance of Balaam. They saw in him one of "The seven prophets who prophesied to the peoples of the world" BB 15b; "God raised up Moses for Israel and Balaam for the peoples of the world" — Num.
Who is he? Balaam the son of Beor. But there is a difference between the prophecy of Moses and that of Balaam. Moses did not know who spoke with him but Balaam knew…. Moses did not know when [God] would speak with him till he was addressed by Him, whereas Balaam knew…. Moses did not speak with Him till he had stood up… whereas Balaam spoke with Him as he was falling" Sif. They explained Balaam's power to curse by the fact that he could ascertain the exact hour of God's anger Av.
Others, however, identified him with Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite Job for Barachel means "God has blessed"; the epithet "Buzite" is derived from " buz " "contempt" , hence it teaches that Balaam's prophecy was of a low order and contemptible T. Some rabbis saw in him an immoral figure: "An evil eye, a haughty spirit and a proud soul" are the marks of the disciples of "Balaam the Wicked" Avot, Balaam was one of Pharaoh's counselors and it was he who advised that the male children should be cast into the Nile Sanh.
Balak, 1 and counseled Balak how to destroy them. It was this act which caused the departure of the holy spirit from the gentile peoples ibid. The verses read: "Relate to them of him to whom we gave our signs, and who turned away from them; and Satan followed him, and he was of those who were led astray. But had it been our will, we would have exalted him through our signs, but he clung unto the earth, and followed his desire.
He is like the dog who puts forth his tongue whether you chase him away or let him alone. That is the parable of the people who deny our signs. Tell them this history, that they may consider it. It is the general opinion that the inference is to Balaam who acquiesced to the request of Balak, king of Moab Num. Nevertheless, B. Heller presents a number of convincing arguments against this identification. Balaam is regarded with general disfavor in Hebrew literature, and it was exclusively in Christian literature that he was accorded any importance — mainly because he was alleged to have predicted the advent of Jesus Num.
Such treatment destroyed Balaam's literary standing, although the 16 th -century French Christian kabbalist Guillaume Postel resurrected the "prophet of the Gentiles" in some of his patriotic visionary works. One rare later treatment is the dramatic poem Balaam by C. Among artists, portrayal of the subject was largely influenced by Christian theological interpretation of Balaam's prophecy, that "a star rises from Jacob," which was seen as a prefiguration of the star of Bethlehem that according to the Gospels appeared to the Magi.
Balaam is represented as a bearded figure wearing an antique tunic and mantle and a Phrygian cap or Oriental turban. Such early representations are found in third and fourth century catacombs. The figure of Balaam is sometimes placed next to the Madonna and Child and often appears on sarcophagi. There are similar treatments in the West, such as the 12 th -century "Tree of Jesse" window at Chartres and the 14 th -century ceiling of St. Michael's at Hildesheim.
Balaam appears with his ass in a late 12 th -century bronze door at Monreale and a 14 th -century facade at Orvieto. There are other representations in illuminated manuscripts and incunabula, such as the Luebeck Bible Artists who painted the subject include Taddeo Zuccari —66 , Luca Giordano — , and Rembrandt. Others occur in later baroque Bible illustrations. Baskin, Pharaoh's Counselors ; A. Caquot and A.
Levine, Numbers 21—36 AB ; ; J. Moore, The Balaam Traditions ; Sh. Morag, in: Tarbiz , 50 , 1—24; A. Rofe, The Book of Balaam Heb. Weippert, in: Hoftijzer and van der Kooij, Balaam , — Eisenberg ed. Geiger, Was hat Mohammed aus dem Judenthume aufgenomanen? Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica.
All Rights Reserved. Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library. Curiously, most other biblical references to Balaam are negative.
Though the account described above reports that he refused to curse Israel and rejected the handsome payment offered by the Moabite king, other texts denounce him as a prophet for hire Josh , Josh , and Neh and report his execution Num as punishment for involvement in the Baal Peor incident Num 25 , where he is blamed for inciting Moabite women to entice Israelite men to sin.
As for the nonbiblical inscription found in Jordan, it consists of a plaster text found on the wall of a house at the site of Tell Deir Alla perhaps to be identified with biblical Sukkoth.
