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Balaam
Hired to curse Israel, he could only bless, after his donkey talked back.
Old and New Testament · c. 13th century BC · Numbers, 2 Peter, Revelation · Also known as Son of Beor
About Balaam
Balaam was a famous seer from the east. Balak, king of Moab, terrified of Israel camped on his border, offered him rich rewards to curse them. God told Balaam, "thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed." Balaam went anyway, and on the road the angel of the LORD blocked his way. His donkey saw the angel and turned aside three times; Balaam beat her, until "the LORD opened the mouth of the ass." Standing on the heights, he blessed Israel three times instead of cursing them, and foretold "a Star out of Jacob." Yet the New Testament remembers him as one who "loved the wages of unrighteousness."
Moab lay east of the Dead Sea. Later Scripture judges Balaam harshly: his advice led Israel into idolatry and immorality at Peor (Numbers 31:16), and Peter, Jude and Revelation name him as a warning against serving God for money.
The story
They are blessed
King Balak sent messengers with rewards: "Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people." That night God said to Balaam, "Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed." Balak sent more princes and greater rewards.
Numbers 22:1-21
The donkey and the angel
On the road, the angel of the LORD stood in the way with a drawn sword. The donkey saw him and turned aside three times, and Balaam beat her. "And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?" Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel.
Numbers 22:22-35
How shall I curse?
From the heights Balaam looked over Israel’s camp and said, "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?" and, "God is not a man, that he should lie." Balak was furious: "I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times."
Numbers 23:7-12; 23:19; 24:10
A Star out of Jacob
In his last oracle Balaam said, "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." Jewish and Christian readers have long heard in it a promise of a coming king.
Numbers 24:15-19
Key moments
- Hired by Balak: "Curse me this people." (Numbers 22:6)
- The donkey speaks: "What have I done unto thee?" (Numbers 22:28)
- Blesses instead of curses: "How shall I curse?" (Numbers 23:8)
- A Star out of Jacob: His last oracle. (Numbers 24:17)
- Remembered as a warning: "The wages of unrighteousness." (2 Peter 2:15)
Questions about Balaam
In meetBible these answers are given in Balaam’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Did your donkey really talk?
Numbers says, "the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?" Peter later refers to it too: "the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet." Scripture presents it as God’s doing. Readers differ on how to understand it, but the point is clear: the donkey saw what the famous seer could not.
Why couldn’t you curse Israel?
God had told me, "thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed," and he put his word in my mouth. On the heights I said, "How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?" and "Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Numbers 22–24.