7. Balaam the Prophet of Yahweh: Num 22-24, 25

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7. Balaam the Prophet of Yahweh Num 22-24, 25

• BOT640/BHE640 Exegesis of Numbers

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Why study about Balaam?

• The complexity of Numbers 22-24, 25 and its
  characterization of Balaam? Is he a sinner or
  a saint?
• Balaam is referred to throughout the Old and the
  New Testaments!
• There is even a 6th century B.C. Aramaic
  Inscription referring to Balaam the seer and his
  prophecies.

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Understanding Balaam in Textual Context

• Numbers 1.1-10.10 The Organization of Sanctuary
  Campaign
• Numbers 10.11-36.13 The Wilderness Campaign
• 10.11-14.45 The Failed Campaign
• 15.1-20.29 The Punishment - 1st Generation
• 21.1-36.13 The Forgiveness 2nd Generation

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Balaams Thematic Context

• Gods blessing of Abraham (Gen 12.1-3) and his
  descendents (Lev 9.22-24 Num 6.22-27)
• The importance of prophecy (Num 11.29) and its
  limitations (Num 12.6-8)
• Leadership God and Kings (Exod 15.3, 18 Deut
  17.14-20)

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Geographic Context

• Num 22.1 Then the Israelites traveled to the
  plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across
  from Jericho.

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From Mt. Nebo
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The Problem 22.2-6

• Balak son of Zippor who was king of Moab was
  afraid of the Israelites because
• of what they had done to the Amorites (22.3
  21.21-32)
• the Israelites were so numerous (22.3-4 see Num
  26)
• of Balaks expansionistic intentions around
  us (22.4), settle next to me (22.5) he
  already was ruling over the Midianites!
• Therefore Balak wanted Balaam, a renown seer, to
  curse the Israelites so that they would be
  weakened enough for him to defeat (22.6)

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Blessing Cursing

• Since Yahweh is the source of all good and evil
  (Isa 45.5-7 Job 12.13-25), from a biblical view,
  therefore, no blessing or curse can become
  operative without the assent of God.
• Curses that were overturned Micah (Judg 17.1-3)
  Jonathan's (1 Sam 14).

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Blessing Cursing

• Rituals of blessing involve laying on of hands
  (Gen 48.14) or the ritual sharing of food drink
  (Gen 14.18-20).
• Rituals of cursing include throwing stone dust
  in 2 Sam 16.5-14, drinking of curse water (Num
  5.19-28), smashing pottery (Jer 19.1-13). The
  oath swearing ritual of cutting animals, etc.
  (Gen 15.9-10). N.B Deut 27!

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The Elders From Moab Midian Sent 22.7-14

• 22.7 - divination fee in their hands? 1 Sam
  91-26
• 22.8 . . . stay here tonight, and I will bring
  back word to you, just as Yahweh speaks to me
  (Num 12.6-8)
• 22.12 You shall not go with them you shall not
  curse the people, for they are blessed. (Num
  6.24-26)

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Prophets Priest

• Prophet
• 1. Called
• 2. Messenger of Yahweh
• 3. Intercession
• 4. Worker of Miracles
• 5. Anointer of Kings Political leaders

• Priest
• 1. Hereditary
• 2. Cult functionary sacrifices, praise,
  atoning, etc.
• 3. Teach the Torah
• 4. Blessings

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The Moabite Dignitaries Sent 22.15-20

• 22.15 more numerous and more distinguished
  dignitaries sent
• 22.18 Although Balak were to give me his house
  full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond
  the command of Yahweh my God, to do less or more
  . . . .
• 22.20 If the men have come to summon you, get
  up and go with them but do only what I tell you
  to do.

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Balaam Sent to Balak 22.21-40

• 22.21 The Journey being like Abrahams journey
  in Gen 22.
• 22.22 Gods anger was kindled because he was
  going, and the angel of Yahweh took his stand in
  the road as his adversary.

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Balaam Sent to Balak 22.21-40

• 22.23 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh
  standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his
  hand, so the donkey turned off the road . . . and
  Balaam struck the donkey . . . . (Judg 5.13-15

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Balaam Sent to Balak 22.21-40

• 22.24-25 Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a
  narrow path . . . . When the donkey saw . . . so
  he struck him.

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Balaam Sent to Balak 22.21-40

• 22.26-27 Then the angel . . . Went ahead . . .
  When the donkey saw . . . it lay down . . .
  Balaams anger was kindled, and he struck the
  donkey with his staff.

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Balaam Sent to Balak 22.21-40

• 22.28 Then Yahweh opened the mouth of the
  donkey . . . What have I done to you, that you
  have struck me these three times?
• 22.29 Because you have made a fool of me! I wish
  I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right
  now.

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Balaam Sent to Balak 22.21-40

• 22.30 Am I not your donkey, which you have
  ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in
  the habit of treating you this way?
• Balaam said, No.

