Who Were the Mysterious Aramean Magicians?

Compiled From Ancient Scripture Texts By Bob Moore

The most commonly used Bibles in existence today make no mention of the Aramean magicians, but
frequently reference their deeds. Theres specific reference to these fellows in the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, but in most instances they slip under our radar.

Targum Pseudo-Jonathan
04 Genesis 18-22 And it was after these things, after Abraham had bound Izhak, that Satana came and told unto Sarah that Abraham had killed Izhak. And Sarah arose, and cried out, and was strangled, and died from agony. But Abraham had come, and was resting in the way. And it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcha also hath borne; she hath enlargement, through the righteousness of her sister, for bring forth sons unto Nachor thy brother: Uts, his firstborn, and Booz, his brother, and Kemuel, master of the Aramean magicians, and Keshed, and Chazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. And Bethuel begat Rivekeh. These eight bare Milcha to Nacor the brother of Abraham. And his concubine, whose name was Ruma, she also bare Tebach, and Gacham, and Tachash, and Maacha. [JERUSALEM. And his concumbineand her name]

Relatively speaking, this passage tells a lot about these slippery characters I refer to as the Aramean
magicians. Historians and archaeologists have never been able to make a living by expounding on this particular Kemuel. Aside from this verse in the Targum, Kemuel is mentioned in

Gen 22:21 (ESV) Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
22

Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.

Thats about all for Kemuel, the master of the Aramean magicians. We know that this Aram in v. 21, Nahors son, is not the principal Aram of the Bible from Genesis 10:22, Shems son. On examination of scripture one finds that Aram as referenced in Gen. 22:21 is of very little prominence, merely indicating an Aramean consciousness within Abrahams kinsmen. Extra biblical scriptures imply that Kemuels son Bethual generated the principal line of Aramean magicians. The familial trait that these magicians share is that they are sons of Nahor and nephews of Abram. Perhaps their magic was employed in building the ziggurat (tower) of Babel. Archaeology provides that a ziggurat somewhat resembled an Egyptian pyramid with a pagan temple perched on its top. Pyramids and other megalithic constructions of the ancients have always seemed to exceed the technology of the ancients and sometimes the moderns as well. A little bit of magic would be a very handy explanation. The origins of magic, as can be traced, comes through Bethuel and his son Laban. From the story of Moses, we learn that Pharaohs magicians turned sticks into snakes and vice versa just as Moses and Aaron. Without significant belief in scriptures that offer stories such as these, theres very little justification for even pursuing religious belief. Earliest history has little choice but regard information gathered from so-called myths. From religious mysticism we track the origin of supernatural magic.

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Please consider the example of Herodotus, sometimes called the Father of History. Herodotus recalls stories of a beast called the basilisk that he describes as so poisonous that a mere look from its eye can kill a man. A mounted warrior who kills the basilisk with a spear will die and his horse as well. Just from contact through the shaft of the spear! On the brighter side, if a weasel is thrown into the den of the basilisk, the scent of the weasel will kill the basilisk, though the weasel itself will perish. Need I say more? Skeptics want nothing to do with myth based ancient scriptures. But it isnt uncommon to sanitize such text by distance, which is to say we may quote someone who perhaps quotes someone else who quotes Herodotus. In that manner we can make use of the valuable information historians like Herodotus provide without causing it to appear as tainted by mythology. Historians like to quote sources, but who can verify the sources? At this point, I do not know of any ancient texts that trace the practice of magic from Kemuel back to Cainan, but within a few paragraphs I think you will see why that would be desirable. Theres far more implication and inuendo than fact, but heres an interesting entry about Cainan:

Masoretic Text of Bible, Book of Luke (ESV):

Luk 3:35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
Clearly, Luke is not confused about Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, being the same person as Cainan, the son of Enosh. Some scholars are willing to describe the mention here of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, as the result of a trivial scribal error by early scribes juggling between the texts of the Septuagint and Masoretic texts of early manuscripts. And yes, this is supposed to have happened in the translation and printing of the inerrant and infallible Holy Bible, such as it is described almost universally by preachers and religious teachers. An enlightening explanation comes from the Book of Jubilees.

