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.
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Thematic Bible
Altar » Built by » balaam
Anger » Sinful, exemplified » balaam
Animals » Cruelty to » balaam
When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she pressed herself into the wall, and she pressed the foot of Balaam into the wall, so he struck her again. Then the angel of Yahweh went further ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was not a way to turn aside [to the] right or left. When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam, so {Balaam became angry}, and he struck the donkey with [his] staff. Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What did I do to you that you struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you made a mockery of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!" The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" He said, "No." Then Yahweh exposed the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, and he bowed down and worshiped to his face. The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck this donkey three times? Look, I have come out as an adversary because your conduct is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from my face, then I would have killed you and kept her alive."
balaam » General references to
balaam » Balak sends for, to curse israel
balaam » A prophet
How good are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! They are spread out like valleys, like gardens on a river, like aloes planted by Yahweh, like cedars at [the] waters. He will pour water from his buckets, and his offspring [will be] like many waters; his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. God, who brings him out from Egypt, [is] like the strength of a wild ox for him. He will devour [the] nations [who are] his enemies; he will break their bones; he will pierce [them with] his arrows. He crouches, he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness, who will rouse him? [They who] bless you will be blessed, and [they who] curse you will be cursed."
balaam » Anger of, rebuked by his ass
When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she pressed herself into the wall, and she pressed the foot of Balaam into the wall, so he struck her again. Then the angel of Yahweh went further ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was not a way to turn aside [to the] right or left. When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam, so {Balaam became angry}, and he struck the donkey with [his] staff. Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What did I do to you that you struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you made a mockery of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!" The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" He said, "No." Then Yahweh exposed the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, and he bowed down and worshiped to his face. The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck this donkey three times? Look, I have come out as an adversary because your conduct is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from my face, then I would have killed you and kept her alive." Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned because I did not know that you [were] standing to meet me in the road. Now, {if it is displeasing to you}, I will turn back." The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only the word that I will speak to you." So Balaam went with the princes 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
Balak again sent many princes, [who were more] honored {than the former}. They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak son of Zippor, 'Please, let nothing keep you from coming to me because I will surely honor you greatly, and all that you say to me I will do. Please, come; curse this people for me.'" Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Even though Balak gives to me his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond {the command of Yahweh} my God to do a little or a lot. And now please, {you also stay here} the night, and {let me find out} again what Yahweh will say with me." And God came to Balaam [at] night, and he said to him, "If the men have come to call you, get up [and] go with them; but only the word that I will speak to you, you will do." So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey, and he went with the princes of Moab. But {God became angry} because he was going, and the angel of Yahweh stood in the road as an adversary to him; he [was] riding on his donkey, and two servants were 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
Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Even though Balak gives to me his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond {the command of Yahweh} my God to do a little or a lot.
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
Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Even though Balak gives to me his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond {the command of Yahweh} my God to do a little or a lot. And now please, {you also stay here} the night, and {let me find out} again what Yahweh will say with me." And God came to Balaam [at] night, and he said to him, "If the men have come to call you, get up [and] go with them; but only the word that I will speak to you, you will do." So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey, and he went with the princes of Moab. But {God became angry} because he was going, and the angel of Yahweh stood in the road as an adversary to him; he [was] riding on his donkey, and two servants were with him.