Who was Balaam in the Bible?

A Midianite prophet who lived at Pethor, son of Beor or Bosor. He was hired by Balak king of Moab to curse Israel, but God compelled him to bless instead of curse His chosen people. Though he talked piously, his heart was clearly set on getting the reward from Balak.

Not being satisfied that military power would be enough to stand against the conquerors of Sihon and Og, he sent messengers to a well-known soothsayer — Balaam the son of Beor, living in Mesopotamia... In sending for Balaam, Balak sought to oppose the supernatural with the supernatural.

Finally the Lord opened Balaam's eyes so that he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword in His hand. In shocked terror Balaam fell on his face. The Angel then reproved the bad temper of Balaam in striking his donkey, telling him that if the donkey had not avoided the Angel, He would have killed Balaam and spared the donkey. What a lesson this is — that an unbeliever is more ignorant about God than a beast!

The attempt of the enemy did not cause God simply to repeat the same blessing; it drew out His activity, as it were, to bring out all the riches of His blessings... We have seen, first, how God claimed them as His own people; second, that they were completely justified by God. "He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither has He seen perverseness in Israel."

The enemy may say, "There is iniquity and perverseness there all the while." Yes, but who can make Jehovah behold it, when He Himself has been pleased to blot it all out as a thick cloud for His name's sake? If He has cast it behind His back, who can bring it before His face?

The "Star" and the "Sceptre" plainly refer to Christ; the former in His first coming, the latter in His second. It is quite possible that this prediction about the "Star" was remembered in the East, and handed down from generation to generation, and so gave the "wise men from the east" the idea that the remarkable star they saw marked the birth of the King of the Jews.

Unable to help Balak destroy the people of God by curses, he taught him how to bring about their fall by corruption. Forced to speak God's mind about Israel, he had said, "Look, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be counted among the nations." It was this separation between Israel and the world that Balaam sought to break down.

"The way of Balaam" was the way of self-will. There was a certain course he wanted to take, which would bring him solid gain if he succeeded; but his soul knew nothing of humble submission to the will of God.

The life of the righteous had no attraction for him ("he loved the wages of unrighteousness"), and if it had been in his power he would have consigned millions to destruction. His end is recorded by the Holy Spirit. When the five kings of the Midianites were killed in battle, Balaam died with them. He was a long way from home at that tragic moment, but death found him among the bitter enemies of the people of God, still seeking Israel's harm.