The Book of Jubilees

Genealogy of the Descendants of Shem: Noah and his Sons divide the Earth (viii. 1-30; cf. Gen. x.).
VIII. In the twenty-ninth jubilee, in the first week, in the beginning thereof Arpachshad took to himself a wife and her name was Rsj, [the daughter of Ssn,] the daughter of Elam, and she bare him a son in the third year in this week, and he called his name Kinm. 2. And the son grew, and his father taught him writing, and he went to seek for himself a place where he might seize for himself a city. 3. And he found a writing which former (generations) had carved on the rock, and he read what was thereon, and he transcribed it and sinned owing to it; for it contained the teaching of the Watchers in accordance with which they used to observe the omens of the sun and moon and stars in all the signs of heaven. 4. And he wrote it down and said nothing regarding it; for he was afraid to speak to Noah about it lest he should be angry with him on account of it. 5. And in the thirtieth jubilee, in the second week, in the first year thereof, he took to himself a wife, and her name was Mlk, the daughter of Madai, the son of Japheth, and in the fourth year he begat a son, and called his name Shelah; for he said: "Truly I have been sent." 6. [And in the fourth year he was born], and Shelah grew up and took to himself a wife, and her name was Mak, the
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daughter of Ksd, his father's brother, in the one and thirtieth jubilee, in the fifth week, in the first year thereof. 7. And she bare him a son in the fifth year thereof, and he called his name Eber: [E.O.Q]

Theres yet more ancient scripture to be examined: The Book of Jasher, Chapter 2
10 And Enosh lived ninety years and he begat Cainan; 11 And Cainan grew up and he was forty years old, and he became wise and had knowledge and skill in all wisdom, and he reigned over all the sons of men, and he led the sons of men to wisdom and knowledge; for Cainan was a very wise man and had understanding in all wisdom, and with his wisdom he ruled over spirits and demons; 12 And Cainan knew by his wisdom that God would destroy the sons of men for having sinned upon earth, and that the Lord would in the latter days bring upon them the waters of the flood. 13 And in those days Cainan wrote upon tablets of stone, what was to take place in time to come, and he put them in his treasures.
Lets summarize what weve gathered from the Book of Jubilees and the Book of Jasher. The first Cainan was a wise leader who we know from Jasher, Chapter 2, verse 11 used his wisdom to rule over men, spirits and demons. First Cainans wisdom may well have applied to what we call magic and/or science. From Jasher, Chapter 2, verse 12 we know that the first Cainan engraved his wisdom on stone tablets and stored the tablets in his treasure. From the Book of Jubilees, verse 3, the second Cainan found engravings on stone and received knowledge written before the flood. These engravings may well have been the ones stored away by the first Cainan. Perhaps the second Cainan also acquired the ability to rule over spirits and demons. In other words, the power of magic.

From Cainan (Kinm) to Kemuel, information is scant. In Genesis 11, Gods own assesment of man in
Nimrods time is that nothing would be impossible to man if left to his own evil devices. If Cainan received knowledge from stone tablets that he used to perform magic that also Kemuel later performed, isnt it likely that there was more than ancestral connection between the two men spanning the generations in between? Magicians from a prominent branch of Messiahs family tree are complicit in spreading the occultic practices through Syria and Egypt, ultimately the whole world. The mythological tales of Solomon are quite similar to the mythological tales of the first Cainan. How likely it is that the pyramid builders of Egypt and South America sprang from the ziggurat builders of Mesopatamia. Its somewhat amazing that we find a dark side here, but that is exactly what this paper is intended to explore. We will find more evidence that Laban was a practitioner of the dark art and that he is the progenitor of Beor, Balaam, Jannes and Jambres. Heres a short clip from The Zohar:

The Zohar, Volume 3; Volume 2006

edited by Daniel Chanan Matt Rabbi Yehudah said, What did Jacob have in mind in sending this message to Esau: With Laban I have sojourned (ibid.)? What did he accomplish by transmitting this word to Esau? The answer is that Laban the Arameans fame had spread throughPage 3 of 38

out the world: No one was safe from him because he was a master magician, preeminent sorcerer, father of Beor who was the father of Balaam--as is written: Balaam son of Beor, the augur (Josua 13:22). Laban was more skilled than all of them in magic and sorcery, but even so, he could not prevail against Jacob, whom he sought to destroy with various devices, as is written: An Aramean was about to destroy my father! (Deuteronomy 26:5). The map graphic on the next page provides information about where this mystical stuff actually occurred. It was surprising to me that Pethor, where the Moabite King Balak sent to obtain Balaam was actually the ancestral homeland of Laban and his purported son, Beor. This is an area rich in the traditions of pagan dieties. For future reference one might note the proximity of Pethor and Paddan-aram to the island of Cyprus, as well as Mt. Hermon and Caesarea Phillipi.

Bible References to Balaam

(Num 22:5, ESV) sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. (Num 22:7, ESV) So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message. (Num 22:8, ESV) And he said to them, "Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. (Num 22:9, ESV) And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" (Num 22:10, ESV) And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, (Num 22:12, ESV) God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." (Num 22:13, ESV) So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." (Num 22:14, ESV) So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us." (Num 22:16, ESV) And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: 'Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

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(Num 22:18, ESV) But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.

(Num 22:20, ESV) And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you."

