Chapter XLIII.
THE PROPHECY OF BALAAM.
[Numb. 22 — 24.]
AS the Israelites were nearing the Promised Land, they came to the confines of Moab [1]. Balak, the king of that country, being in very great fear[2], sent the elders and the nobles of his kingdom with rich presents to Balaam[3], that he might come and curse his enemies. This Balaam believed in the true God; but, at the same time, he practised soothsaying and divination.
When the messengers had arrived with their presents, Balaam said: “Tarry here this night, and I will answer whatsoever the Lord shall say to me.” And God told him: “Thou shalt not go, neither shalt thou curse the people.” So the princes returned to the king. But Balak sent a greater number of nobles and richer presents than the first time. Balaam told the messengers again to stay for one night. In that night God came to Balaam and said: “Arise and go; yet so, that thou do what I shall command thee.” Then Balaam arose and went to the land of Moab. The king took him to three different mountains, whence he could behold the Israelites in the valley, and ordered him to curse them. But Balaam, being each time prevented by God from cursing, blessed[4] them, saying: “How beautiful are thy tabernacles, O Jacob, and thy tents, o Israel! He that blesseth thee shall also himself be blessed, and he that curseth thee shall be reckoned accursed.”
Then Balak grew angry, and exclaimed: “I had intended to honour thee, but the Lord hath deprived thee of the honour; for I called thee to curse my enemies, and thou, on the contrary,
- ↑ Moab. This country lay to the east of the Dead Sea (see map).
- ↑ Great fear. That Israel would conquer his country; for the chosen people had already overcome several neighbouring kings at the point of the sword.
- ↑ Balaam. He was a heathen soothsayer of Mesopotamia, the country which lay between the Euphrates and Tigris, but he had heard of the wonderful things which God had done for the Israelites, and had learnt thereby to know the true God. The Lord revealed future things to him, in order that through him the heathen nations also might learn to look for the Redeemer. Balak, the superstitious king of Moab, wanted Balaam to curse God's people, hoping, if this were done, to be able to overcome them.
- ↑ Blessed. By this God revealed His omnipotence to the heathen.
