Balaam
발람
Named at Numbers 22:5 as the son of Beor. Balak king of Moab sends messengers to Pethor to call him to curse Israel, but in chapters 22–24 he speaks only the word the LORD puts in his mouth and blesses Israel; at 24:25 he returns to his place. Numbers 31:8 says that when the children of Israel fought Midian they killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword, and 31:16 has Moses say that the women of Midian, through the counsel of Balaam, caused the children of Israel to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor.
Direct relationships 13
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Source-backed narrative relations; not independent historical verification. Legacy dates and coordinates are outside this review.
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AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- 2PE 2:9–16, engwebp
9then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
10but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, don’t bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.
12But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed,
13receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and defects, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you;
14having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin, enticing unsettled souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children!
15Forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;
16but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A speechless donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet.
- DEU 23:3–6, engwebp
3An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the LORD’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one belonging to them enter into the LORD’s assembly forever,
4because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
5Nevertheless the LORD your God wouldn’t listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you.
6You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.
- JOS 13:21–22, engwebp
21all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.
22The children of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain.
- JOS 24:1–13, engwebp
1Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
2Joshua said to all the people, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Your fathers lived of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor. They served other gods.
3I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his offspring, and gave him Isaac.
4I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it. Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
5“‘I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
6I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea.
7When they cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. You lived in the wilderness many days.
8“‘I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand. You possessed their land, and I destroyed them from before you.
9Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you,
10but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand.
11“‘You went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho. The men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.
12I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with your sword, nor with your bow.
13I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you didn’t build, and you live in them. You eat of vineyards and olive groves which you didn’t plant.’
- JUD 1:11–13, engwebp
11Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
12These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
- MIC 6:1–8, engwebp
1Listen now to what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.
2Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s indictment, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel.
3My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!
4For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
6How shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
- NEH 13:1–3, engwebp
1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
2because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; however, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
- NUM 22:2–14, engwebp
2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5He 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 of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
6Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
11‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
- NUM 22:5, engwebp
5He 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 of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
- NUM 22:15–21, engwebp
15Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they.
16They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”
18Balaam 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 the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me.”
20God 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.”
21Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
- NUM 22:22–35, engwebp
22God’s anger burned because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.
24Then the LORD’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
26The LORD’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28The LORD 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?”
29Balaam 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.”
30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”
31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.
33The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”
34Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “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.”
35The LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
- NUM 22:36–41, engwebp
36When 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.
37Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”
38Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.
41In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.
- NUM 23:1–12, engwebp
1Balaam said to Balak, “Build here seven altars for me, and prepare here seven bulls and seven rams for me.”
2Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.
3Balaam said to Balak, “Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you.” He went to a bare height.
4God 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.”
5The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”
6He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.
7He took up his parable, and said, “From Aram has Balak brought me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, defy Israel.
8How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom the LORD has not defied?
9For from the top of the rocks I see him. From the hills I see him. Behold, it is a people that dwells alone, and shall not be listed among the nations.
10Who can count the dust of Jacob, or count the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous! Let my last end be like his!”
11Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.”
12He answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD puts in my mouth?”
- NUM 23:13–26, engwebp
13Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you may see them. You shall see just part of them, and shall not see them all. Curse them from there for me.”
14He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
15He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet God over there.”
16The LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and say this.”
17He came to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak said to him, “What has the LORD spoken?”
18He took up his parable, and said, “Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, you son of Zippor.
19God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won’t do it? Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good?
20Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.
21He has not seen iniquity in Jacob. Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel. The LORD his God is with him. The shout of a king is among them.
22God brings them out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.
23Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has God done!’
24Behold, a people rises up as a lioness. As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”
25Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.”
26But Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘All that the LORD speaks, that I must do’?”
- NUM 23:27–30, engwebp
27Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.”
28Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.
29Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
30Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
- NUM 24:1–9, engwebp
1When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.
3He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
4he says, who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
5How goodly are your tents, Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!
6As valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which the LORD has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
7Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.
8God brings him out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall consume the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
9He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
- NUM 24:3, engwebp
3He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
- NUM 24:10–14, engwebp
10Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
11Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”
12Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
13‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the LORD’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what the LORD says’?
14Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
- NUM 24:15, engwebp
15He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
- NUM 24:15–24, engwebp
15He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
16he says, who hears the words of God, knows the knowledge of the Most High, and who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, and having his eyes open:
17I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel, and shall strike through the corners of Moab, and crush all the sons of Sheth.
18Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
19Out of Jacob shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”
20He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, but his latter end shall come to destruction.”
21He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.
22Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”
23He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”
- NUM 24:25, engwebp
25Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
- NUM 31:7–12, engwebp
7They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses. They killed every male.
8They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
9The children of Israel took the women of Midian captive with their little ones; and all their livestock, all their flocks, and all their goods, they took as plunder.
10All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire.
11They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal.
12They brought the captives with the prey and the plunder, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.
- NUM 31:13–18, engwebp
13Moses and Eleazar the priest, with all the princes of the congregation, went out to meet them outside of the camp.
14Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.
15Moses said to them, “Have you saved all the women alive?
16Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.
17Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.
18But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
- REV 2:12–17, engwebp
12“To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
13“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15So also you likewise have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows but he who receives it.
AI-assisted, human review pending, 2026-09-24
Machine comparison on 2026-10-07: the wording raised none of the 3 rules against the passages this entry cites. No person has read it.
Unresolved interpretation: Who hired Balaam: Deuteronomy 23:3–4 and Numbers 22:2–7
- Deuteronomy 23:3–4 reads, “An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the LORD’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one belonging to them enter into the LORD’s assembly forever, because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.”
