Balaam, The Last Prophet of the Nations

A son of Beor and a prophet of Pethor in Mesopotamia. The narrative relating to Balaam is found in Num. xxii.-xxiv. According to this narrative, Balak, king of Moab, sent messengers to the soothsayer, requesting him to come and pronounce a curse against Israel, with whom the Moabites were at war, and of whom they stood in dread. Balak hoped, with the aid of the soothsayer’s powerful curse, to overcome his foe. His confidence in Balaam is illustrated by the declaration he makes to him: “I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed”