Numbers: Preparing A People To Conquer (XXIII)

The Strange Case Of Balaam (23:1-25:18)

Neal Pollard

On the surface, Balaam seems like the great prophet Micaiah who once told wicked Ahab, “What the Lord says to me, that I shall speak” (1 Ki. 22:14; see Num. 23:26; 24:13, for example). But, three different New Testament writers make clear that Balaam was wicked. “He loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Pet. 2:14). He “rushed headlong into error” (Jude 11). He “taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality” (Rev. 2:14). 

Balak has hired Balaam to curse Israel. What happens is incredible. You can almost see his giddiness as Balaam instructs him to build him seven altars and they sacrifice (25:1-3), then watch his expression change when Balaam speaks. But, though God is fighting for them, Israel will find a way to fight against themselves. Notice.

• BALAAM’S FIRST PROPHECY (at Bamoth-Baal) (23:1-12)–Israel will flourish and grow
• BALAAM’S SECOND PROPHECY (at the top of Mt. Pisgah)  (23:13-24)–Israel will defeat all its enemies
• BALAAM’S THIRD PROPHECY (at the top of Peor) (23:25-24:9)–Those who bless Israel will be blessed; Those who curse Israel will be cursed
• BALAAM’S UNPROMPTED DISCOURSE (24:10-24)–He prophesies of the destiny of God’s enemies’ destruction and a possible Messianic Prophecy (24:17; “The Qumran sectarians interpreted this passage as having Messianic import, as did other Jewish sources of the period between the mid-second century b.c. and the first century a.d” (Cole, NAC, 426). He curses the Amalekites, the Kenites, and Assyrians. 

• BALAAM’S IMPLIED INFLUENCE (25:1-18)–Here is where New Testament passages help us understand that Balaam was trying his best to curse Israel and get Balak’s honor and money. Also note Numbers 31:16, where Moses blames Balaam for this sin. Also see Deuteronomy 23:5 and Joshua 13:22 and 24:10. There, it appears Balaam is advising Balak on how to seduce Israel. Apparently, Israel engages in full scale idolatry and sexual immorality with “the daughters of Moab.” It is urgent that Israel not only desist from this, but punish the guilty. 24,000 Israelites die as the result of this wickedness. Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson, is praised by God for his zeal in defending God’s honor on this horrible occasion.  Apparently, they also slaughtered Balaam on this very occasion, too (31:8). 

I encourage you to read these three chapters, rich with details and some excellent points and ideas (God is not a man, that He should lie–for example).  Balaam knew God’s Word. But even after hearing it, he hoped it would be something different. He knew the right answers, but it didn’t seem to truly penetrate and affect his own heart. How tragic to know and even tell others the truth, then fail to internalize it and let it guide your own life (1 Cor. 9:27).