Balaam: A mixed figure
Torah Club last night was challenge. There were only five of us last night---four guys and me. It was quite a discussion!
Just when you think Numbers can't get any weirder, we get this story. I mean, Leviticus seems weird, but you can chalk it up to cultic requirements for the specific time and place.
Balaam acts like a pagan prophet, but yet he can only utter the words of God. The talking donkey may be the least weird thing about this story. The New Testament, namely 2 Peter and Jude, list him in a negative light. But in reading the story, I don’t see how he’s evil; sure he’s a pagan, but he’s almost coming across like Jethro or the King of Salem …. Someone who is outside of Israel but yet has a connection to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
But then again, he’s consulting with a Moabite king. Isn’t it weird how the narrative just shifts from the Israelites to this other incident?
And he blesses. That is the most amazing thing of all.
Well, I wonder where the narrative is going next. Numbers is about to end.
Just when you think Numbers can't get any weirder, we get this story. I mean, Leviticus seems weird, but you can chalk it up to cultic requirements for the specific time and place.
Balaam acts like a pagan prophet, but yet he can only utter the words of God. The talking donkey may be the least weird thing about this story. The New Testament, namely 2 Peter and Jude, list him in a negative light. But in reading the story, I don’t see how he’s evil; sure he’s a pagan, but he’s almost coming across like Jethro or the King of Salem …. Someone who is outside of Israel but yet has a connection to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
But then again, he’s consulting with a Moabite king. Isn’t it weird how the narrative just shifts from the Israelites to this other incident?
And he blesses. That is the most amazing thing of all.
Well, I wonder where the narrative is going next. Numbers is about to end.
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