Balak (Numbers 22:2–7; Numbers 22:15–17; Numbers 22:35–41; Numbers 23:1–2; Numbers 23:7–12; Numbers 23:13–14; Numbers 23:25–30; Numbers 24:10–14; Numbers 24:25; Joshua 24:9–10; Judges 11:25; Micah 6:5; Revelation 2:14)

Son of Zippor, king of Moab

Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, who saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, sent for Balaam to curse the people, took him to three places to see them, and in anger sent him away when he blessed them instead.

“Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many” (Numbers 22:2-3). He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, saying, “Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me” (Numbers 22:6). The elders of Moab and Midian went “with the rewards of divination in their hand” (Numbers 22:7). When Balaam did not come, Balak “sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they” (Numbers 22:15), promising, “I will promote thee unto very great honor” (Numbers 22:17).

When Balaam came, Balak went out to meet him at the border of the Arnon and took him up to the high places of Baal, where seven altars were built and a bullock and a ram offered on each. Balaam spoke what the LORD put in his mouth, and it was blessing. “What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether” (Numbers 23:11). Balak took him to another place, and then to the top of Peor, saying, “peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence” (Numbers 23:27). After the third blessing, “Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together” (Numbers 24:10); he bade Balaam flee to his place, and the chapter ends, “Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way” (Numbers 24:25). Scripture does not record his death.

Later books recall him. Joshua says, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel: and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you” (Joshua 24:9), while Jephthah asks the king of Ammon, “art thou anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?” (Judges 11:25). Micah writes, “remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him” (Micah 6:5). In the letter to the church in Pergamum, Revelation speaks of those who hold “the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel” (Revelation 2:14).

Weaknesses

• Sought a curse on Israel
• Sought the curse again after each blessing
• Anger kindled against Balaam

Themes

• Fear of Israel
• Hiring a curse
• Promised honor
• Seven altars
• Blessing instead of cursing
• Remembered by later books

Balak sends for Balaam (Numbers 22:1–7)

Moab is sore afraid of Israel, and Balak sends messengers with the rewards of divination to Balaam at Pethor to ask him to curse the people.

Balak sends for Balaam

Israel encamped in the plains of Moab, and “Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many” (Numbers 22:2-3). Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field” (Numbers 22:4).

Balak “sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River … to call him” (Numbers 22:5). His words were: “Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed” (Numbers 22:6).

“And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak” (Numbers 22:7).

Greater princes and the offer of honor (Numbers 22:8–21)

After Balaam refuses because the LORD will not give him leave, Balak sends more honorable princes, promising to promote him unto very great honor.

Meets Balaam at the border (Numbers 22:36–41)

Balak goes out to meet Balaam at the border of the Arnon, asks why he did not come sooner, sacrifices oxen and sheep, and takes him up to the high places of Baal.

Seven altars and the first blessing (Numbers 23:1–12)

Balak builds seven altars at Balaam's word and offers on each; Balaam's first oracle blesses Israel, and Balak protests that he was taken to curse his enemies.

Seven altars and the first blessing

“And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram” (Numbers 23:1-2).

Balaam took up his parable: “From Aram hath Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, And come, defy Israel” (Numbers 23:7).

“And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which Jehovah putteth in my mouth?” (Numbers 23:11-12).

Two more places, two more blessings (Numbers 23:13–24:9)

Balak takes Balaam to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah and then to the top of Peor, building seven altars each time; he says, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.

Balak's anger and dismissal (Numbers 24:10–25)

Balak smites his hands together, reminds Balaam that he has blessed Israel three times, bids him flee to his place, and goes his own way.

Balak's anger and dismissal

“And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times” (Numbers 24:10).

“Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor” (Numbers 24:11). Balaam answered, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind” (Numbers 24:13).

Balaam spoke further parables, and then “Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way” (Numbers 24:25). Numbers says no more of Balak by name.

Recalled in Joshua, Judges, Micah and Revelation (Joshua 24:9–10; Judges 11:25; Micah 6:5; Revelation 2:14)

Joshua says Balak arose and fought against Israel; Jephthah asks whether he ever strove against them; Micah bids the people remember what he devised; Revelation says Balaam taught him.

Recalled in Joshua, Judges, Micah and Revelation

Joshua, rehearsing what God had done, says, “Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel: and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you; but I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still” (Joshua 24:9-10).

Jephthah says to the king of Ammon, “And now art thou anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?” (Judges 11:25).

“O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him” (Micah 6:5). And to the church at Pergamum: “thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel” (Revelation 2:14).

Balaam (Numbers 22:5–6; Numbers 23:11; Numbers 24:10–11; Revelation 2:14)

Balak sent for him from Pethor to curse Israel, took him to three places to see the people, and sent him away when he blessed them.

Zippor (Numbers 22:2; Numbers 22:4; Joshua 24:9; Judges 11:25)

Numbers, Joshua and Judges call Balak the son of Zippor.

Israel (Numbers 22:2–6; Numbers 23:11; Joshua 24:9)

Balak feared the people, sent for Balaam to curse them, and called them his enemies; Joshua says he arose and fought against Israel.

The princes and elders of Moab (Numbers 22:7; Numbers 22:14; Numbers 22:35)

They carried his words to Balaam, reported his refusal, and went with Balaam when he came.

The elders of Midian (Numbers 22:4; Numbers 22:7)

They went with the elders of Moab to Balaam with the rewards of divination in their hand.

Major sections

• Numbers 22–24
• Joshua 24:9–10
• Judges 11:25
• Micah 6:5
• Revelation 2:14

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