Prophet hired to curse Israel · Wilderness
Balaam in the Bible
Balak pays Balaam to curse Israel; every attempt comes out as blessing, including a promise of a star out of Jacob. His donkey sees what he does not. Later Scripture treats him as a warning: he could not curse Israel, so he taught Balak how to corrupt them.
Key passages
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Verses mentioning Balaam
63 occurrences across 59 verses in the King James Version.
- Numbers 22:40
And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
Read in context - Numbers 22:41
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
Read in context - Numbers 23:1
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.
Read in context - Numbers 23:2
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.
Read in context - Numbers 23:3
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. to an: or, solitary
Read in context - Numbers 23:4
And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.
Read in context - Numbers 23:5
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.
Read in context - Numbers 23:11
And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
Read in context - Numbers 23:16
And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.
Read in context - Numbers 23:25
And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
Read in context - Numbers 23:26
But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?
Read in context - Numbers 23:27
And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.
Read in context - Numbers 23:28
And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.
Read in context - Numbers 23:29
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.
Read in context - Numbers 23:30
And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.
Read in context - Numbers 24:1
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. to seek: Heb. to the meeting of
Read in context - Numbers 24:2
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
Read in context - Numbers 24:3
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: whose: Heb. who had his eyes shut, but now opened
Read in context - Numbers 24:10
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
Read in context - Numbers 24:12
And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
Read in context - Numbers 24:15
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
Read in context - Numbers 24:25
And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.
Read in context - Numbers 31:8
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.
Read in context - Numbers 31:16
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.
Read in context - Deuteronomy 23:4
Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
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