Definitions for "Balaam"
The prophet who was summoned by Balak, king of Moab (an ancient kingdom by the Dead Sea), to put a curse on Israel. Instead, he prophesied great blessings for Israel. Return to Theme
A thirteenth century B.C.E. Mesopotamian seer-prophet who was hired by Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites but ended up blessing them instead. See Chapter 4.
Balaam (Hebrew: בִּלְעָ×, Standard Tiberian ) is a prophet in the Torah, his story occurring towards the end of the Book of Numbers. 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.