People & Characters

Balaam

A non-Israelite prophet hired by King Balak of Moab to curse Israel, but God forced him to bless them instead, leading to his eventual death.

Balaam was a diviner from Pethor (Mesopotamia) known for his effective blessings and curses. Balak sent princes with payment, but God told Balaam not to go. Later, God permitted him to go with strict instructions. On the way, his donkey saw an angel and refused to move, speaking to Balaam. Instead of cursing Israel, Balaam delivered four oracles of blessing and prophesied Israel's future dominance. He later devised a plan for Moab to seduce Israel into idolatry, causing a plague. Balaam was killed in the Midianite war. Note: Please Read Numbers Chapters 22-24!
Scripture References 4