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- DEU 23:3–6, engwebp
3An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the LORD’s assembly; even to the tenth generation shall no one belonging to them enter into the LORD’s assembly forever,
4because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
5Nevertheless the LORD your God wouldn’t listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you.
6You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.
- DEU 23:3–6, engwebp
- Numbers 22:2–7 says that Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, to call him, and that the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went to Balaam with the rewards of divination in their hand. These verses do not name the Ammonites.
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- NUM 22:2–14, engwebp
2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
5He 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 of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
6Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,
11‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
- NUM 22:2–14, engwebp
- Nehemiah 13:1–2 says that on that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people, “and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; however, our God turned the curse into a blessing.” The Korean Revised Version gives what is written as the book’s own words (그 책에 기록하기를 …).
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- NEH 13:1–3, engwebp
1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
2because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; however, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
- NEH 13:1–3, engwebp
In Deuteronomy 23:4 “they” takes up the Ammonite and the Moabite of 23:3. Numbers 22 has Balak king of Moab send for Balaam, and the elders of Moab and of Midian go to him with the rewards of divination. Nehemiah 13:1–2 says that in the book of Moses read on that day it was found written that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, “because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them”. This collection keeps each account as its book tells it and does not decide whether the Ammonites had a part in hiring Balaam.
Unresolved interpretation: The five kings of Midian and the princes of Sihon: Joshua 13:21–22 and Numbers 31:7–8
- Joshua 13:21–22 names all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, “whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land. The children of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain.”
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- JOS 13:21–22, engwebp
21all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.
22The children of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain.
- JOS 13:21–22, engwebp
- Numbers 31:7–8 says, “They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses. They killed every male. They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.”
Source evidence (1)
AI-assisted comparison with the cited narrative; not independent historical verification.
- NUM 31:7–12, engwebp
7They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses. They killed every male.
8They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
9The children of Israel took the women of Midian captive with their little ones; and all their livestock, all their flocks, and all their goods, they took as plunder.
10All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire.
11They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal.
12They brought the captives with the prey and the plunder, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.
- NUM 31:7–12, engwebp
Joshua 13:21–22 calls Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba the chiefs of Midian and the princes of Sihon, says that Moses struck Sihon with them, and says that the children of Israel also killed Balaam among the rest of their slain. Numbers 31:7–8 calls Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba the five kings of Midian, and says that those who fought against Midian killed them and Balaam the son of Beor. The Korean Revised Version spells two of the names 수르 and 후르 at Numbers 31:8 and 술 and 훌 at Joshua 13:21. This collection keeps both accounts as their texts stand, gives the passages of both books to the entries of the five men and of Balaam, and does not decide how the two accounts fit.
All 13 relationships: AI-assisted, human review pending
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Beor (father of Balaam) — Father of — Balaam
Evidence: Deuteronomy 23:3–6, Joshua 13:21–22, Joshua 24:1–13, Micah 6:1–8, Numbers 22:5, Numbers 24:3, Numbers 24:15, Numbers 31:7–12
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Took part in (12) — Balak sends for Balaam, Balaam goes with the princes of Moab, Balaam’s donkey and the angel of the LORD, Balak meets Balaam at the city by the Arnon, Seven altars, and Balaam’s first parable, Balaam’s second parable, on the top of Pisgah, Balak takes Balaam to the top of Peor, Balaam’s third parable, Balak’s anger against Balaam, Balaam’s fourth parable, and three more, Balaam and Balak go their ways, The five kings of Midian and Balaam killed, and the captives and plunder brought back
A relationship with an event rests on the passages the event cites: each event’s page has them.
Verses tagged with this entry
Names in the World English Bible text that carry this entry’s tag. They are carried over from the tags on the Korean Revised Version, which are matched by name inside chapters that already have collected evidence, and a verse where the English says “he” carries none. All await human review. They are a separate list from the source passages above. An empty list does not mean the entry is absent from the text.
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 of 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. 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 the LORD 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 said to me,
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 the LORD 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, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘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 the LORD 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.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
The LORD 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 until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the LORD’s angel 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 LORD’s angel, “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 LORD’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” 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 for you to summon 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? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
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.
In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.
Balaam said to Balak, “Build here seven altars for me, and prepare here seven bulls and seven rams for me.”
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 the LORD will come to meet me. 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.”
The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”
Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.”
The LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and say this.”
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 the LORD 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 them for me from there.”
Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.
Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.
When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn’t go, as at the other times, to use divination, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. 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 whom you sent to me, saying,
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor 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 so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.
because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
Nevertheless the LORD your God wouldn’t listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you.
The children of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain.
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you,
but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand.
because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; however, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
Forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;
Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
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[Bibliadatum entry report] Entry: Balaam (person-balaam) Address: https://bibliadatum.org/en/wiki/person/balaam Current wording: Named at Numbers 22:5 as the son of Beor. Balak king of Moab sends messengers to Pethor to call him to curse Israel, but in chapters 22–24 he speaks only the word the LORD puts in his mouth and blesses Israel; at 24:25 he returns to his place. Numbers 31:8 says that when the children of Israel fought Midian they killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword, and 31:16 has Moses say that the women of Midian, through the counsel of Balaam, caused the children of Israel to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor. Cited evidence: 2PE 2:9–16, engwebp / DEU 23:3–6, engwebp / JOS 13:21–22, engwebp / JOS 24:1–13, engwebp / JUD 1:11–13, engwebp / MIC 6:1–8, engwebp / NEH 13:1–3, engwebp / NUM 22:2–14, engwebp (and 16 more of 24) Review state: ai-assisted / human-review-pending What looks wrong: (not written yet) --- This collection records what the text says and does not settle interpretation. A report about a reading that divides opinion may be registered as an unresolved issue rather than corrected.