Balaam

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).

(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)

BA'LAAM (glutton) was the son of Beor or Bosor, and a native of Pethor, a village of Mesopotamia. Num 22:5. He had a great reputation as a prophet or soothsayer, and appears to have been a worshipper of the one God, coming from the country of Abraham, where it is in every way probable that remnants of the primitive monotheism existed to his day. His history is given in Num 22, Num 23, Num 24, and Num 31. So great was his fame that Balak, king of Moab, sent for him to curse Israel when they were encamped upon the plains of Moab; but he consulted God during the night, and the next morning refused, declaring the Lord had not given him leave. But Balak sent again, and Balaam at length obtained the desired permission to go, and went. It was on this journey that his ass spake. Num 22:28. Arriving, he ordered Balak to build seven altars, and to offer a bullock and a ram on each. Then, proclaiming his intention of speaking only what God showed unto him, he twice went aside to watch for an augury. God met him each time and told him what to say, and on his return he uttered a blessing instead of the expected curse. The third time the sacrifices were offered, but Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel; so, without seeking an augury, he uttered these magnificent prophecies, in which Israel's complete supremacy is announced: Num 24:5-9. And again Num 24:17. The prophecies of Balaam are justly regarded as some of the most remarkable in Scripture. But having won the anger of Balak by his course, and feeling himself cast out from the people of God by reason of his sinfulness, he became desperate, and endeavored to do as much immediate harm to Israel as he could, since he could in no wise injure her future. He therefore suggested that the Moabites destroy the purity of Israel by seducing the people into fornication while taking part in the worship of Baal. Num 31:16; cf. Num 25:1-5. They did so; and the consequence was, a plague broke out among the Israelites and killed 24,000 of them. Num 25:9. In a battle fought by Israel with the Midianites, Balaam was slain. Num 31:8. The phrase "the doctrine of Balaam," used in Rev 2:14, refers to the above-mentioned sin.

the ancient of the people; the destruction of the people

BA'LAAM (glutton) was the son of Beor or Bosor, and a native of Pethor, a village of Mesopotamia. Num 22:5. He had a great reputation as a prophet or soothsayer, and appears to have been a worshipper of the one God, coming from the country of Abraham, where it is in every way probable that remnants of the primitive monotheism existed to his day. His history is given in Num 22, Num 23, Num 24, and Num 31. So great was his fame that Balak, king of Moab, sent for him to curse Israel when they were encamped upon the plains of Moab; but he consulted God during the night, and the next morning refused, declaring the Lord had not given him leave. But Balak sent again, and Balaam at length obtained the desired permission to go, and went. It was on this journey that his ass spake. Num 22:28. Arriving, he ordered Balak to build seven altars, and to offer a bullock and a ram on each. Then, proclaiming his intention of speaking only what God showed unto him, he twice went aside to watch for an augury. God met him each time and told him what to say, and on his return he uttered a blessing instead of the expected curse. The third time the sacrifices were offered, but Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel; so, without seeking an augury, he uttered these magnificent prophecies, in which Israel's complete supremacy is announced: Num 24:5-9. And again Num 24:17. The prophecies of Balaam are justly regarded as some of the most remarkable in Scripture. But having won the anger of Balak by his course, and feeling himself cast out from the people of God by reason of his sinfulness, he became desperate, and endeavored to do as much immediate harm to Israel as he could, since he could in no wise injure her future. He therefore suggested that the Moabites destroy the purity of Israel by seducing the people into fornication while taking part in the worship of Baal. Num 31:16; cf. Num 25:1-5. They did so; and the consequence was, a plague broke out among the Israelites and killed 24,000 of them. Num 25:9. In a battle fought by Israel with the Midianites, Balaam was slain. Num 31:8. The phrase "the doctrine of Balaam," used in Rev 2:14, refers to the above-mentioned sin.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A paragraph describing something wonderful, used to fill out a newspaper column; -- an allusion to the miracle of Balaam's ass speaking. Numb. xxii. 30. [Cant] Balaam basket or box (Print.), the receptacle for rejected articles. Blackw. Mag.