Lesson #16 - "I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord"

There is quite a collection of Jewish traditions about Balaam, mostly negative and , confusing. First of all he is considered a "gentile prophet." What makes this interesting is the acknowledgment, or at least the inference, that there were prophets outside of ethnic Israel. Unfortunately, the same Jewish tradition distrusts "gentile" prophets. In the same breath, it diminishes the importance of the positive Biblical accounts of Balaam before his apostasy.

Balaam was very politically involved and apparently prophesied of a latter-day King David.

"Even in parashat-Bilam, the prophecy in that section bears upon two Mashiachs; the first, namely David, who helped to save Israel from the hand of their enemies, and the future Mashiach, a descendant of David, who will help Israel." Torah and Existence - Dr. Chaim Zimmerman

"I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city." Numbers 24:17-19

There is a Jewish tradition that after a good life, an evil spirit entered Balaam and he "counterfeited" God’s word.