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(Num 22:21, ESV) So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. (Num 22:23, ESV) And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. (Num 22:25, ESV) And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. (Num 22:27, ESV) When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. (Num 22:28, ESV) Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" (Num 22:29, ESV) And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you." (Num 22:30, ESV) And the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?" And he said, "No." (Num 22:31, ESV) Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. (Num 22:34, ESV) Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back." (Num 22:35, ESV) And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you." So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak. (Num 22:36, ESV) When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border. (Num 22:37, ESV) And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?"

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(Num 22:38, ESV) Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak." (Num 22:39, ESV) Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriathhuzoth. (Num 22:40, ESV) And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him. (Num 22:41, ESV) And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people. (Num 23:1, ESV) And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." (Num 23:2, ESV) Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram. (Num 23:3, ESV) And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a bare height, (Num 23:4, ESV) and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, "I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram." (Num 23:5, ESV) And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." (Num 23:7, ESV) And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "From Aram Balak has brought me, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: 'Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, denounce Israel!' (Num 23:11, ESV) And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them." (Num 23:15, ESV) Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD over there." (Num 23:16, ESV) And the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak." (Num 23:18, ESV) And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor:

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(Num 23:25, ESV) And Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all." (Num 23:26, ESV) But Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell you, 'All that the LORD says, that I must do'?" (Num 23:27, ESV) And Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there." (Num 23:28, ESV) So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert. (Num 23:29, ESV) And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." (Num 23:30, ESV) And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. (Num 24:1, ESV) When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. (Num 24:2, ESV) And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, (Num 24:3, ESV) and he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, (Num 24:10, ESV) And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. (Num 24:12, ESV) And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, (Num 24:15, ESV) And he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, (Num 24:25, ESV) Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way. (Num 31:8, ESV) They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

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(Num 31:16, ESV) Behold, these, on Balaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD. (Deu 23:4, ESV) because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. (Deu 23:5, ESV) But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you. (Jos 13:22, ESV) Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel among the rest of their slain. (Jos 24:9, ESV) Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you, (Jos 24:10, ESV) but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand. (Neh 13:2, ESV) for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them--yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. (Mic 6:5, ESV) O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD." (2Pe 2:15, ESV) Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, (Jud 1:11, ESV) Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. (Rev 2:14, ESV) But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

John Gills Commentary on Balaam

Numbers 22:5
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor,.... In consequence of the consultation held by the king of Moab with the elders of Midian; and very probably through a motion of theirs, and by advice they gave, Balak dispatched messengers
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of both people to the person here described by his name and parentage; but who he was is not easy to say: the Jews sometimes make him to be a magician in Pharaoh's court, at the time when Moses was born (z), which is not probable; and it is still more improbable that he should be Laban the Syrian, as the Targum of Jonathan here, and the Targum on 1Ch_1:44 though others say (a) he was the son of Beor, the son of Laban, and so was the grandson of Laban; and with as little probability is he said to be Elihu, that answered Job according to a tradition of the Jews, mentioned by Jerom (b); nor is there any reason to believe that he was ever a good man, and a true prophet of the Lord; he is expressly said to be a diviner or a soothsayer, Jos_13:22, a sort of men abhorred of God, and not to be suffered to be among his people, Deu_18:10 but were of great credit and esteem among the Heathens, for their pretensions to foretell things to come, or to discover lost goods, and the like; and by their enchantments to drive away evils, or bring on curses, for which Balaam was famous: and therefore, by the advice of the Midianites, Balak sent for him to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people; the land of his people, of his birth or habitation, was Aram or Syria, Num_23:7 that is, Aram Naharaim, which lay between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates, or what is sometimes called Mesopotamia, as is clear from Deu_23:4, and the river of that land, which was eminently so called, is the river Euphrates, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it here, and by that river was Pethor, where Balaam now lived; and is by some thought to be the same with the Pacoria of Ptolemy (c), which was by that river: the messengers were sent to call him: to invite him to Balak's court: saying, behold, there is a people come out from Egypt; Balak speaks of them, as if he knew not who they were, only that they were come from Egypt, and were seeking a new habitation to settle in, and so were in danger from them, lest they should invade his country, and settle there: behold, they cover the face of the earth; not the face of the whole earth, unless an hyperbolical expression is supposed, to set forth the greatness of their numbers; but a large part of the earth, all within sight almost, even the plains of Moab: and they abide over against me; were very near him, lay encamped before his country, and his metropolis, and so he thought himself in great danger, and threatened with an invasion, as the pitching of their tents so near made him surmise. (z) Dibre Hayamim Shekmoaseh, fol. 3. 2. (a) Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 7. 2. (b) Quaest. "see Traditiones" in Gen. fol. 69. D. (c) Geograph. l. 5. c. 18. [E.O.Q.]

