Questions tagged [balaam]

Bilaam (or Balaam, depending on translation) was a non-Jewish prophet who was hired by Balak, king of Moav, to curse Israel. See Numbers 22-24.

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What did Balaam mean by Amalek as being the first among nations in Numbers 24:20

Numbers 24:20 NIV 20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: “Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction.” In the above text when Balaam takes his ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
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Parallels between Balaam and the binding of Isaac?

While reading about Abraham's prophetic role, I came across a passing mention that the rabbis identified some key parallels between the Abrahamic and Balaam narratives, particularly connecting the ...
Soldarnal's user avatar
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Did Balaam counsel the Midianites in the incident of Baal of Peor as alluded to in Numbers 31?

After men of Israel had committed harlotry with the Moabite and Midianite women Moses seems to blame Balaam for this wayward behaviour Numbers 31:14-18 NASB [14]Moses was angry with the officers of ...
collen ndhlovu's user avatar
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Defense of a variant of Numbers 22:5 about the location of Pethor

Numbers 22:5 (MT) reads: וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח מַלְאָכִ֜ים אֶל־בִּלְעָ֣ם בֶּן־בְּעֹ֗ר פְּ֠ת֠וֹרָה אֲשֶׁ֧ר עַל־הַנָּהָ֛ר אֶ֥רֶץ בְּנֵי־עַמּ֖וֹ לִקְרֹא־ל֑וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר הִ֠נֵּ֠ה עַ֣ם יָצָ֤א מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ הִנֵּ֤ה ...
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Was the "Agag" of Num. 24:7 a specific king, or a title for the kings of Amalek?

...“Their king will be greater than Agag;their kingdom will be exalted." (NIV) 1 Sam. 15:8-9 speaks of specific king "Agag" whom Saul defeated: " And he took Agag the king of the ...
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Who are the children of Sheth, Bileam talks about?

In Numbers 24:17 Balaam says to Balak that all the children of Sheth will be destroyed. Who are these children? In Genesis I read Enosh is a child of Sheth, and Noah is a grand-grand-grand-child so ...
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After Israel repeatedly sinned, why is it said, "He has not observed iniquity in Jacob" (Num 23:21)?

Num 23:21 says, “He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him," How can this be said about Israel, after all the times they rebelled ...
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Was Balaam a true follower of Yahweh?

The idea that Balaam may have been a true follower (or even prophet) of Yahweh seems troubling on a number of fronts: How could there be a pre-Mosaic Yahweh-worshipper living near the Euphrates (Num ...
kmote's user avatar
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Why did God "change His mind" with Balaam?

There are so many interesting questions regarding the account of Balaam in Numbers 22-24. But for now, let me focus on the one that is most puzzling to me: Why did the Lord seem to "waffle" in His ...
kmote's user avatar
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