Βαλαάμ

Βαλαάμ — Balaám

Βαλαάμ, ὁ, indeclinable (in the Sept. for בִּלְעָם, according to Gesenius (perhaps) from בַּל and עָם non-populus, i. e. foreign; according to Jo. Simonis equivalent to עָם בֶּלַע a swallowing up of the people; in Josephus, ὁ Βαλαμος), Balaam (or Bileam), a native of Pethor a city of Mesopotamia, endued by Jehovah with prophetic power. He was hired by Balak (see Βαλάκ) to curse the Israelites; and influenced by the love of reward, he wished to gratify Balak; but he was compelled by Jehovah's power to bless them (Num 22:1-41; Num 23:1-30; Num 24:1-25; Deu 23:5; Jos 13:22; Jos 24:9; Mic 6:5). Hence, the later Jews saw in him a most abandoned deceiver: Rev 2:14; 2Pe 2:15; Jud 1:11. Cf. Winers RWB (and BB. DD.) under the word.