God tells Bilam not to go. Balak sends a second delegation with a more tempting offer. This time God tells Bilam to go with them but say only what he instructs him to say.

Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.” (Numbers 22:3-4) Balak then hires Balaam the “prophet to the nations” to curse Israel. (Numbers 22:5-6) Who is this Balak?

When Balak’s dignitaries reached Balaam he told them that he can only act with the approval of God. That same night God appeared to him and said “Do not go with them.

Its most powerful formulation: My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav devised, and what Bila῾am, the son of Be῾or answered him… that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.

There is a clear parallel between Balak and events in the Book of Exodus. In both narratives, kings (Pharaoh of Egypt and Balak of Moab), alarmed about the success of the Jewish People, conspire ...

Balak precedes the Fast of the Fourth Month (that’s what the navi calls Shiv’a Asar b’Tammuz) almost 80% of the time. That includes, in Chutz LaAretz, the years when Shavuot is Friday-Shabbat an ...

So, when several emissaries of King Balak son of Zippor showed up at my door, I didn’t bat an eye. The messengers conveyed the king’s request for my services to curse a certain group of people, who, ...