Traces
Balaam and Balak
How Balaam and Balak are linked in Scripture, with every passage where their stories cross.
How they are linked
Balaam confronted Balak.
Balak of Moab sent rewards to Balaam to curse Israel. Three times Balaam blessed Israel instead, told the angry king he could not "go beyond the commandment of the Lord", and foretold what Israel would do to Moab.
the rewards of divination in their hand
Numbers 22:7, King James Version
I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether
Numbers 23:11, King James Version
Where they cross: Numbers 24:10-14
Notes are commentary, checked against the cited verses in a separate review. Quoted words are Scripture.
Every passage, in order
Numbers 22:7
7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Numbers 23:11
11And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
Numbers 24:10-14
10And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.
12And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,
13If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak?
14And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
King James Version