Chapter 40—Balaam Tries to Curse Israel
This chapter is based on
Numbers 22
to 24.
In preparation for the immediate invasion of Canaan, the Israelites
encamped beside the Jordan above its entrance into the Dead Sea, just
opposite the plain of Jericho, on the borders of Moab. The Moabites
had not been molested by Israel, yet they had watched with troubled
forebodings all that had taken place in the surrounding countries. The
Amorites, before whom they had been forced to retreat, had been
conquered by the Hebrews. The territory the Amorites had wrested
from Moab was now in possession of Israel. The hosts of Bashan had
yielded before the mysterious power enshrouded in the cloudy pillar,
and the giant strongholds were occupied by the Hebrews.
The Moabites dared not risk an attack upon them, but they de-
termined, as Pharaoh had done, to enlist sorcery to counteract the
work of God. The people of Moab were closely connected with the
Midianites, and Balak, the king of Moab, secured their co-operation
against Israel by the message, “Now shall this company lick up all that
are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.” Balaam
of Mesopotamia was reported to possess supernatural powers, and his
fame had reached Moab. Accordingly, messengers were sent to secure
his divinations and enchantments against Israel.
The ambassadors at once set out on their long journey. Upon
finding Balaam they delivered the message of their king: “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,
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I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me:
peradventure ... 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.”
Balaam was once a prophet of God. But he had apostatized and
given himself up to covetousness. When the messengers announced
their errand, he well knew that it was his duty to refuse the rewards
of Balak and dismiss the ambassadors. But he ventured to dally with
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