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Balaam is described as a true prophet in 2 Peter 2.
False
Chapters 22-24 of the Torah are insignificant in the narrative.
False
Balaam was initially hired to bless the Israelites.
False
The blessing pronounced by Balaam is based on the Mosaic covenant.
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Israel was a faithful generation under God's blessing at this point in the narrative.
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The New Testament apostolic testimony views Balaam as a true prophet.
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Moab is in great fear of the few Israelites.
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Balaam claims to speak on behalf of a mysterious individual.
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The character of Balaam is insignificant to the narrative.
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Balaam's blessing will only affect the current generation of Israel.
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Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, has a personal relationship with Yahweh.
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Yahweh forbids Balaam from going to Balak, king of the Moabites.
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Balaam's donkey sees the angel of the Lord standing in the way.
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Balaam refuses to speak the word that God gives him to speak.
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The four oracles delivered by Balaam speak about the curse of Israel.
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The coming king of Israel will ultimately fulfill the Abrahamic covenant.
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Balaam dies with the Israelites, having spoken Yahweh's words, showing that his heart was changed by his experiences.
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Balaam is identified as a true prophet in the New Testament.
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The prophecy of Balaam is heeded by the Moabites and Midianites, who repent and turn to Israel.
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The prophecy of Balaam serves as a promise of salvation to the nations.
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Balaam's oracles are significant in the narrative, comparable to the words of Jacob and Moses.
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Balaam is portrayed as a true prophet in the rest of Scripture.
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The king of Moab believes that if Balaam can bless Israel, he can defeat them militarily.
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Israel is a faithful generation under God's blessing at this point in the narrative.
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The blessing pronounced by Balaam is based on the Mosaic covenant.
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The New Testament apostolic testimony views Balaam as a false prophet.
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Moab is in great fear of the numerous Israelites because of their small numbers.
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Balaam's prophecy serves as a curse to the Israelites.
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The Abrahamic covenant will be fulfilled by the current generation of Israel.
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Balaam claims to speak on behalf of Yahweh.
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Balaam is initially willing to go to Balak, king of the Moabites, despite Yahweh's command not to go.
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The angel of the Lord confronts Balaam's donkey, asking why it turned aside from the angel.
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In the fourth oracle, Balaam speaks about the destruction of Israel.
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Balaam's story prepares the way for the coming king of Israel who will ultimately break the Abrahamic covenant.
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God uses an outside voice, Balaam, to speak to Israel, rather than raising a prophet from within Israel.
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The first generation of Israel is under God's blessing due to their faithfulness.
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The prophecy of Balaam serves as a warning to Israel, echoing the message of judgment and accountability for their actions against the nations.
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Balaam's oracles are only for the benefit of Moab and Midian.
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The New Testament views Balaam as a cautionary example of a false prophet.
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Balaam's oracles are limited to the current generation of Israel.
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Balaam's oracles speak about the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
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The king of Israel mentioned in Balaam's oracles will be lower than Agag.
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Balaam's oracles predict the destruction of Israel's enemies.
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The prophecy of Balaam serves as a promise of salvation to the nations.
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Balaam's oracles are limited to the current generation of Israel.
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Israel is a faithful generation under God's blessing at this point in the narrative.
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The blessing pronounced by Balaam is based on the Abrahamic covenant.
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Balaam's oracles are limited to the current generation of Israel.
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Balaam's oracles are only for the benefit of Moab and Midian.
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The Abrahamic covenant will be fulfilled by the coming king of Israel.
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Balaam's prophecy speaks about the destruction of Israel.
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Balaam's oracles are significant in the narrative, comparable to the words of Jacob and Moses.
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Balaam's oracles began with the Abrahamic blessing in the first oracle.
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The ultimate world empire, Rome, will establish God's kingdom.
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The Assyrians and Babylonians will ultimately be dealt with.
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Balaam's oracles are only for the benefit of Israel.
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The ships from the coast of Khitim will afflict Israel.
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The prophecy of Balaam serves as a promise of salvation to the nations.
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Balaam is considered a true prophet in the Old Testament.
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God's blessing to Israel through Balaam's oracles is based on the Mosaic covenant.
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The prophecy of Balaam serves as a promise of salvation to Israel.
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Balaam's oracles are limited to the current generation of Israel and do not have any significance beyond that.
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The first generation of Israel is under God's blessing due to their faithfulness.
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God raises Balaam as a prophet from within Israel.
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The prophecy of Balaam is heeded by the Moabites and Midianites, who repent and turn to Israel.
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God uses a voice from within Israel to speak to them in Deuteronomy 31 and 32.
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The Abrahamic covenant will be fulfilled by the current generation of Israel.
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The Moabites and Midianites remain under God's curse due to their actions against Israel.
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The oracles of Balaam are limited to the curse of Israel.
