The Moabites Approach Balaam

Israel had conquered the Amorites between the River Jabbok and the Arnan, as far east as where the Jabbok split to the north and south which was the boundary of Ammon.  When attacked by Og king of Bashan, they had also taken the area from the Jabbok north to the Sea of Galilee.  They returned to the Jordan valley, in Amorite territory, but known as the plains of Moab because of the large number of Moabites who lived there, in Numbers 22:1.  “And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.”

Fearing a similar invasion of Moab, the Moabite king, Balak enlisted the help of the Midianites, descendants of Ishmael, who had settled much of the Arab Peninsula, in Numbers 22:2-4.  “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: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.  And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.”

Many of the Middianites, including Moses’ father-in-law’s family still worshipped God.  Balaam was a well-known Middianite prophet who worshipped God.  In an effort to get God on their side, Balak contacted Balaam, in Numbers 22:5-7.  “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: 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 wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.  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.”

Though they still worshipped God nominally, the Middianite religion had become much like the pagan religions around them, paying a shaman to cast spells or predict the future.  Balaam found himself caught between wanting to please the king and wanting to please God.  In Numbers 22:8-14, he asked God what he should do.  “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.

 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

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.

And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.”

God was very clear, Balaam was not to curse the people, because God wanted to bless them, so Balaam told the leaders God wouldn’t allow him to go.   It wasn’t what the king wanted to hear.