22:5 Balaam. The pagan prophet Balaam lived at Pethor, a city in northern Mesopotamia on the banks of the Euphrates river. That Balak sent emissaries such a great distance is evidence of Balaam’s considerable reputation for supernatural powers.

The nature and extent of Balaam’s knowledge of the true God is uncertain. Though a famous sorcerer and prophet (cf. 24:1), Balaam had some regard for the true God (22:8, 18), and the Lord used Balaam to communicate His word (23:7–10, 18–24; 24:3–9, 15–24). Fundamentally, however, Balaam seems to have been a syncretistic opportunist who sought to manipulate the spirit world for his own gain. In the course of this narrative Balaam establishes himself as a prime example of the false prophet and teacher (31:16; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11).