Balaam
Balaam Biblical character, a prophet of Pethor in Mesopotamia.
Summary |
The Bible stories
Balaam and Balak
Chapters 22 through 24 of the Book of Numbers, Balaam is summoned by Balak, king of Moab , to curse the Israelites who, after crossing the desert, crossing its territory to the land of Canaan.
The diviner, mounted on a donkey, went to Balak, but along the way, a angel , holding a naked sword in hand, prevents the donkey to move forward despite the beatings by his master. The donkey, suddenly endowed with speech, criticizes his master's harshness. God then opened the eyes of Balaam to Balak, he blessed, thrice, the people he was tasked to curse. (Deut 23 5-6. Joshua 24 9-10. Do 13 2. Mi 6 5.)
He prophesied: "In a rising star Jacob, Israel emerges a scepter" (No. 24, 17)
The infidelity of Peor
A Peor, the Israelites engaged in prostitution and the worship of Baal (Baal Peor). (No. 25. Dt 4 3. Jos 22 18.). Balaam is charged with counseling to women of Moab and Midian to pervert the Israelites (Num 31 16. Ps 106 28-29). He is killed by the Israelites (Numbers 31 August).
In the New Testament
Balaam is cited as an opportunity to drop the people of God in the Epistles of Peter and Jude and the Apocalypse (Jude 1 11. 2P 2 15. Rev 2 14).
Miscellaneous
It is also the name of a Demon Hebrew avarice and greed.
See also
- The donkey of Balaam , table Rembrandt
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