Crusade BibleCrusade Bible
The Phillip Medhurst Picture Torah 580. Balak’s sacrifices. Numbers cap 23 v 24. De VosPhilip De Vere · 1970 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Balak(balac)

בָּלָק/BAY-lak/

“Devastator, one who lays waste”

Summary

The king of Moab who hired Balaam to curse Israel but was frustrated when God compelled Balaam to bless them instead.

☩The Attempt to Curse Israel

Balak, son of Zippor, was king of Moab when Israel arrived at the plains of Moab after their wilderness wanderings. Alarmed by Israel's defeat of the Amorites, he conspired with the elders of Midian to hire Balaam, a renowned seer from Mesopotamia, to pronounce a curse on Israel. Despite multiple attempts and increasing bribes, Balaam could only utter blessings instead of curses.

Key verses:Numbers 22:2-6Numbers 23-24Joshua 24:9

☩New Testament References

Balak is mentioned in Revelation as a symbol of those who lead God's people into sin, referenced alongside Balaam's evil counsel that led Israel to commit immorality and idolatry with the Moabite women.

Key verses:Micah 6:5Revelation 2:14

Related Verses42 mentions

Numbers· 38 verses

22:222:422:522:722:10

Joshua· 1 verse

24:9

Judges· 1 verse

11:25

Micah· 1 verse

6:5

See Also

Gustav Jaeger Bileam Engel
Balaam

References

  1. 1.James Orr (ed.), "Balak," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  2. 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Balak," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
  3. 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Balak," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).