Notice Gills awareness of the numerous fabulous legends of Balaams misadventures in Egypt and
Phineas accusation against Balaam, calling him Laban as will be noted in 42 Numbers 30-32 from the Targum which is quoted below. I have to admire the level-headed way that Gill presents this information. He chooses to mention a number of legends but in his low-keyed style he emphasizes the legendary nature of these stories but does not provide sources. Notice also that Mr. Gills position on Laban and Balaam is somewhat counter to the perspective of The Zohar.

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From The Targum Pseudo-Jonathan

SECTION III. LECH LECHA.
XII. AND the Lord said to Abram, Go thou from thy land; separate thyself from thy kindred; go forth from the house of thy father; go into the land which I will show thee. And I will make thee a great people, and will bless thee, and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. [JERUSALEM. And I will constitute thee a great people, and I will bless thee; and Abram shall be strengthened with many blessings.] And I will bless the priests who will spread forth their hands in prayer, and bless thy sons; and Bileam, who will curse them, I will curse, and they shall slay him with the mouth of the sword; and in thee shall be blessed all the generations of the earth.

06 Genesis 26-28
Therefore the Word of the Lord give thee of the good dews which descend from the heavens, and of the good fountains that spring up, and make the herbage of the earth to grow from beneath, and plenty of provision and wine. Let peoples be subject to thee, all the sons of Esau, and kingdoms bend before thee, all the sons of Keturah; a chief and a ruler be thou over thy brethren, and let the sons of thy mother salute thee. Let them who curse thee, my son, be accursed as Bileam bar Beor; and them who bless thee be blessed as Mosheh the prophet, the scribe of Israel. [JERUSALEM. Let peoples serve before thee, all the sons of Esau: all kings be subject to thee, all the sons of Ishmael: be thou a chief and a ruler over the sons of Keturah: all the sons of Laban the brother of thy mother shall come before thee and salute thee. Whoso curseth thee, Jakob, my son, shall be accursed as Bileam ben Beor; and whoso blesseth thee shall be blessed as Mosheh the prophet and scribe of Israel.]

08 Genesis 32-36
These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel. In Edom reigned Bileam. the son of Behor, and the name of the city of the house of his kingdom was Dinhaba. And Bela died, and in his stead reigned Jobab the son of Zerach of Botsra. And Jobab died, and in his stead reigned Husham of the South country; and Husham died, and in his stead reigned Hadad the son of Bedad, who slew the Midianites when he arrayed war with them in the fields of Moab, and the name of the city of the house of his kingdom was Avith. And Hadad died, and in his stead reigned Simlah of Masrekah. And Simlah died, and instead of him reigned Shaul, who was of Rohoboth on the Pherat. And Shaul died, and in his stead reigned Baal Hanan bar Akbor. And Baal Hanan bar Akbor died, and instead of him reigned Hadar; and the name of the city of the house of his kingdom was Pahu; and the name of his wife was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred. He was the man who laboured with perseverance and vigilance, and who, after he had become wealthy and had gotten riches, turned to become more lofty in his heart, saying What is silver and what is gold? [JERUSALEM. And after him reigned Hadar; and the name of his city was Pahu, andthe daughter of Matred, the daughter of the changer of gold: the man who perseverance all the days of his life; but who, after he had eaten and was satisfied, converted and said, What is gold, and what is silver?]
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14 Exodus 7-9
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Arise in the morning, and place thyself before Pharoh, and say to him, Thus saith the Lord, the God of the Jehudaee, Emancipate My people, that they may worship before Me. For at this time I will send upon thee a plague from the heavens, and all My plagues Wherewith I have plagued thee thou wilt cause to return upon thy heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, (plagues) which have been sent from before Me, and not from the magic of the sons of men, that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Now could I send the plague of My strength by judgment (or, with justice) to strike thee and thy people with death, and destroy thee from the earth; but verily I have spared thee alive, not that I may benefit thee, but that My power may be made manifest to thee, and that My Holy Name may be made known in all the earth. Hitherto hast thou tyrannized over My people, instead of releasing them. [JERUSALEM. Relentlessly.] Behold, at this time tomorrow I will cause to come down from the treasures of the heavens a mighty hall, the like of which hath never been in Mizraim since the day when men were settled upon it until now. But now send, gather together thy flocks, and all that thou hast in the field (for) upon all men and cattle that are found in the field, and not gathered together within the house, will the hail come down, and they will die. Hiob, (Job,) who reverenced the word of the Lord, among the servants of Pharoh, gathered together his servants and his flocks within the house. But Bileam, who did not set his heart upon the word of the Lord, left his servants and his flocks in the field.

