Balaam (Hebrew origin: Not of the people; Foreigner)
(Numbers 22:5) 13th century b.c.e.
Balaam was a seer from Aram, internationally famous for the effectiveness of his blessings and curses. Balak, king of Moab, afraid of the invading Israelites who vastly outnumbered Moab, asked Balaam to come and curse the people of Israel. God told Balaam, in a vision, that he should not go with Balak's emissaries; but after further urging
from the messengers, God allowed him to go, with the condition that he could only speak when an angel told him to say. Balak went up with Balaam to a high mountain from where they could see the camp of the people of Israel. Balaam ordered that seven altars be built, and a bull and a ram were sacrificed on each of them. Then came the moment when Balak expected Balaam to curse Israel. To his great surprise, Balaam uttered blessings for Israel, instead of curses. Balak, angry and disappointed, told Balaam to flee back to his own land. Balaam's last words to Balak were a prophecy that Israel would one day triumph over Moab.
Read more biographies from Who's Who in the Jewish Bible.
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