When the Israelites encamped in territory that had once been Moab’s, the king decided it was time to act.

Balak Sends For Balaam.

Balak was a king of Moab who appears in the Old Testament in Numbers 22-24.

In the Old Testament, King Balak of Moab feared the arrival of the Israelites in Canaan. The fascinating story of Balak and Balaam ’s failed attempts to curse the Jewish people is found in Numbers 22-24.

The King of Moab Sends for Balaam.

The Moabite king repeatedly implores Balaam to work his mojo against this enemy people, but, inspired by God, the prophet can only bless the children of Israel, and prophesize the defeat of Moab, much to Balak’s frustration.

The King of Moab Sends for Balaam. Deciding he couldn't beat the Jews on the battlefield, he hired the heathen prophet Bilam to curse the Jews.

Scared by their sheer multitude, King Balak hires a prophet and seer called Balaam son of Beor to curse the Hebrews.

Balak was the son of Zippor, and was a king of Moab. The latest translation of an ancient artifact indicated that a word previously considered “House of David” actually meant “Balak,” a king of Moab opposed to Israel. When Balak, the king of Moab, considered what Israel had done to the Amorites, however, he sought the aid of the neighboring Midianites and sent emissaries to hire an enigmatic seer named Balaam to curse Israel so that they would be defeated in the forthcoming battle.

Researchers probing an ancient stone stele believe it shows a biblical king was an actual historical figure. Our Parshah tells us that Balak, the king of Moab, was terrified of the Israelites after seeing how they vanquished the Emorites and their mighty king Sichon. Instead, Balaam ended up confirming God’s magnificent promise of blessing on His people and, through them, on the whole world (Numbers 22—24). This inscription commemorates events in the reign of Mesha king of Moab, including his overthrow of Israelite rule (see the parallel account in 2Kgs 3).

2 When the king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, heard what the Israelites had done to the Amorites and how many Israelites there were, 3 … GOD'S WORD® Translation My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned [to do to you] and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him. The name Balak, or Balaq (בָלָ֧ק), is from the Hebrew verb balaq (בלק), which means "to waste, lay waste, devastate".

He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, Contemporary English Version King Balak decided that his nation Moab would go to war against you, so he asked Balaam to come and put a curse on you. 22 The Israelites moved on and set up camp in the plains of Moab east of the Jordan and opposite Jericho. Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. Good News Translation Then the king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, fought against you.

My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."

An ancient king mentioned in the Old Testament may have been a real historical figure.

Subsequently, on the order of Balak, king of Moab, the prophet Balaam attempted to curse the Israelites.

The parashah begins: And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Frightened by the fall of the lands of the Amorites and Bashan, the kings of Moab and Midian, implacable foes for many generations, united for the purpose of a common attack upon the children of Israel.Balak, the newly elected king of Moab, had been put in charge of the plans. As such, it seems to have been an appellative for a warrior king.

As a title, it would be "The Devastator".==

His story is in the context of the time of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. (Num. 1 The Israelites moved on and set up camp in the plains of Moab east of the Jordan and opposite Jericho.. 2 When the king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, heard what the Israelites had done to the Amorites and how many Israelites there were, 3 he and all his people became terrified.

King Balak had witnessed the Israelites’ destruction of the Amorites, and the entire region of Moab grew afraid as the Israelites approached (Numbers 22:2–3). The Torah records how, after being thoroughly humiliated by his talking donkey, Balaam, the non-Jewish sorcerer and prophet commissioned by Balak King of Moab to curse the Jews, found himself incapable of cursing them.