40 Numbers 22-25 SECTION XL. BALAK.

AND Balak bar Zippor saw what Israel had done to the Amoraee. And the Moabaee feared before the people greatly because they were many, and they were distressed in their life before the sons of Israel. And they said to the elders of the Midianee, for the people had been one and the kingdom one unto that day: Now will this congregation consume all that is about them, as the ox eateth up the grass of the field. And Balak bar Zippor, a Midianite, was the king of Moab at that time; without (a Midianite) being such at another time; for so was the tradition among them, to have kings from this people and from that, by turns. And he sent unto Laban the Aramite, who was Bileam, (so called because he it was) who sought (Biluva) to swallow up (Amma) the people of the house of Israel: the son of Beor, who was insane from the vastness of his knowledge; and would not spare Israel, the descendants of his sons and daughters: and the house of his habitation in Padan was at Pethor, a name signifying an interpreter of dreams. It was built in Aram upon the Phrat, in a land where the children of the people worshipped and adored him. (To him did Balak send) to call him, saying: Behold, a people hath come out of Mizraim, and, lo, they cover the face of the earth, and are encamped over against me. But now, I entreat, come, curse this people for me, for they are stronger than I, if I may but be able to meet them, though smaller than they, and drive them from the land. For I know that he whom thou dost bless is blessed, and he whom thou dost curse is cursed. And the elders of Moab and of Midian went, with the price of divinations sealed up in their hands, and came to Bileam, and told him the words of Balak. [JERUSALEM. And
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the sages of the Moabites and of the Midianites went, with sealed letters in their hands, and came to Bileam, and spake with him the words of Balak.] And he said to them, Abide here to-night, and I will return you word as the Lord shall speak with me. And the princes of Moab stayed with Bileam. And the Word from before the Lord came to Bileam, and He said, What men are these who are now lodging with thee? And Bileam said before the Lord, Balak bar Zippor, king of the Moabaee, hath sent messengers to me, saying: Behold, a people hath come out of Mizraim, and cover the face of the land: now therefore, come, curse them for me, so that I may be able to fight and drive them away. And the Lord said unto Bileam, Thou shalt not go with them, nor curse the people, for they are blessed of Me from the day of their fathers. And Bileam rose up early, and said to the princes of Moab, Go unto your country, for it is not pleasing before the Lord to permit me to journey with you. And the princes of Moab arose and came to Balak, and said, Bileam hath refused to come with us. But Balak added to send (other) princes more, and nobler than they; and they came to Bileam, and said to him: Thus saith Balak bar Zippor, Let not anything hinder thee from coming to me; for honouring I will honour thee greatly, and whatever thou biddest me I will do. Come therefore now, and curse this people for me. And Bileam answered the servants of Balak, and said, If Balak would give me out of his treasury a house full of silver and gold, I have no power to transgress the decree of the Word of the Lord my God, to fabricate a word either small or great. But I entreat you to remain here this night also, that I may know what the Word of the Lord may yet speak with me. And the Word came from before the Lord unto Bileam in the night, and said to him, If these men come to call thee, arise, go with them; only, the word that I will speak with thee, that shalt thou do. And Bileam, arose in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. [JERUSALEM. And Bileam arose in the morning, and made ready his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.] But the anger of the Lord was provoked, because he would go (that he might) curse them; and the angel of the Lord stood in the way to be an adversary to him. But he sat upon his ass, and his two young men, Jannes and Jambres, were with him. And the ass discerned the angel of the Lord standing in the way with a drawn sword in his hand, and the ass turned aside out of the road, to go into the field. And Bileam smote the ass to make her return unto the way. And the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path that was in the midst between vineyards, [JERUSALEM. And the angel of the Lord stood between the vineyards, a hedge (being) on this and on that side,] in the place where Jacob and Laban raised the mound, the pillar on this side and the observatory on that side, which they raised, that neither should pass that limit to do evil (to the other). And the ass discerned the angel of the Lord, and thrust herself against the hedge, and bruised Bileam's foot by the hedge, and he smote her again; for the angel was invisible to him. And the angel of the Lord yet passed on, and stood in a distant place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or left. And the ass saw the angel of the Lord, and fell under Bileam; and Bileam's wrath was strong, so that he smote the ass with his staff.-Ten things were created after the world had been founded at the coming in of the Sabbath between the suns,-the manna, the well, the rod of Mosheh, the diamond, the rainbow, the cloud of glory, the mouth of the earth, the writing of the tables of the covenant, the demons, and the speaking ass. And in that hour the Word of the Lord opened her mouth, and fitted her to speak: and she said to Bileam. What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Bileam said to the ass, Because thou hast been false to me; if there was now but a sword

