Texts in Conversation
Micah 6:5 presents a uniquely positive view of Balaam, recalling him without criticism and depicting him in contrast to King Balak. This differs from earlier texts, such as Joshua, and from later ones like Jude 1:11, where Balaam is associated with rebellious people.
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Micah 6:5
Hebrew Bible
4 In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt; I delivered you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. 5 My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you, how Balaam son of Beor responded to him. Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal, in order to know the just acts of the Lord.8” 6 With what should I enter the Lord’s presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Jude 1:11
New Testament
10 But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend. 11 Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain’s path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit—twice dead, uprooted;
Date: 90-100 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Balaam is mentioned in a number of biblical passages, where he is mostly viewed negatively. Within the Old Testament, only Micah does not present him in a disapproving light (Micah 6:3-5). In the portrayal in Joshua, Balaam petitions Yahweh to curse Israel but God refuses to grant his request (Joshua 24:9-10). In Deuteronomy Balaam utters a curse against Israel, but Yahweh turns it into a blessing (Deuteronomy 23:4-7; so also Nehemiah 13:2). Moving beyond the Balak story, Numbers 31:16 has Balaam counsel Israel to turn against Yahweh in the incident at Baal Peor (Numbers 25:1-16). New Testament references to Balaam are even more negative. Second Peter portrays him as one "who loved gain from wrongdoing" (2 Peter 2:15-16; compare Jude 11). In the book of Revelation, the Balaam stories in Numbers 22-24 and the Baal Peor incident in Numbers 25 are combined in such a way that it is Balaam who induces Balak to harm Israel by enticing them to partake of pagan practices (Revelation 2:14) ..."
Barré, Michael L.
The Portrait of Balaam in Numbers 22-24
(pp. 254-266) Interpretation, Vol. 51, No. 3, 1997
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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