Balaam

Balaam is a prophet living at the time of Egypt and the wilderness. He is named in 59 verses of the Bible, first in Numbers 22:5.

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Verses

Numbers

• Numbers 22:5
  He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
• Numbers 22:7
  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.The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.
• Numbers 22:8
  And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
• Numbers 22:9
  And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
• Numbers 22:10
  And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
• Numbers 22:12
  And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
• Numbers 22:13
  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
• Numbers 22:14
  And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
• Numbers 22:16
  And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
• Numbers 22:18
  And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
• Numbers 22:20
  And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
• Numbers 22:21
  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
• Numbers 22:23
  And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.
• Numbers 22:25
  And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.
• Numbers 22:27
  And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.
• Numbers 22:28
  And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
• Numbers 22:29
  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
• Numbers 22:30
  And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.
• Numbers 22:31
  Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
• Numbers 22:34
  And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”
• Numbers 22:35
  And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
• Numbers 22:36
  And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.
• Numbers 22:37
  And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”
• Numbers 22:38
  And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
• Numbers 22:39
  And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath–huzoth.So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
• Numbers 22:40
  And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
• Numbers 22:41
  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.
• Numbers 23:1
  And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
• Numbers 23:2
  And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
• Numbers 23:3
  And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height,
• Numbers 23:4
  And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
• Numbers 23:5
  And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”
• Numbers 23:11
  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.Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”
• Numbers 23:16
  And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.And the LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.”
• Numbers 23:25
  And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.Now Balak said to Balaam, “Then neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”
• Numbers 23:26
  But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?But Balaam replied, “Did I not tell you that whatever the LORD says, I must do?”
• Numbers 23:27
  And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.“Please come,” said Balak, “I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you curse them for me from there.”
• Numbers 23:28
  And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.
• Numbers 23:29
  And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.Then Balaam said, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
• Numbers 23:30
  And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
• Numbers 24:1
  And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.
• Numbers 24:2
  And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,
• Numbers 24:3
  And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
• Numbers 24:10
  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.Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.
• Numbers 24:12
  And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me
• Numbers 24:15
  And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
• Numbers 24:25
  And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.
• Numbers 31:8
  And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
• Numbers 31:16
  Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.“Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.

Deuteronomy

• Deuteronomy 23:4
  Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you.
• Deuteronomy 23:5
  Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee.Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Joshua

• Joshua 13:22
  Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.The Israelites also killed the diviner Balaam son of Beor along with the others they put to the sword.
• Joshua 24:9
  Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,
• Joshua 24:10
  But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

Nehemiah

• Nehemiah 13:2
  Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

Micah

• Micah 6:5
  O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord.My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”

2 Peter

• 2 Peter 2:15
  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

Jude

• Jude 1:11
  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Revelation

• Revelation 2:14
  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

Notes

1. Names, family links and verses from STEPBible's Translators Individualised Proper Names (TIPNR), STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0.
2. Where several people share a name, which verses belong to which person, and the family links, follow STEPBible's identifications; some are uncertain and are marked so.