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Balaam Sent to Balak 22.21-40

• 22.31 Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam and
  he saw the angel of Yahweh . . . .
• 22.32 Why have you struck your donkey these
  three times?
• 22.34 I have sinned, for I did not know that
  you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now
  therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will
  return home.
• 22.35 Go with the men but speak only what I
  tell you to speak.

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Balaam Sent to Balak 22.21-41

• 22.36 Balak meets Balaam
• 22.38 I have come to you now, but do I have
  power to say just anything? The word God puts in
  my mouth that is what I must say.
• 22.39-41 Sacrificing at Bamoth-Baal

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Balaam, Balak Yahweh

• Numbers 23-24

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Review of Numbers 22

• Balak, a Moabite king, is afraid of the
  Israelites who are encamped nearby.

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Review of Numbers 22

• Balak hires Balaam, a prophet of Yahweh to curse
  the Israelites, but Balaam clarifies that, the
  word God puts in my mouth that is what I must
  say. (22.38b)

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Review of Numbers 22

• On the way to meet Balak, Balaams Donkey avoids
  an angel of Yahweh three times and even speaks to
  Balaam. Balaam is allowed to proceed after being
  warned Go with the men but speak only what I
  tell you to speak. (22.35b)

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A Talking Donkey Why?

• To emphasize that Balaam was not to speak or do
  anything that Yahweh had not commanded.
  (Sakenfeld)
• The donkey (chp. 22) depicts Balaam (chps.
  23-24), while Balaam (chp. 22) depicts Balak
  (chps. 23-24) (Alter)
• The three times of chp. 22 sets the stage for
  the first three oracles/blessings, (23.7-10
  23.18-24 24.3-9), while four curses round out
  the narrative (24.15-19, 20, 21-22, 23-24).

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Balaams 1st Oracle 22.41-23.12

• . . . Bamoth-Baal . . . and from there he could
  see part of the people of Israel.
• Seven altars with seven bulls and seven rams
• Stay here beside your burnt offerings while I go
  aside. Perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me.
  Whatever he shows me I will tell you.

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Balaams 1st Oracle 23.7-10

• How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can
  I denounce those whom Yahweh has not denounced?
• . . . I see . . . Here is a people living alone,
  and not reckoning itself among the nations!
• Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the
  dust-clouds of Israel
• Let me die the death of the upright, and let my
  end be like his.

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God and the Patriarchs

• The God of the Fathers
• Site-less
• Personal
• The God who Blesses
• The God who Promises

• The Promises
• A Son to Abram/Abraham Progeny to Isaac and
  Jacob (see also Exod 1.7)
• To be with them Primarily Jacob (Gen 28.10-22)
• Land

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Balaams 2nd Oracle 23.13-25

• see only part . . . Field of Zophim, to the top
  of Pisgah
• Seven altars with seven bulls and seven rams

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Balaams 2nd Oracle 23.18-24

• God is not a human being, that he should lie, or
  a mortal, that he should change his mind. Has he
  promised, and will he not do it? Has he spoken,
  and will he not fulfill it?
• I have received a command to bless he has
  blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

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Numbers 622-27

• The LORD said to Moses,
• Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to
  bless the Israelites. Say to them
• The LORD bless you and keep you
• the LORD make his face shine upon you and be
  gracious to you
• the LORD turn his face toward you and give you
  peace.
• So they will put my name on the Israelites, and
  I will bless them.

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Balaams 2nd Oracle 23.18-24

• The Lord their God is with them, acclaimed as a
  king among them, God, who brings them out of
  Egypt, is like the horns of a wild ox for them.
• Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob,
  nor divination against Israel . . . .
• A people rising up like a lioness, and rousing
  itself like a lion! It does not lie down until it
  has eaten the prey and drunk the blood of the
  slain

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Balaams 3th Oracle 23.27-24.9

• . . . top of Peor which overlooks the
  wasteland.
• Now Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless
  Israel, so he did not go, as at other times, to
  look for omens, but set his face toward the
  wilderness.

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Balaams 3th Oracle 24.3-9

• The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of
  the man whose eye is clear, the oracle of one who
  hears the words of God, who sees the vision of
  the Almighty, who falls down, but with eyes
  uncovered . . . .
• Shaddai (48 X n.b. Exod 6.2-3 Ruth 1.20-21)
• God as Protector and Refuge
• God as the One who Blesses

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Balaams 3th Oracle 24.3-9

• How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your
  encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that
  stretch far away, like gardens beside a river,
  like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar
  trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from
  his buckets, and his seed shall have abundant
  water, his king shall be higher than Agag, and
  his kingdom shall be exalted.
• Blessed is everyone who blesses you and cursed
  is everyone who curses you. (Gen 12.1-7)

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Balaams 4th Oracle 24.10-25

• "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to
  me, 'If Balak should give me his house full of
  silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond
  the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of
  my own will what the LORD says, that is what I
  will say'? So now, I am going to my people let
  me advise you what this people will do to your
  people in days to come."

