Balak — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Zippor’s son, king of Moab. Balak became fearful after the Israelites defeated the Amorites, so he attempted to hire a soothsayer named Balaam to pronounce a curse against Israel (Nm 22:1-7). Balak escorted Balaam to three different mountains and offered three different sacrifices, only to have Balaam each time deliver a blessing to the Israelites (chs 22–24 OET NUM 22:1–41 · OET NUM 23:1–30 · OET NUM 24:1–25). Enraged, Balak sent Balaam away. That event was later remembered as an example of God’s special blessing on the Israelites and of the futility of trying to alter God’s will (Jos 24:9-10; Jgs 11:25; Mi 6:5; Rv 2:14).

Show passage in OET: NUM 22:1–7

OET-RV NUM 22:1

22 Then the Israelis set off for the Moav (Moab) plains, and they camped there across the river from Yeriho (Jericho).

OET-RV NUM 22:2

2 The Moavi King Balak (Tsipor’s son), saw everything that Yisrael (Israel) had done to the Amorim,

OET-RV NUM 22:3

3 and when he realised that the Israelis were very numerous, the Moavi people became sick with fear.

OET-RV NUM 22:4

4 and they told the elders at Midyan, “Now all that lot will devour everything that’s around us, just like a cow completely cleans out a green field.”
¶ Now Tsipor’s son Balak was Moav’s king at that time,

OET-RV NUM 22:5

5 and he sent messengers to Be’or’s son Bil’am (Balaam) at Petor (which was their tribal land near the Perat (Euphrates) river). He requested help, saying, “Listen, there’s a population here that came out from Mitsrayim (Egypt). Wow, they’ve covered the entire surface in this region and they’re living opposite me.

OET-RV NUM 22:6

6 So now please come and curse this people group for me because they are more numerous than us, then perhaps I’ll be able to attack them and drive them out of the area, because I know that anyone you bless will be blessed, and those who you curse will be cursed.”

OET-RV NUM 22:7

7 So the elders from Moav and from Midyan departed carrying the fees for divination with them, and they went to Bil’am and passed Balak’s words on to him.

OET-LV NUM 22:1

22 And_ the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _they _set _out and_they _encamped in_the _plains _of Mōʼāⱱ from_the_other _side of_the _Yardēn/(Jordan) of _Yərīḩō/(Jericho).

OET-LV NUM 22:2

2 And_ Bālāq the _son _of Tsipōr/(Zippor) _he/it _saw DOM all _of that Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) it _had _done to_ʼAmorī[s].

OET-LV NUM 22:3

3 And_ Mōʼāⱱ _it _was _afraid from_face/in _front _of the_people exceedingly if/because was_numerous it and_ Mōʼāⱱ _it _felt _dread from_face/in _front _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

OET-LV NUM 22:4

4 And_ Mōʼāⱱ _he/it _said to the _elders _of Midyān now the_company they _will _lick _up DOM all _of around _of_us as_ the_ox _licks _up DOM the _greenery _of the_field and_Bālāq the _son _of Tsipōr/(Zippor) was_king of_Mōʼāⱱ at_time the_that.

OET-LV NUM 22:5

5 And_he _sent messengers to Bilˊām the _son _of Bəˊōr to_Pətōr which was_at the_river the _land _of the _sons _of his _people _of_his to_call to_him/it to_say HERE a _people it _has _come _out from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) HERE it _has _covered DOM the _eye _of the_earth/land and_he is_dwelling from_in_front _of _me.

OET-LV NUM 22:6

6 And_now come please curse to/for_me DOM the_people the_this if/because is _too_mighty it for_me perhaps I _will _be _able to _defeat in/on/over_him/it and_I_will _drive _it _out from the_earth/land if/because I _know DOM the_one_whom you _bless is_blessed and_which you _curse he _is _cursed.

OET-LV NUM 22:7

7 And_ the _elders _of Mōʼāⱱ and_the _elders _of Midyān _they _went and_divinations were_in_hand _of_their and_they _came to Bilˊām and_they _spoke to_him/it the _words/messages _of Bālāq.

Show passage in OET: JOS 24:9–10

OET-RV JOS 24:9

9 Then (Tsipor’s son) King Balak of Moav (Moab) prepared his warriors and fought against you all and he summoned (Be’or’s son) Bil’am (Balaam) to curse you.

OET-RV JOS 24:10

10 But I wasn’t willing to listen to Bil’am, so instead, he blessed you all repeatedly and I rescued you from King Balak.

OET-LV JOS 24:9

9 And_ Bālāq the _son _of Tsipōr/(Zippor) the _king _of Mōʼāⱱ _he/it _rose _up and_he _fought against_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he _sent and_he/it _called (to)_Bilˊām the _son _of Bəˊōr to_curse you(pl).

OET-LV JOS 24:10

10 And_not I _was _willing to_listen to_Bilˊām and_he/it _blessed indeed _(bless) you(pl) and_I _delivered you(pl) from_hand _of_his.

Show passage in OET: JDG 11:25

OET-RV JDG 11:25

25 Are you really better now than Tsipor’s son, King Balak of Moav? Did he dare contend with Yisrael or did he ever wage war against them?

OET-LV JDG 11:25

25 And_now really_(good) are _you _good you more_than _Bālāq the _son _of Tsipōr/(Zippor) the _king _of Mōʼāⱱ ever_(quarrel) did _he _quarrel with Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) or ever _(wage _war) did _he _wage _war against_them.

Show passage in OET: MIC 6:5

OET-RV MIC 6:5

5 My people, remember what Moav’s (Moab’s) King Balak devised,
⇔ and how Be’or’s son Bil’am (Balaam) answered that king
⇔ as you went from Shitim to Gilgal.
⇔ Think about that so you can know Yahweh’s righteous actions.”

OET-LV MIC 6:5

5 My _people _of_my remember please what Bālāq the _king _of Mōʼāⱱ did _he _plan and_what Bilˊām the _son _of Bəˊōr did _he _answer DOM_him/it from (the)_Shiţţīm to (the)_Gilgal so _as to _know the _righteousness(es)_of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: REV 2:14

OET-RV REV 2:14

14 But I do have a few things against you: you have some people there who hold to the ancient prophet Bil’am’s (Balaam’s) teaching. He taught Moav’s (Moab’s) king, Balak, how to tempt the Israelis and to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols, and to be sexually immoral.

OET-LV REV 2:14

14 But I _am _having against you a_few things, because you _are _having some there taking _hold _of the teaching of _Balaʼam/(Bilˊām), who was _teaching the to _Balak to _throw a_temptation before the sons of _Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl), to _eat idol _sacrificed things and to _commit _sexual _immorality.

Jump to OET NUM 22:1–7 section.

Jump to OET JOS 24:9–10 section.

Jump to OET JDG 11:25 section.

Jump to OET MIC 6:5 section.

Jump to OET REV 2:14 section.