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balaam


balaam

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Balaam  \Ba"laam\,  n. 
  A  paragraph  describing  something  wonderful,  used  to  fill  out 
  a  newspaper  column;  --  an  allusion  to  the  miracle  of  Balaam's 
  ass  speaking.  --Numb.  xxii.  30.  [Cant] 
 
  {Balaam  basket  or  box}  (Print.),  the  receptacle  for  rejected 
  articles.  --Blackw.  Mag. 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Balaam 
  lord  of  the  people;  foreigner  or  glutton,  as  interpreted  by 
  others  the  son  of  Beor,  was  a  man  of  some  rank  among  the 
  Midianites  (Num.  31:8;  comp.  16).  He  resided  at  Pethor  (Deut. 
  23:4),  in  Mesopotamia  (Num.  23:7).  It  is  evident  that  though 
  dwelling  among  idolaters  he  had  some  knowledge  of  the  true  God; 
  and  was  held  in  such  reputation  that  it  was  supposed  that  he 
  whom  he  blessed  was  blessed,  and  he  whom  he  cursed  was  cursed. 
  When  the  Israelites  were  encamped  on  the  plains  of  Moab,  on  the 
  east  of  Jordan,  by  Jericho,  Balak  sent  for  Balaam  "from  Aram, 
  out  of  the  mountains  of  the  east,"  to  curse  them  but  by  the 
  remarkable  interposition  of  God  he  was  utterly  unable  to  fulfil 
  Balak's  wish,  however  desirous  he  was  to  do  so  The  apostle 
  Peter  refers  (2  Pet.  2:15,  16)  to  this  as  an  historical  event. 
  In  Micah  6:5  reference  also  is  made  to  the  relations  between 
  Balaam  and  Balak.  Though  Balaam  could  not  curse  Israel,  yet  he 
  suggested  a  mode  by  which  the  divine  displeasure  might  be  caused 
  to  descend  upon  them  (Num.  25).  In  a  battle  between  Israel  and 
  the  Midianites  (q.v.)  Balaam  was  slain  while  fighting  on  the 
  side  of  Balak  (Num.  31:8). 
 
  The  "doctrine  of  Balaam"  is  spoken  of  in  Rev.  2:14,  in 
  allusion  to  the  fact  that  it  was  through  the  teaching  of  Balaam 
  that  Balak  learned  the  way  by  which  the  Israelites  might  be  led 
  into  sin.  (See  {NICOLAITANES}.)  Balaam  was  constrained 
  to  utter  prophecies  regarding  the  future  of  Israel  of  wonderful 
  magnificence  and  beauty  of  expression  (Num.  24:5-9,  17). 
 
 
  From  Hitchcock's  Bible  Names  Dictionary  (late  1800's)  [hitchcock]: 
 
  Balaam,  the  ancient  of  the  people;  the  destruction  of  the  people