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in in hand, I would kill thee. And the ass said to Bileam, Woe to thee, Bileam, thou wanting-in-mind when me, an unclean beast, who am to die in this world, and not to enter the world to come, thou art not able to curse; how much less (canst thou harm) the children of Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, on account of whom the world hath been created, but whom thou art going to curse! So hast thou deceived these people, and hast said, This is not my ass, she is a loan in, my hand, and my horses remain in the pasture. But am I not thine ass upon whom thou hast ridden from thy youth unto this day? and have I been used to do thus with thee? And he said, No. [JERUSALEM. And the ass said to Bileam, Woe to thee, Bileam the wicked, wanting in understanding and wisdom! Behold, me, an unclean beast, who am to die in this world and not to enter the world to come, thou hast not power with all thy skill to curse; how much less the children of Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, on whose account the world was created at the beginning! And why art thou going to curse them? For thou hast deceived the people, saying to them, This is not my ass: she is a loan in my hand. But am I not thy ass, upon whom thou hast ridden from thy youth unto this day? Did I indeed intend to do thus with thee? And he said to her, No.] And the Lord unveiled the eyes of Bileam, and he beheld the angel of the Lord standing in the way, his sword unsheathed in his hand; and he bowed, and worshipped on his face. And the angel of the Lord said to him, why hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I have come out to withstand thee; and the ass, fearing, saw, and turned from the way. It is known before me that thou seekest to go to curse the people, a thing that is not pleasing to me. But the ass discerned me, and turned away from me these three times: had she not turned from me, surely now I should have slain thee, and spared her alive. And Bileam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, because I knew not that thou wast standing against me in the way. But now, if it displease thee, I will go back. But the angel of the Lord said to Bileam, Go with these men; but the word that I will tell thee that thou shalt speak. And Bileam went with the princes of Balak. And Balak heard that Bileam was coming, and came out to meet him at a city of Moab on the border of Arnon, which is on the side of the frontier. And Balak said to Bileam, Did I not send to call thee? Why camest thou not to me? Didst thou not indeed say that I could not do thee honour? And Bileam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to thee; yet now am I able to say any thing to thee? But the word that the Lord shall ordain for my mouth, that I must speak. And Bileam went with Balak, and they came to a city surrounded with walls, to the streets of the great city, the city of Sihon, which is Berosha. And Balak slew oxen and sheep, and sent to Bileam and the princes, and those who were with them. And at the time of the morning Balak took Bileam, and brought him up to the high place of the idol Peor; and be saw from thence the camp of Dan, which went at the rear of the people; and they were discovered under the Cloud of Glory. XXIII. And Bileam, as he looked upon them, knew that strange worship was among them, and rejoiced in his heart; and he said to Balak, Build here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did as Bileam had said, and Balak and Bileam offered a bullock and a ram upon an altar. And Bileam said to Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go, if preadventure the word of the Lord may come to meet me; and the word that shall be discovered to me, that I will declare to thee. And he went, bending as a serpent. [JERUSALEM. And Bileam went with a humbled heart.] And the Word from before the Lord met with Bileam, who said before Him, The seven altars I have set in order, and have offered a bullock and a ram upon every altar. And
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the Lord put a word in Bileam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus speak. And he returned to him, and, behold, he was standing by his burnt-offering, he and all the nobles of Moab. And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said: From Aram on Euphrates hath Balak king of the Moabaee brought me; from the mountains of the east come, curse for me the house of Jakob; come, for me make Israel small. [JERUSALEM. And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said: Balak, the king of the Moabaee, hath brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east: Come, curse for me the house of Jakob, come, diminish for me the tribes of the house of Israel.] How shall I curse, (while) the Word of the Lord blesseth them? and whom shall I diminish, when the Word of the Lord increaseth them? For, said Bileam the wicked, I look on this people who are led on for the sake of their righteous fathers, who are like the mountains, and of their mothers, who are like the hills: behold, this people alone are to possess the world, because they are not led by the laws of the nations. And when Bileam the sinner beheld the house of Israel, a circumcised people, hidden in the dust of the desert, he said, Who can number the merits of these strong ones, or count the good works of one of the four camps of Israel? Bileam the wicked said: If the house of Israel kill me with the sword, then, it is made known to me, I shall have no portion in the world to come: nevertheless if I may but die the death of the true! O that my last end may be as the least among them! [JERUSALEM. Wherewith shall I curse the house of Jakob, when the Word of the Lord blesseth them? and how shall I diminish the house of Israel, when the Word of the Lord doth multiply them? I see this people, who are conducted through the merit of their righteous fathers, Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, who are like the mountains, and of their four mothers, Sarah, Rivekah, Rahel, and Leah: behold, this people shall dwell alone, and not be mixed with the laws of the Gentiles. Who can number the youth of the house of Jakob, of whom it is said, They are to be like the stars of the skies? Bileam the wicked said, in the parable of his prophecy, If Israel do kill him with the sword Bileam himself declareth that he hath no portion in the world to come: but if Bileam may die as the faithful die, may his last end be as one of the least among them.] And Balak said to Bileam, What hast thou done to me? I brought thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, blessing, thou hast blessed them. But he answered and said, That which the Lord hath put in my mouth shall I not be careful to speak? And Balak said to him, Come now with me where thou mayest see him from another place. Thou shalt see only the camp that goeth in his rear, but not all their camps; and curse him for me there. And he brought him to the field of the observatory on the top of the hill, and builded seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. And he said to Balak, Stand thou here by thy burnt offering and I will meet (Him) yonder. And the Word from before the Lord met Bileam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus speak. And he came to him, and, behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, What hath the Lord spoken? And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said: Arise, Balak, and hear; listen to my words, Bar Zippor. The Word of the living God is not as the words of men for the Lord, the Ruler of all worlds, is the unchangeable (but) man speaketh and denieth. Neither are His works like the works of the children of flesh, who consult, and then repent them of what they had decreed. But when the Lord of all worlds hath said, I will multiply this people as the stars of the heavens, and will give them to possess the land of the Kenaanites, is He not able to perform what He hath spoken? and what He hath said, can He not confirm it? Behold, from the mouth of the

