Balaam’s Sin Results in Many Deaths.

Balak was determined to cause Israel to be cursed.  He got to thinking about what Balaam had said, in Numbers 23:21-23.  “He(God) hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.  God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.  Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!”

Over the years, the people who had deliberately disobeyed God had died in various plagues, and of old age.  Because there was no longer any deliberate sin(iniquity) among them, God was blessing them and no curses or magic spells would work against them.    If Balak could get them to sin, perhaps God would curse them.   In Revelation 2:14, Jesus said Balaam “…taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”  God had told Balaam not to go, but because as II Peter 2:15 says, he “…loved the wages of unrighteousness,” he went anyway, and made the prophecy in Numbers 23:18-23. 

Israel was camped in the plains of Moab, near Shittim.  Balak encouraged his people to get involved with  the Israelites.  Numbers 25:1-3 tells us. “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.”  Sexual immorality led to getting involved with the Moabite religion. And God was angered, because they had violated their agreement with him. 

God ordered that the leaders who had been involved be executed, and sent a plague that killed another twenty four thousand people, in numbers 24:4-9.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.  And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.”

The woman Phineas killed was a Midianite princess.  Her death led to war with the Midianites in the area.  In Numbers 25:15-18 God commanded Israel to fight the Midianites because of their involvement in leading Israel into sin.  “And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Vex the Midianites, and smite them: For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.”

Moses sent twelve thousand men to destroy the Midianite communities that had been involved, in Numbers 31:1-8, because they had caused the deaths of twenty four thousand people.    “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.  Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.  So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.  And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.  And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.  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.”

Balaam was killed right along with the Midianites.  Numbers 31:16 explains why.  “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.”  Revelation 2:14-16 warns Christians that God will fight against those who, like Balaam, begin to teach people to do wrong to gain wealth and prestige.  “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.  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”   As Matthew 6:24 Nd Luke 16:13 tell us, “…Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”