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Balaams 4th Oracle 24.10-25

• 24.15-19 Against Moab Edom
• 24.20 Against Amalek
• 24.21-22 Against Kenite
• 24.23-24 Against Asshur Eber

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Putting it all together

• God is mentioned by name 51 times in Numbers
  22-24 (Yahweh 29X Elohim 11X El 8X
  Shaddai 2X Elyon -1X)
• None can curse those whom God has blessed!
• Does that mean that we are eternally secure? .
  . . . To be continued in Numbers 25

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What A Curse Could Not Do

• Numbers 25

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Numbers 22-24 A Review

• Balaam was a prophet of Yahweh that was forbidden
  to say or do anything that God had not instructed
  him.
• Balaam blesses Israel three times and curses
  Israels opponents, while clearly teaching that
  Gods people are protected from supernatural
  curses of all kinds.

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Is the Balaam Story Over?

• Num 24.25 Then Balaam arose and departed and
  returned to his place, and Balak also went his
  way.
• Num 31.16 Yet they are the very ones who, at
  the bidding of Balaam, induced the Israelites to
  trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, so
  that Yahwehs community was struck by the plague.

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Num 25.1-5 Moabite Seduction

• While Israel remained at Shittim, the people
  began to play the harlot with the daughters of
  Moab. For they invited the people to the
  sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and
  bowed down to their gods.
• 1. Sexual Immorality which led to . . .
• 2. Spiritual Apostasy

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Kemosh/Chemosh

• Moabite Stela
• In the Bible Num 2129 Judg 1124 1 Kgs 117
  1133 2 Kgs 2313 Jer 487, 13, 46
• N.B. their gods

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Baal of Peor

• So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and
  Yahweh was angry against Israel . . . . Each of
  you slay his men who have joined themselves to
  Baal of Peor.

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Ugarit Baal
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Ugarit
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A Pantheon of Gods
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Clay Tablets at Ugarit
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Baal at Ugarit
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Num 25.6-9 Cozbi, Zimri, Phinehas, and the Plague

• Num 25.6 Just then one of the Israelites came
  and brought a Midianite woman into (or to) his
  family (lit. his brothers), in the sight of
  Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation
  of the Israelites, while they were weeping at the
  entrance of the tent of meeting.
• Num 25.7 When Phinehas, son of Eleazar son of
  Aaron the priest, saw this, he left the assembly
  and, taking a spear in his hand, . . . .

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Num 25.6-9 Cozbi, Zimri, Phinehas, and the Plague

• Num 25.8 he followed the Israelite into the
  chamber (from qubbah) and stabbed both of them,
  the Israelite and the woman, through the belly
  (qobatah). Then the plague against the Israelites
  was checked.
• Zimri (24.14) son of Salu, chieftain of an
  ancestral house belonging to Simeon.
• Cozbi (25.15, 18) daughter of Zur, tribal head
  of an ancestral house in Midian.

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Num 25.10-13 Phinehas

• Phinehas . . . has turned back My wrath from the
  Israelites by displaying among them his passion
  for Me, so that I did not wipe out the Israelite
  people in My passion.
• Zeal for Yahweh
• grant him my covenant of Shalom
• a covenant of perpetual priesthood

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Applications

• Although a supernatural curse was ineffective,
  being seduced and worshiping foreign deities
  weakened the Israelites.
• This means that they were secure, until they
  left their covenant loyalty to Yahweh.
• Apostasy, back sliding, turning away from God
  is a reality . . . . It is the real problem!

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Correctives

• Spiritual Warfare, Territorial Spirits (sic),
  over emphasis on Angels Demons, prophetic
  authority are a few teachings have rocked the
  Charismatic/Pentecostal world.
• They are distortions of Biblical truths.
• Some of these distortions are partially dealt
  with in Num 22-25.

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Spiritual Warfare

• Biblically and Church Historically, spiritual
  warfare deals with sanctification and the
  perseverance of the saints and not evangelism.
• See for example 2 Cor 10.3-6 For though we walk
  in the flesh, we do not war according to the
  flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of
  the flesh, but divinely powerful for the
  destruction of fortresses. We are destroying
  speculations and every lofty thing raised up
  against the knowledge of God, and we are taking
  every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
  and we are ready to punish all disobedience,
  whenever your obedience is complete.
• The celestial and the terrestrial are as a rule
  kept apart.

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Territorial Spirits (sic)

• The Old Testament deals extensively with people
  sinning, repenting, being judged, being forgiven,
  etc.
• The New Testament (Gospels) deals with demon/s
  that must be dealt with as they afflict
  individuals.
• The New Testament refers to the fact that an
  demonic/angelic hierarchy exists, but they are
  powerless to separate a believer from the love of
  Christ.
• In fact the word Territorial Spirits does not
  exist in the Bible at all.

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Prophetic Authority

• The story of Balaam teaches that prophets do
  not have authority or powers outside of Gods
  authority.
• The theme of the limits of prophetic power and
  authority is continued from Numbers 12.
• Prophecy is should not be explained as
  predestined, deterministic, or unalterable.
  Human response is a key.
• Balaam is ultimately judged for his advice that
  lead to Israels apostasy at Peor!