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Holy Word I have received the benediction, and their appointed benediction I cannot restrain from them. [JERUSALEAL 15. And I with My Word will honour thee. 19. Not as the word of the sons of men is the or of the living God, nor are the works of God as the works of men. Men say, and do not; they decree, but do not confirm; but God saith and performeth, He maketh decree and confirmeth it, and His decrees are established forever. Behold, I have received to bless Israel, and I cannot restrain the blessings from them.] Bileam the wicked said, I see not among them of the house of Jakob such as worship idols: they who serve false idols are not established among the tribes of the sons of Israel. The Word of the Lord their God is their help, and the trumpets of the King Meshiha resound among them: Unto Eloha, who redeemed and led them out of Mizraim free, belong power and exaltation, glorification and greatness. They of the house of Jakob who use divination are not establisbed, nor the enchanters, who enchant among the greatness (multitudes) of Israel. At this time it is said to the house of Jakob and Israel, How glorious are the miracles and wonder-works which God hath wrought! This people reposeth alone, and dwelleth strong as a lion, and reareth himself as an old lion. They sleep not till with great slaughter they have slain their adversaries, and taken the spoils of the slain.[JERUSALEM. I have not seen the worshippers of a lie, nor those who offer strange service, among the tribes of the sons of Israel. The Word of the Lord is with them, and the trumpet of their glorious King protecteth them. Unto God who redeemed, and brought them out from Mizraim free, belong power, and praise, and exaltation. For I see not those who perform divination in the house of Jakob, nor them who enchant with enebantments among the tribes of Israel. At this time it is said to Jakob, What bounties and comforts are prepared of the Lord to bestow upon you of the house of Jakob! Then said he in the parable of his prophecy, O happy saints, how goodly is the reward prepared for you by your Father in heaven, in the world to come! Behold, these people dwell as a lion, like the strong lion; as the lion resteth not, nor is quiet, until he hath taken and eaten flesh and drunk up blood, so this people will rest not, nor be in quiet, till they have slain their enemies, and have shed the blood of their slaughtered foes like water.] And Balak said to Bileam, Neither curse them nor bless them. But Bileam answered and said to Balak, Did I not tell thee at the beginning, Whatsoever the Lord speaketh, that must I do? And Balak said to Bileam, Come, and I will now take thee to another place, if so be it may be pleasing before the Lord, that thou mayest curse him for me from thence. And Balak led Bileam to the high place of the prospect which looketh toward Beth Jeshimoth. And Bileam said to Balak, Erect here for me seven altars, and prepare me seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did as Bileam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram upon every altar. XXIV. And Bileam, seeing that it was good before the Lord to bless Israel, went not, as once and again before, in quest of divinations, but set his face toward the wilderness, to recall to memory the work of the calf which they had there committed. And Bileam lifted up his eyes, but beheld Israel dwelling together by their tribes in their schools, and (saw) that their doors were arranged so as not to overlook the doors of their companions: and the Spirit of prophecy from before the Lord rested upon him. [JERUSALEM. And Bileam saw that it was pleasing before-the Lord to bless Israel, so that he went not, as he had gone from time to time, to seek for divinations, or to provide enchantments; but went and set his face toward the wilderness to recall to memory their work of the calf, (still) being desirous to curse Israel.] But he took up the parable of his prophecy,

