WHO WAS BALAAM?

Balaam (meaning: devouring or devourer) is a non-Israelite Prophet referred to in the Old Testament and New Testament as well as in an 8th-century BCE plaster inscription from Tell Deir'Alla in Jordan. Two major fragments groups of enigmatic and fragmentary plaster texts are dated ca. 700. The language has both Aramaic and Canaanite features. The first group of plaster fragments specifically mentions "Balaam son of Beor, a "seer of the gods" who had a night vision in which the Gods of the Mountain conveyed the future to him
The book of Numbers contains the most extensive material. Balaam is first introduced when the Israelites approach the Land of Canaan, after their defeat of Sihon and Og (21:21-35).
Balaam, is referred to as a son of Beor who lived in the Aramean town in the Upper Euphrates Valley and near the Sajur River (22:5; Deut.23:4). Abraham, Lot, and Jacob formerly lived in the vicinity of Haran, not far from Pethor (Gen.12:4,5; 24:10; 28:5; 31:18, 38).
Balak, king of Moab, having witnessed Israel's rout of the Amorites, sent messengers to Balaam requesting that he curse the Israelites. After the messengers arrived with "fees for divination", Balaam turned down the offer saying: "God has refused to let me go with you. When other princes in greater number and more honorable came, He received permission from God to go with them (22:7-21). On the way God's angel three times stood in the road, causing Balaam's ass first to turn into a field, then to squeeze Balaam's foot against a wall, and at last to lie down. Three times Balaam beat the animal, which then miraculously uttered a spoken protest (22:22-30). Finally, Balaam himself saw God's angel, who announced:"I have come out to offer resistance, because your way has been headlong against my will." Yet God once again allowed Balaam to continue in his chosen course.
Although Balak desired that Israel be cursed, Balaam stated that he must speak that which he was permitted to by God (22:36-39). After sacrifices were offered, Balaam sought God and received a divine message (23:1-6). Balaam blessed Israel in his first Oracle (23:7-12). Balak convinced Balaam to attempt again to curse Israel, but his 2nd Oracle was also a blessing (23:13-26). Two more blessing Oracles were pronounced by Balaam, the final one predicting that Israel would rule over the kingdoms, including Moab.
Balaam still entertained hope of having that rich reward for which he had come so far and for which he had work so hard. If he could not curse Israel, he reasoned, perhaps God Himself would curse his own people, if only they could be seduced to engage in sex worship of the Baal of Peor (a mountain). So , he went to Balak and show him how to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. By Balaam's word, the daughters of Moab and Midian served to induce the sons of Israel to commit unfaithfulness toward God over the affair of Peor, so that the scourge came upon the assembly of God. The result: 24,000 men of Israel died for their sin (25:1-9). Neither did Midian, nor Balaam, for his part, escape divine punishment. God commanded that all their men, women and boys be executed; only virgins were spared.
"And they killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword." (Num.25:16-18; 31:1-18). As for the Moabites, they were barred from the congregation of God to the 10th generation (Deut.23:3-6).