Balaam in the Bible
Meaning: the ancient of the people; the destruction of the people
Exact Match
He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, there is a people who came out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
He said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me." The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
God came to Balaam, and said, "Who are these men with you?"
Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, [saying],
God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed."
Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your land; for Yahweh refuses to permit me to go with you."
The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."
They came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me:
Balaam answered the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.
God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do."
Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.
The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck her again.
The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"
Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you."
The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?" He said, "No."
Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again."
The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
Balak said to Balaam, "Didn't I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn't you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?"
Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak."
Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.
Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams."
Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.
Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you." He went to a bare height.
God met Balaam: and he said to him, "I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar."
Yahweh put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak."
So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by all the Moabite officials.
Balaam proclaimed his poem:
the king of Moab, from the eastern mountains:
“Come, put a curse on Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel!”
Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether."
But in response, Balaam asked, "Shouldn't I be careful to communicate only what the LORD puts in my mouth?"
So he took Balaam to the field of Zophim to the top of [Mount] Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Balaam said to Balak, "Station yourself here at the burnt offering while I myself meet with [Yahweh] there."
Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and say this."
So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by the Moabite officials. "What did the LORD say?" Balak asked him.
Balaam proclaimed his poem:
son of Zippor, pay attention to what I say!
Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all."
But Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I tell you, saying, 'All that Yahweh speaks, that I must do?'"
Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse me them from there."
Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.
Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams."
Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
Balaam said to Balak, "Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,
He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;
Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:
but his future is destruction.
Balaam also uttered this prophetic statement about the Kenites: "Your dwelling places are stable, because your nest is carved in solid rock.
Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.
Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
O My people, remember, I pray you, What counsel did Balak king of Moab, What answer him did Balaam son of Beor, (From Shittim unto Gilgal,) In order to know the righteous acts of Jehovah.'
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the'son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;
But Balaam was rebuked for his own wrongdoing by a speechless donkey, who spoke out in a man's voice and prevented the prophet from continuing his foolishness.
Woe be unto them, for they have followed the way of Cain, and are utterly given to the error of Balaam for lucre's sake, and are cast away in the treason of Korah.
But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast, there, they that maintain the doctrine of Balaam, which taught in Balak to put occasion of sin before the children of Israel, that they should eat of meat dedicated unto idols, and to commit fornication.
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Thematic Bible
Altar » Built by » balaam
Anger » Sinful, exemplified » balaam
Animals » Cruelty to » balaam
When the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she wrenched unto the wall and thrust Balaam's foot unto the wall, and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn, either to the righthand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam was wroth and smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, "What have I done unto thee, that thou smitest me thus three times?" And Balaam said unto the Ass, "Because thou hast mocked me! I would that I had a sword in mine hand, that I might now kill thee." And the ass said unto Balaam, "Am not I thine ass which thou hast ridden upon since thou wast born unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee?" And he said, "Nay." And the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam that he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed himself and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, "Wherefore smitest thou thine ass this three times? Behold, I came out to resist thee, for the way is contrary unto me, and the ass saw me and avoided me three times: or else, had she not turned from me, I had surely slain thee and saved her alive."
balaam » General references to
balaam » Balak sends for, to curse israel
balaam » A prophet
How goodly are the tents of Jacob, and thine habitations Israel; even as the broad valleys and as gardens by the river's side, as the tents which the LORD hath pitched and as cypress trees upon the water. The water shall flow out of his bucket and his seed shall be many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag; and his kingdom shall be exalted. God that brought him out of Egypt is as the strength of an unicorn unto him, and he shall eat the nations that are his enemies and break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched himself and lay down as a lion and as a lioness; who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee."
balaam » Anger of, rebuked by his ass
When the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she wrenched unto the wall and thrust Balaam's foot unto the wall, and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn, either to the righthand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam was wroth and smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, "What have I done unto thee, that thou smitest me thus three times?" And Balaam said unto the Ass, "Because thou hast mocked me! I would that I had a sword in mine hand, that I might now kill thee." And the ass said unto Balaam, "Am not I thine ass which thou hast ridden upon since thou wast born unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee?" And he said, "Nay." And the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam that he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed himself and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, "Wherefore smitest thou thine ass this three times? Behold, I came out to resist thee, for the way is contrary unto me, and the ass saw me and avoided me three times: or else, had she not turned from me, I had surely slain thee and saved her alive." And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned: for I wist not that thou stoodest in the way against me. Now therefore if it displease thine eyes, I will turn again." And the angel said unto Balaam, "Go with the men: but in any wise, what I say unto thee, that say." And Balaam went with the lords of Balak.
balaam » Counsel of, an occasion of israel's corruption with the midianites
balaam » Covetousness of
balaam » Death of
balaam » The mercenary prophet, life summarized, » Self-willed
And Balak sent again a greater company of lords, and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and told him, "Thus sayeth Balak, the son of Zippor: 'Oh, let nothing let thee to come unto me, for I will greatly promote thee unto great honour, and will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me! Come therefore I pray thee, curse me this people.'" And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can go no further than the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Nevertheless tarry ye here all night: that I may know what the LORD will say unto me once more." And God came to Balaam by night and said unto him, "If the men come to fetch thee, rise up and go with them: but what I say unto thee, that only thou shalt do." And Balaam rose up early and saddled his ass and went with the lords of Moab. But God was angry because he went. And the angel of the LORD stood in the way against him. And he rode upon his ass and two servants with him.
balaam » The mercenary prophet, life summarized, » Famous,
balaam » sent home » failure
balaam » The mercenary prophet, life summarized, » Saved from destruction by his beast
balaam » evil counsellor
balaam » besetting sin » greed
balaam » A soothsayer
balaam » From mesopotamia
Christian ministers » Incorruptible » balaam
Christian ministers » Faithful » balaam
Confession of sin » Examples of personal » balaam
Decision » Instances of » balaam
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can go no further than the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
Forsaking God » Exemplified » balaam
greed » Avaricious men, examples of » balaam
Heathen » Divine revelations given to » balaam
Heathen » Instances of » balaam
Holy spirit » Examples of men receiving the gift of, under the old dispensation » balaam
Holy spirit » Old testament reference to » balaam
Holy spirit » Inspiration of » balaam
Insanity » Of sin » balaam
Inspiration » Examples of » balaam
Leaders » Names of persons spoken of as » balaam
Power » Of the holy spirit examples of men receiving the gift of, under the old dispensation » balaam
Prophets » Examples of » balaam
Prophets » Names of persons spoken of as » balaam
Religious » Names of persons spoken of as » balaam
Sin » Examples of personal » balaam
Sin » Insanity of » balaam
Spirit » Examples of men receiving the gift of, under the old dispensation » balaam
Temptation » Yielding to temptation » balaam
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can go no further than the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Nevertheless tarry ye here all night: that I may know what the LORD will say unto me once more." And God came to Balaam by night and said unto him, "If the men come to fetch thee, rise up and go with them: but what I say unto thee, that only thou shalt do." And Balaam rose up early and saddled his ass and went with the lords of Moab. But God was angry because he went. And the angel of the LORD stood in the way against him. And he rode upon his ass and two servants with him.