The text refers to the same Balaam son of Beor, who receives a terrifying message from the gods. The next morning he cannot eat and weeps aloud. When his people demand an explanation, he tells them he has learned that the so-called Shadday gods have convened a council and decreed to seal the skies with perpetual darkness. Jo Ann Hackett, "Story of Balaam", n. Through a great variety of forms and uses, biblical curses typically serve to affirm the sovereignty of the God of Israel.
The paucity of literary remains from Judah and Israel during the biblical period suggests that facility in reading and writing was largely limited to scribal families. Dreams and visions took many forms in the Hebrew Bible; the ancient Israelites believed dreams foretold and interpreted reality and were divine in origin.
Balak reproves him, asking him why he had not come when first summoned. Now, have I any power at all to say anything?
The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak. Then Balak attempts to get Balaam to curse the children of Israel. First he takes him up to the high places of Baal. Then in Numbers Balaam orders that seven altars be built and seven bulls and seven rams be offered. This was a great show of religiosity. Often men thus attempt to disguise their spiritual shortcomings with shows of religious dedication such as this.
Balaam apparently did not even know what the word of the LORD was going to be this time before he spoke it.
Balaam had changed the word of the LORD so many times before that now God will not trust him with the word, but he will speak it whether he wants to or not.
Balaam returns to Balak and speaks the words that God put in his mouth. They are a blessing on Israel, not a curse. Balak is, of course, angry, and claims that Balaam has wronged him in that he hired him to curse Israel and he has blessed them.
Balaam replies that he must take heed to speak what the LORD has put in his mouth. Balak, hoping perhaps that seeing a smaller portion of the Israelites might entice Balaam to curse them rather than bless them, moves Balaam to a place called the field of Zophim at the top of Pisgah.
Again the LORD comes to him and puts a word in his mouth, and again it turns out to be a word of blessing, also containing a rebuke against Balak for thinking that God would change His mind. Balak is getting angrier now, but decides to try one more time. This time he takes Balaam to the top of Peor that overlooks the wasteland, thinking perhaps that Balaam might be able to curse Israel from this vantage point.
Instead he merely turns toward the wilderness and, seeing the orderly camp of the Israelites, speaks his parable, declaring in the clearest and most unmistakable way possible the blessed place Israel has in the sight of God. The honor, glory, and fame he had hoped for did not materialize, and instead he returns home in disgrace and fear for his life.
This was his reward for his disobedience to the Word of God and his lack of faith. This had been a hard lesson for Balaam, and we could wish that he would have taken it to heart. Yet it seems, alas, that he did not. For, having returned home in disgrace, his thoughts continued to turn back to that reward he had so hoped for, and his mind continued to scheme for ways he might yet earn it.
At last, it seems that an idea came to him. Thus it seems that, with a new plan in mind, Balaam returned to Balak, still hopeful of receiving his reward. Although we have no record of this visit or what went on during it, it seems that Balaam explained to Balak the great jealousy God has for His great Name and how He will not share His glory with idols.
He might also have explained to him the laws of marriage that the LORD has and His aversion to prostitution. Then, it seems, he urged Balak to send not his army against the children of Israel, but rather an army of women, prostitutes, to defeat them. If these women could entice the Israelites to lie with them and, in doing so, proclaim the price for their services to be service to their idols, then Balaam was certain that God would be furious with the Israelites and, he believed, would curse them for Balak at last.
Numbers A large number of Israelite men were led astray by these prostitutes and ended up offering worship to their gods. God became angry with Israel, and a great plague began in the camp. His anger was allayed, however, by one heroic man, Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest.
He saw an Israelite man, a member of the qahal itself, leading a prostitute into the camp to take to his family even as the Israelite leaders wept before the LORD. Taking up a javelin, he followed this man into the tent and stuck the spear through both him and the woman, killing them both together. This action pleased the LORD, and he stopped the plague that was consuming the people. He knew exactly what Balaam had done. How did this come to be, that a prophet of the LORD would come to such an ignominious end?
The answer is simple. Balaam loved the pleasures of this world! His mind was full of the rewards he would receive as the favored one of Balak king of Moab, and he forgot the reward he should have been seeking: the favor of the LORD.
