IN A NUTSHELL Balak is the king of Moav, a country next to the land of Israel. He becomes scared when he hears that the Israelites are heading his way. Together with the elders of Midyan (another country near Israel), he tries to hire the famous non-Jewish prophet Bilam to curse the Israelites. Bilam asks God what he should do, and God tells him not to go with them. But the Moabites and Midianites return to ask him again, this time with a better offer. God tells Bilam that if he goes, he must only say the words God puts in his mouth.

Then a strange thing happens. Bilam’s donkey sees an angel blocking their way and stops walking, so Bilam strikes her, and the donkey speaks to him. Bilam is then able to see the angel, who reminds Bilam to only use the words God gives him. After that, Bilam and the king climb a mountain above the Israelite camp to prepare for Bilam’s curse. They try three times to prepare altars and sacrifices, but each time, Bilam blesses the children of Israel instead of cursing them. King Balak eventually gives up and leaves, angry and frustrated. Despite escaping Bilam’s curses, the Israelites bring disaster on themselves anyway when Moabite women convince some Israelites to have forbidden relations with them and to worship idols. Twenty-four thousand people die in a plague as punishment, until Pinḥas, in an act of passion, rises up against one of the wrongdoers and kills him.

QUESTION TO PONDER

Why do people hate? Why do the leaders of Moav and Midyan hate Israel?