In brief
Balaam, son of Beor, is a diviner of Pethor summoned by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel. On his way, his donkey sees the angel of Yahweh and, as God opens its mouth, speaks to him. Balaam ends up blessing Israel three times, despite the money promised, and announces a star coming out of Jacob. The New Testament nevertheless cites his greed and bad example. He is remembered for the freedom of God, who blesses his people, and for the danger of a divided heart.
What does the name Balaam mean?
The meaning of the name Balaam is uncertain and the Bible does not explain it. The book of Numbers presents him as the son of Beor, from Pethor, by the River, in the land of the people of his own people (Numbers 22:5). Any link with a precise meaning therefore remains a hypothesis.
The story of Balaam
Balak's summons
Numbers 22:1-20Israel camps on the plains of Moab. Balak, king of Moab, terrified, sends for Balaam to curse this people. God first tells Balaam not to go. Balaam declares that even for a house full of gold he could not go against the command of Yahweh. Then God permits him to go, on condition that he does what God tells him.
The donkey and the angel
Numbers 22:21-35Balaam sets out. God's anger burns, and the angel of Yahweh stands in the road with a drawn sword. The donkey sees him three times and turns aside, but Balaam strikes her. Yahweh opens the donkey's mouth, then Balaam's eyes. He acknowledges his sin. The angel tells him to go, but to speak only the words he is given.
The first two oracles
Numbers 23:1-24Balak has seven altars built, but Yahweh puts words in Balaam's mouth. Instead of cursing, he asks how he could curse those whom God has not cursed. He declares that God is not a man that he should lie, and that he sees no iniquity in Jacob. A second attempt ends in another blessing.
Blessing and prophecy
Numbers 24:1-25Balaam sees Israel camping tribe by tribe, and the Spirit of God comes on him. He celebrates the beauty of the tents of Jacob and says: blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you. Balak is angered and sends him away without pay. Balaam still announces a star coming out of Jacob, then returns home.
What Balaam teaches us
- God cannot be bought: his blessing on his people depends neither on diviners nor on money.
- Do not use God for your ambitions: Balaam speaks rightly but keeps a divided heart.
- God speaks in unexpected ways, even through a donkey, to correct his servant.
- What God has blessed, no one can curse.
- The Bible warns against the way of Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.
Key verses
The angel of Yahweh explains to Balaam why he stood in the road: “your way is perverse before me”. God corrects his servant before he goes astray.
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent.” Balaam proclaims God's faithfulness to his promises to Israel, whatever Balak does.
Balaam announces: “A star will come out of Jacob. A scepter will rise out of Israel”. This oracle about a coming king has been read, in the Christian tradition, as an announcement of the Messiah.
Sermons about Balaam
Frequently asked questions
Who was Balaam in the Bible?
Balaam, son of Beor, was a diviner of Pethor. Balak, king of Moab, summoned him to curse Israel. God stopped him, including through the voice of his donkey, and Balaam blessed Israel three times. The New Testament nevertheless criticizes his love of wages.
What does the name Balaam mean?
The meaning of the name Balaam is uncertain, and the Bible does not explain it. The links proposed, for example with the idea of “devouring” or “swallowing up”, remain hypotheses. The text only states that he was the son of Beor, from Pethor (Numbers 22:5).
Where can I find the story of Balaam in the Bible?
The story of Balaam fills chapters 22 to 24 of the book of Numbers. He is then cited in Numbers 31:16, in 2 Peter 2:15, in Jude (verse 11) and in Revelation 2:14.