What a sad story this is. Yet this spirit of Balaam is, unfortunately, not unusual. How many Balaam spirits are there even today among the clergy of Christendom? How many who, though they may truly know the LORD, yet are more concerned with their own glory and gain than with serving him faithfully? The tragic tale of Balaam is a warning to all of us of the dangers of loving the things of this world more than the LORD we claim to love and serve! Index of Scriptures Used.
Comments feed for this article. September 23, at am. I just skimmed through this, it was too long! But you did make some great points and kudos to you for bringing up a piece of history not many people know about.
April 29, at pm. In Garden of Eden satan used Eve to the fall of Adam N oahs flood was the result of fair ladies enticing men to sin In Balaams advice also ladies enticed the jews to prostituion In modern world all actress in almost naked dress entice the whole human race to utter destruction in the name of freedom which the christian world never condemn O what a fall of christianity!
May 13, at pm. I appreciate your kind words. I actually think the piece was pretty short for a complete study of the story of Balaam. I agree that it is sad when Satan uses that which God has created for good and twists it to entice men to sin. There is much sensuality in what passes for entertainment today, and it does lead men astray. By the way, it certainly does lead women astray as well. I do not know that I would blame all our problems on this, but it is certainly a symptom of a society and a world that is giving up on God.
Fortunately, I do not think we will get to utter destruction before God brings in His kingdom and sets all these things right. By the way, are you sure you have the story right before the flood? And are you certain that the sons of God were men? September 22, at pm. Enjoyed the study you did on Balaam. Exactly what Rev. When man ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
October 21, at pm. I am glad you enjoyed the study. Evil does corrupt this world, and even men who know God can be led astray by it, as Balaam was. We need to keep our focus on Him, and not be led astray by the desire for riches, power, and prestige in this world. God is our reward, and He is sufficient.
October 18, at pm. Thank you for this teaching. There are a number of curious things about this story that have bothered me and I have found illumination in your writing. It strikes deeply to my heart that one should be ever so careful to understand the word of God and not add to it or pervert it.
I can see a number of ways in which I have done this in my life and it leads me to repent. Thank you. Very convicting. You are welcome. The word of God is indeed a precious thing, and not something we should attempt to twist for our own gain. As I said, the way of Balaam is all too common today, and it is easy to fall into it. I am glad you found my words convicting. March 8, at pm. I thank you that this study is still available.
I happened upon it by chance after my chronological Bible reading for today Numbers An Internet search engine led me to your study. Again, thank you. March 9, at pm. The final chapter of the story of Balaam has to be gathered from a few comments in scattered verses, but it can be pieced together easily enough. Balaam was simply not willing to give up that reward he wanted no matter what, and so he came up with a way to earn it, though a very wicked way. Instead of the reward he sought, his final payment was death at the hands of the Israelites.
His greed is a lesson for all to learn today who would ever speak the words of God, that our motives should be pure. April 11, at pm. I was searching the web to get more information on Balaam.
All the info I read online was helpful, but your discourse was the most complete, and the most enlightening. This tells me that God will reveal himself to all people who search for truth with a pure heart Balaam probably at one time had a pure heart , and God will be the judge of how we each respond to the light we have received. April 20, at pm. Thank you for your kind words.
I think you have come to a right conclusion from the story of Balaam. You have come to the same conclusion Peter did in Acts John makes this clear.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. This is the teaching of Scripture. August 17, at pm. Kathy Retana. Hi there, I did enjoy this very much but there is nothing in the biblical text to suggest that Balaam was to wait for the men to return for him.
Adam was a town about eight miles southwest of Deir Alla, on the east bank of the Jordan river , where the Jabbok meets the Jordan. Much of the Deir Alla text was given to curses uttered by the prophet.
Shadday is one of the names for God in the Old Testament, used mainly in the book of Job. Since the account of Job is set in Transjordan Job , it seems that Shadday was a name used for deity in this region.
The Deir Alla text presents a problem to those who dismiss the Biblical account of the Exodus , Wilderness Wanderings and Conquest as legendary, as is the trend in scholarship today.
It is clear that Balaam was a real person who operated on the east side of the Jordan river. He was known as a cursing prophet and continued to be revered hundreds of years after his death. His persona as revealed in the Deir Alla text precisely matches that of the Balaam of Numbers If Balaam was a real person, what about Balak , Moses , Joshua and all of the other persons named in the Biblical narrative?
They must have been real as well, and the events described authentic.
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