Dictionary Article

Hometown of Balaam (Nm 22:5). Pethor is located in Upper Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Sajur River and the Euphrates. Balaam the son of Beor is said to have come from Pethor of Mesopotamia (Dt 23:4). Pethor is identified with Pi-it/ti-ru of the inscriptions of Shalmaneser III (859–824 BC) as a site on the Sajur River. The city was known according to the inscriptions as Pethor by the Hittites (i.e., Syrians or Arameans). It went from Assyrian control to Aramean dominion, was taken again by Shalmaneser, and resettled with Assyrians.

Show passage in OET: NUM 22:5

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-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.

Show passage in OET: DEU 23:4

OET-RV DEU 23:4

4 since they wouldn’t even sell you bread and water when the people were travelling from Mitsrayim (Egypt) to Kena’an (Canaan). What’s more, they hired Be’or’s son Bil’am (Balaam) (from Petor in Aram -Naharayim) to curse you

OET-LV DEU 23:5

5  On the _thing _of (of)_that not they _met you(pl) with_food and_with_water on_way when_you_came _out from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_which he _hired on_you DOM Bilˊām the _son _of Bəˊōr from_Pethor ʼArām Nahₐrayim to_curse_you.

Jump to OET NUM 22:5 section.

Jump to OET DEU 23:4 section.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary