The "Prophecies" Of Balaam - The End Of Bala am - Parallel Between Balaam And Judas

(NUMBERS 22:36-31:1-20)

THE meeting between the king of Moab and the soothsayer took place at Ir Moab, the "city" or capital of

Moab, close by its northern boundary.13 It commenced with gentle reproaches on the part of the monarch,

which, Eastern -like, covered large promises, to which the soothsayer replied by repeating his old profession

of being only able to speak the word that God would put in his mouth. There is no need of assuming

hypocrisy on his part; both mo narch and soothsayer acted quite in character and quite consistently. From Ir

Moab they proceeded to Kirjath Huzoth, "the city of streets," the later Kiriathaim.  14

Here, or in the immediate neighborhood, the first sacrifices were offered, Balaam as well as "the princes"

taking part in the sacrificial meal. Next morning, Balak took the soothsayer to the lofty heights of Mount

Attarus, to Bamoth Baal "the heights of Baal," so-called because that plateau was dedicated to the service

of Baal. The spot, which also bears the names of Baal-meon, Beth Baal-meon, and Beth-meon, commands a

magnificent view. Although "too far recessed to show the depression of the Dead Sea," the view

northwards stretches as far as Jerusalem, Gerizim, Tabor, Hermon, and Mount Gilead.15 But, although the

eye could sweep so far over the Land of Promise, he would, from the conformation of the mountains, only

see "the utmost part of the people," (Numbers 22:41) that is, the outskirts of the camp of Israel.

In accordance with the sacred significance which, as Balaam knew, attached to the number seven in the

worship of Jehovah, seven altars were now built on the heights of Baal, and seven bullocks and seven rams

offered upon them - a bullock and a ram on each altar. Leaving Balak and the princes of Moab by the altars,

Balaam went forth in the regular heathen manner, in the hope of meeting Jehovah (Numbers 23:3), which is

explained by Numbers 24:1 as meaning "to seek auguries," such as heathen soothsayers saw in certain

natural appearances or portents. And there, on the top of "a bare height,"  16 God did meet Balaam, not in

auguries, but by putting "a word in Balaam's mouth." As the man shared not in it otherwise than by being

the outward instrument of its communication, this "word" was to him only "a parable," and is designated as

such in Scripture. Never before so clearly as in presence of the powers of heathenism, assembled to contend

against Israel, did Jehovah show forth His almighty power, alike in making use of an instrument almost

passiv e in His hand, and in disclosing His eternal purpose.17

FIRST "PARABLE" OF BALAAM18

From Aram brought me Balak, The king of Moab from the mountain of the east -Come, curse me Jacob, And

come, threaten19 Israel! How shall I curse whom God doth not curse, And how shall I threaten whom

Jehovah threatens not For, from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: Lo, a people

dwelling20 alone, And not reckoning itself among the nations (the Gentiles)! Who can count the dust of

Jacob, And the number of the fourth part  21 of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous.22 And let my

latter end be like his!

Two things will be noted, without entering into special criticism. First, as to the form of this parable: each

thought is embodied in two sentences, with rapid, almost abrupt, transitions from one thought to the other.

Secondly, the outward and inward separation of Israel (the former as symbol of the latter) is singled out as

the grand characteristic of God's people - a primary truth this of the Old Testament, and, in its spiritual

application, of the New Testament also. But even in its literality it has proved true in the history of Israel of

old, and still applies to them, showing us that Israel's history is not yet finished; that God has not forgotten

His people; and that a purpose of mercy yet awaits them, in accordance with His former dealings. Such a

people Balaam could not curse. On the contrary, he could only wish that his death should be like theirs