Balaam

[Tom Tighe]

This is a most curious passage for me. God tells Balaam to go, but then is angered because he did. The donkey and the angel is also a very unusual interaction. After the 3 blessings of Israel, Balaam gives some other prophesies about other tribes.

The first is to Amalek. He was a son of Edom (Esau ) , one of the "Chiefs"(see Gen 36:16).

The second is to the Kenites. They are mentioned in Gen 15:19 as inhabitants of the land Abraham will inherit. These guys pop up for an occasional appearance over the next several hundred years. There is one reference that implies Jethro, Moses' father in law, was a Kenite.

Also mentioned is Asshur. He was a grandson of Noah via Shem so his line is Semite and at lease cousins to Abraham.

Eber is the last tribe named. He was the great, great, great grandfather of Abraham (Gen 11:14) and the great nephew of Asshur.

It is surprising to me how these guys keep their genealogies and relationships straight after hundreds of years. I can't do it without an electronic search button.

[Waylonf15]

We thought about that as well, as it was Balaam, who thought bad thoughts about what he would receive when he arrived with Balak.
I don't think the anger was that he went, but what changed in his heart when he decided to go.