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Study Notes
• Chapters 22-24 of the Torah are significant, comparable to the words of Jacob in Genesis 49 and Moses in Deuteronomy 31-32. • The Balaam oracles come from a mysterious individual, Balaam, who claims to speak on Yahweh's behalf. • Balaam claims a relationship with Yahweh, stating he can speak for Yahweh, and in the text, he speaks for Yahweh in chapters 23-24. • Some exegetes accept Balaam's claim as a prophet of Yahweh, but the rest of Scripture portrays him as a false prophet. • In 2 Peter 2, Balaam is described as a false prophet who loved the wages of unrighteousness and was rebuked for his own transgression. • The New Testament apostolic testimony views Balaam as a false prophet, as seen in 2 Peter 2:15-16, Jude 11, and Revelation 2:14. • The character of Balaam is vital to the narrative, as the Lord uses him to pronounce great blessings on Israel, despite his initial intention to curse them. • The blessing pronounced by Balaam is based on the Abrahamic covenant, not the Mosaic covenant. • At this point in the narrative, Israel is a rebellious generation under God's curse, but Balaam's blessing will echo into the second generation, which will experience God's blessing. • Moab is in great fear of the numerous Israelites and joins an alliance with Midian, led by the king of Moab, who hires Balaam to curse the people. • The king of Moab believes that if Balaam can curse Israel, he can defeat them militarily. • Balaam responds to the request, saying he will bring back word to the king as Yahweh may speak to him, but Yahweh's responses to Balaam show that He does not have a relationship with him. • The donkey episode in chapter 22 illustrates Yahweh's rebuke of Balaam's transgression.Here is a summary of the text in detailed bullet points:
• Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, understands that he is communicating with Yahweh, but Moses, directed by the Holy Spirit, makes it clear that it is not Yahweh in a relationship with Balaam who is speaking to him, but God the Creator who is speaking to him.
• Balaam refuses to go to Balak, king of the Moabites, despite being offered a large sum of silver and gold, because he knows that Yahweh has commanded him not to go.
• God allows Balaam to go to Balak, but only if he speaks the word that God gives him, and Balaam's donkey sees the angel of the Lord standing in the way, but Balaam does not.
• The donkey saves Balaam's life by turning aside from the angel, and Balaam eventually sees the angel and bows down to him.
• The angel of the Lord confronts Balaam, asking why he struck his donkey, and Balaam confesses his sin and is willing to repent.
• Balaam is now an instrument that Yahweh can use, and he is willing to speak only the word that God tells him to speak.
• In chapters 23 and 24, Balaam delivers four oracles, each of which speaks about the blessing of Israel and the unique relationship between Israel and Yahweh.
• In the first oracle, Balaam affirms that Israel's blessing is irrevocable, and he cannot curse them because Yahweh has not cursed them.
• In the second oracle, Balaam speaks about the uniqueness of Yahweh and how He is with Israel, and how Israel's victory over Egypt is a foreshadowing of their ultimate victory over all nations.
• In the third oracle, Balaam speaks about the beauty and strength of the king who is greater than Agag, and how Israel's victory over Agag is a foreshadowing of their ultimate victory over all nations.
• In the fourth oracle, Balaam speaks about the coming king of Israel and his ultimate dominion, and how he will crush the enemies of Israel, including Moab.
• Balaam also delivers three short oracles that bring his oracles to a conclusion, speaking about the destruction of Amalek, the Canaanites, and the Assyrians.
• Ultimately, Balaam dies with the Midianites, despite having spoken Yahweh's words, showing that his heart was not changed by his experiences.
• Balaam's story prepares the way for the coming king of Israel, who will ultimately fulfill the Abrahamic covenant.• Israel is under God's blessing due to the covenant with Abraham, and the second generation is about to take the land, fulfilling God's promises. • Balaam, a false prophet, is used by God to remind Israel that He is with them and will fulfill His promises, despite Balaam's own intentions. • Balaam is mentioned in the Old Testament, often in the context of opposing Israel, such as in Judges 11, Nehemiah 13, and Micah 6. • In the New Testament, Balaam is explicitly identified as a false prophet, and his pluralistic and post-modernist attitude is condemned. • At this point in Israel's history, God uses an outside voice, Balaam, to speak to the nations, rather than raising a prophet from within Israel, due to Israel's failure under the Mosaic covenant. • The first generation is under God's curse due to their failure, but they are still blessed as the seed of Abraham, and God's promises will ultimately be fulfilled through them. • Balaam's prophecy in Numbers 24 is not heeded by the Moabites and Midianites, who remain under God's curse, and instead, they continue to oppose Israel. • Balaam's prophecy also includes a curse against those who oppose Israel, which will ultimately be fulfilled. • The prophecy of Balaam serves as a warning to the nations, echoing the message of judgment and accountability for their actions against Israel. • In Numbers 31:16, it is revealed that Balaam was the one who instructed Balak to cause the sons of Israel to stumble, and this is reiterated in Revelation 2:14. • Balaam's counsel to Balak led to Israel's stumbling, including idolatry and immorality, and his actions are condemned in both the Old and New Testaments.
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Description
Explore the story of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet who delivers four oracles about the blessing of Israel and the unique relationship between Israel and Yahweh. Understand the context of Balaam's prophecy and its significance in the biblical narrative. Learn about the character of Balaam, his interactions with Yahweh, and the lessons from his story.
