Esau - The Hoodwinked
AMALEKITES [AM uh leck ites] — an ancient wandering tribe descended from Esau’s grandson Amalek (Gen. 36:12, 16; 1 Chr. 1:36). The main territory of the Amalekites was in the Sinai peninsula and in the Negev, the southern part of present-day Israel. The Amalekites are first mentioned in the time of Abraham, when a group of kings under the leadership of Chedorlaomer defeated Amalek. Nelson's illustrated Bible.
Something smells fishy here. If the Amalekites are mentioned in the time of Abraham how is it possible that they are the descendants of Esau who was the grandson of Abraham? There is a total discrepancy of four generations.
Something smells fishy here. If the Amalekites are mentioned in the time of Abraham how is it possible that they are the descendants of Esau who was the grandson of Abraham? There is a total discrepancy of four generations.
The Bible says that when Chedorlaomer attacked Sodom and Gomorrah the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits. Gen. 14:2-3+10. The dictionary says that their main territory was in the Sinai peninsula and in the Negev. This makes it sound as if those that escaped to the mountains during that war with Chedorlaomer, later became the inhabitants of the Sinai Peninsula.
Esau was the oldest son of Isaac and, should have been the heir of the promised land. However, through Jacob's deceit, Esau lost his inheritance. Later, while Jacob's offspring were held as slaves in Egypt, it is easy to imagine Esau's descendants saying to each other, Well, it serves them right for stealing our inheritance from us. Now the Lord is punishing them for Jacob's deceit.
However after the Israelites gained their freedom from Egypt, and needed to pass through the Amalekite country the Amalekites attacked them, probably because of their ingrained hatred to their kin. Here it is important to remember that the Amalekites attacked first, and Israel was only defending itself. In a surprising turn of events, the Amalekites were routed by Joshua and his army. (For this story see Ex. 17:8-13).
Balak - the worried
As we recall, Moab was the son of Lot who was Abram's nephew. Moab became the founder of the Moabite nation.
Now Balak, king of the Moabites, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And (the nation of) Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and (the nation of) Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel.
This would have been a good time for Balak to send a peace-seeking delegation to Moses. Balak would have learned very quickly that Israel had no intentions of making war. After all, they were simply on their way to the land gushing with milk and honey. About this the Bible says, And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau ... we turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab. “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle. Deut. 2:8-9.
This would have been a good time for Balak to send a peace-seeking delegation to Moses. Balak would have learned very quickly that Israel had no intentions of making war. After all, they were simply on their way to the land gushing with milk and honey. About this the Bible says, And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau ... we turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab. “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle. Deut. 2:8-9.
Balaam - The Donkey Whisperer
However, Balak did not send a delegation, rather he sent messengers to Balaam ... to call him, saying: ... please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. Num. 22:2-13.
After Balaam had received the invitation to go and curse the Israelites God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.”
Balak would not give up so easily so he sent a second delegation; more important people and promises of more wealth. To them Balaam replied, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. "
The Bible says, God, came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them." Or was it that Balaam spent the night thinking about all the wealth that had been promised to him. So his mind justified the idea of going back with the delegation. Jude writes this about Balaam: Woe to them! For they have gone in the ... error of Balaam for profit. Jude 11.
So often we also convince ourselves that the Lord wants us to do something, simply because we so badly want to do it. Balaam did insist, though, that he would speak only the word which Jehovah would speak to him.
The Bible says, God, came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them." Or was it that Balaam spent the night thinking about all the wealth that had been promised to him. So his mind justified the idea of going back with the delegation. Jude writes this about Balaam: Woe to them! For they have gone in the ... error of Balaam for profit. Jude 11.
So often we also convince ourselves that the Lord wants us to do something, simply because we so badly want to do it. Balaam did insist, though, that he would speak only the word which Jehovah would speak to him.
It is really hard to believe that the Lord told him to go, because:
1. The Lord said You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. Num.22:12
2. the Bible says, Then God’s anger was aroused because he went. Num.22:22.
3. three times the angel of the Lord tried to stop him from going any further. If the Lord really had told Balaam to go, would the angel not rather have helped him on his way?
A well-trained conscience is a stubborn thing, so are donkeys. As Balaam was riding his donkey to a place where Jehovah had told him not to go, in three distinct ways Balaam's conscience, in this story - a donkey, tried to stop him.
- Balaam's conscience did not want to let him go as agreed upon. The donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. Num. 22:23.
- His conscience caused him pain, the donkey ... pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall.
- Balaam's conscience just gave up. the donkey ... lay down under Balaam. Balaam was so upset with the donkey that he threatened to kill it. The donkey, Balaam's conscience, said, why do you want to kill me, I was only doing what you have taught me to do.
Talking animals and illogical contradictions such as are found in this Bible story remind one again of this very pertinent quotation: The recording of history with literal exactness of detail is a fairly modern development. At the time, (the Bible was written), precise fact was far less important than the spiritual message of the stories shared. Jesus and His Times, Readers Digest.
The writer of this story was making the point that doing the Lord's will is the important matter. The method the writer uses to make his point is not the issue.
The writer of this story was making the point that doing the Lord's will is the important matter. The method the writer uses to make his point is not the issue.
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