Balaam, son of Beor, was a non-Israelite diviner from the region of the River, hired by Balak of Moab to curse Israel, but God compelled him to pronounce blessings instead.
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Balaam came from Pethor by the River and was a renowned diviner in his homeland. After Israel came out of Egypt and encamped on the plains of Moab, King Balak of Moab, terrified by this vast people, sent messengers to Balaam's own country with gifts, summoning him to curse Israel. Although Balaam coveted Balak's reward, God personally hindered him and warned him through the episode of the donkey and the angel that he must not违背 God's command. During Balak's three attempts to build altars and offer sacrifices, the Spirit of God came upon Balaam, so that he could not curse Israel as Balak desired, but was forced instead to pronounce that Israel is a people who dwells alone, and to bless the beauty of Jacob's tents. In his final oracle, Balaam looked far into Israel's future and saw a star coming out of Jacob and a sceptre rising out of Israel, destined to strike through the corners of Moab and demolish all the sons of tumult, declaring God's supreme sovereignty over the nations. This foreign diviner thus became an instrument for God to announce the coming of the Messiah. Yet Balaam's heart still loved the wages of unrighteousness; he later became entangled with the Midianites against Israel and was slain when Israel fought against Midian, fulfilling the scripture's description of one who loved the wages of unrighteousness. Balaam's story displays God's absolute sovereignty—even the tongue of a Gentile sorcerer was controlled by the Lord—while also serving as a lasting warning against greed and compromise. Scripture repeatedly uses Balaam as a negative example, reminding God's people not to covet worldly gain or betray the true way.