Balaam
Balaam (Hebrew: בִּלְעָם, Standard Bilʻam Tiberian Bilʻām, English pronunciation /ˈbeɪlæm/ ) is a diviner in the Torah, his story occurring towards the end of the Book of Numbers (Hebrew: במדבר). The etymology of his name is uncertain, and discussed below. Every ancient reference to Balaam considers him a non-Israelite, a prophet, and the son of Beor, though Beor is not so clearly identified. Though other sources describe the apparently positive blessings he delivers upon the Israelites, he is reviled as a "wicked man" in the major story concerning him. Balaam refused to speak what God did not speak and would not curse the Israelites, even though King Balak of Moab offered him money to do so. (Numbers 22–24). But Balaam's error and the source of his wickedness came from sabotaging the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. According to Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14, Balaam returned to King Balak and informed the king on how to get the Israelites to curse themselves by enticing them with prostitutes and unclean food sacrificed to idols. The Israelites fell into transgression due to these traps and God sent a deadly plague to them as a result (Numbers 31:16).
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Balaam, Don Francisco
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Balaam
Balaam was a prophet about the time that Moses was
coming through
And every now and again God'd speak to him and tell him
what to say and do
He had a reputation in all those parts for bein' on the
line of power
And when Moab's king heard Moses was comin' he called
him in his neady hour
He said, "Balaam come and curse these Israelites
If you do I believe I could beat 'em in a fight!"
But when Balaam asked the Lord, the Lord said, "Balaam
don't you go
Israel is blessed by Me, don't you go mess up My show"
But Balaam's head was turned by the money he could earn
So he saddled up his donkey anyway
Balaam and his servants hurried off for the King of
Moab's castle
But they hadn't gone very far down the road when the
whole trip became a hassle
Because the donkey ran off across a field, then she
nearly broke Balaam's ankle
But when she lay right down and wouldn't get up Balaam
got a little more than rankled
For the third time Balaam beat her with his cane
But that donkey just refused to move again
It was the thing that happened next though, that made
Balaam's knees get weak
Well, that donkey still would not get up but she began
to speak
She said, "Balaam you're to blame, the way you beat me
is a shame
'Cause all I've done is tried to save your life!"
Then the Angel of the Lord appeared with a flamin'
sword in his hand
Balaam fell down on his face, a very frightened man
The Angel said, "Balaam, you'd be dead if your donkey
hadn't detected
That I was waitin' there to part your hair when you and
my sword connected"
Balaam then repented for his sin
And he promised not to act like that again
And I hope he learned his lesson about God's reward for
greed
But you know it's that talkin' donkey that's really
strange indeed
Now that donkey's just a donkey but she's still the
thing God used
And that's the point I want you all to see
The Lord's the one who makes the choice of the
instrument He's usin'
We don't know the reasons and the plans behind His
choosin'
So when the Lord starts usin' you don't you pay it any
mind
He 'could have used the dog next door if He'd been so
