Lives of Scripture

Balak, king of Moab, watched Israel defeat the Amorite kings Sihon and Og and grew 'in great dread of the sons of Israel, because they were numerous,' fearing them the way one fears an ox consuming a field (Numbers 22:2-4). Unable to defeat Israel militarily, he sent for the prophet Balaam with payment for divination, urging him to curse Israel so that Moab might drive them out (22:5-7). When Balaam arrived, Balak built altars at three different vantage points overlooking Israel's camp, offering sacrifices each time in hopes of a different, more favorable result, and grew increasingly frustrated and angry each time Balaam opened his mouth only to bless Israel instead (23:1-12, 13-26; 24:1-9). At the third failure, Balak's fury broke into the open: 'I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!... the LORD has held you back from honor' (24:10-11), and he dismissed Balaam without payment. Balaam's final oracle to Balak nonetheless included a long-range messianic prophecy of a star and scepter from Jacob that would one day crush Moab itself (24:15-19). Later Scripture recalls Balak's scheme as a well-known example of hostility toward Israel that God overturned into blessing (Joshua 24:9; Micah 6:5) -- a king whose fear and money could not purchase a curse God had not authorized.