Balak

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Possibly from a Hebrew root meaning “devastator/waster,” reflected in his fear of Israel’s advance.
• Period/Era: Patriarchal Period (Israel’s wilderness generation before entering Canaan)
• Main References: Numbers 22–24; Numbers 31:8; Joshua 24:9–10; Micah 6:5
• Key Connections: Moab; Balaam son of Beor; Israel under Moses

Who was Balak?

Balak was the son of Zippor and king of Moab during Israel’s encampment east of the Jordan.
Alarmed by Israel’s victories over neighboring kings, he sought spiritual means to stop their advance.
He sent repeated delegations to hire Balaam to curse Israel, but the intended curse became blessing.

Key Events & Achievements

• Event 1: Observed Israel’s military successes and formed a plan to resist them near the plains of Moab.
• Event 2: Commissioned messengers and offered rewards to Balaam in an attempt to secure a curse against Israel.
• Event 3: Built altars and presented sacrifices at multiple sites while Balaam pronounced oracles that blessed Israel instead.

Life Lesson & Legacy

Balak is remembered as a foreign ruler whose attempts to oppose Israel’s covenantal progress were overturned by God’s purposes.

Key Verse

"How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?" — Numbers 23:8, NIV