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and said: Bileam, son of Beor, speaketh; the man speaketh who is more honourable than his father, (because) the dark mysteries hidden from the prophets have been revealed to him; and who, because he was not circumcised, fell upon his face when the angel stood over against him: he hath said who heard the Word from before the living God; who beheld the vision before God the Almighty, and, seeking that it might be discovered to him, fell upon his face, and the secret mysteries hidden from the prophets were revealed to him. How beautiful your houses of instruction, in the tabernacle where Jakob your father ministered; and how beautiful this tabernacle of ordinance which is found among you, and the tents that surround it, O house of Israel! As tides of waters, so are the house of Israel, dwelling like flocks made strong by the doctrine of the law; and as gardens planted by the flowing streams, so are their disciples in the fellowships of their schools. The light of their faces shineth as the brightness of the firmament which the Lord created on the second day of the creation of the world, and outspread for the glory of the Shekinah. They are exalted and lifted up above all the nations, like cedars of Lebanon planted by fountains of waters. From them their King shall arise, and their Redeemer be of them and among them, and the seed of the children of Jakob shall rule over many nations. The first who will reign over them will make war with the house of Amalek, and will be exalted above Agag their king; but because he had spared him his kingdom will be taken from him. Unto Eloha, who brought them out free from Mizraim, belong might, and exaltation, and glory, and power. He will destroy the nations of their adversaries, and break down their strength and will send forth the plague-arrows of His vengeance among them, and destroy them. They shall repose and dwell as a lion, and as an old lion, that sleeping who will (dare to) awake? They who bless them are blessed, as Mosheh the prophet, the scribe of Israel; and they who curse them are accursed, as Bileam son of Beor. And Balak's wrath grew strong against Bileam, and, smiting his hands, Balak said to Bileam, I brought thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, in blessing thou hast blessed them these three times. [JERUSALEM. 3. And he took up in parable his prophecy and said: Bileam the son of Beor saith; the man saith who is more honourable than his father, for what hath been hidden from all prophets is revealed to him; the man saith who heard the Word from before the Lord, and who saw the vision before the Almighty; when, inquiring, prostrate on his face, the mysteries of prophecy were disclosed to him, and of himself he did prophesy that he shall fall by the sword, a prophecy to be confirmed at the end! How goodly were the tabernacles in which Jakob their father did pray; and the tabernacle of ordinance which you have made to My name, and your own tabernacles, O house of Israel! As torrents that prevail, so shall Israel overpower their adversaries; and as gardens planted by fountains of water, so shall be their cities, giving forth scribes and teachers of the law; and as the heavens which the Memra of the Lord spread forth for the dwelling of His Shekinah, so shall Israel live, and endure unto eternity, beautiful and renowned as cedars by the waters which grow up oil high. Their King will arise from among their children, and their Redeemer will be of them and among them; and He will gather their captives from the cities of their adversaries, and their children shall have rule among the peoples. And the kingdom of the King Meshiha shall be made great: stronger is He than Shaul who vanquished Agag the kill of the Amalkaab. Unto God who redeemed, and brought them out free from the land of Mizraim, belong power, and
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praise, and exaltation. The sons of Israel will prevail over their enemies, will divide their cities, slay their heroes, and disperse their residue. Behold, these people will dwell as a lion, and be as the strong lions. He who blesseth you, O Israel, shall be blessed, as Mosheh the prophet, the scribe of Israel; and he who curseth you will be accursed, as Bileam, the son of Beor. And Balak's anger grew strong against Bileam, and Balak smote his hands, and said to Bileam, I brought thee to curse my enemies, and thou hast only blessed.] And now flee to thy place. I had said that honouring I would honour thee; but, behold, the Lord hath kept back Bileam from honour. But Bileam said to Balak, Did I not tell thy messengers whom thou. sentest to me, saying, If Balak would give me the fulness of his treasures of silver and gold, I have no power to transgress the decree of the Word of the Lord to do good or evil of my own will: what the Lord saith shall I not speak. And now, behold, I return to go to my people. Come, I will give thee counsel: Go, furnish tavern houses, and employ seductive women to sell food and drinks cheaply, and to bring this people together to eat and drink, and commit whoredom with them, that they may deny their God; then in a brief time will they be delivered into thy hand, and many of them fall. Nevertheless, after this they will still have dominion over thy people at the end of the days. And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said Bileam the son of Beor speaketh; the man speaketh who is more honourable than his father, because the mysteries hidden from prophets have been revealed to him; he speaketh who heard the Word from before the Lord, and who knoweth the hour when the Most High God will be wroth with him; (he speaketh) who saw the vision before the Almighty, seeking, prostrate on his face, that it should be revealed to him; the secret, concealed from the prophets, was disclosed unto him. I shall see Him, but not now; I shall behold Him, but it is not near. When the mighty King of Jakob's house shall reign, and the Meshiha, the Power-sceptre of Israel, be anointed, He will slay the princes of the Moabaee, and bring to nothing all the children of Sheth, the armies of Gog who will do battle against Israel and all their carcases shall fall before Him. And the Edomaee will be utterly driven out, even the sons of Gabela from before Israel their foes, and Israel will be strengthened with their riches and possess them. And a prince of the house of Jakob will arise and destroy and consume the remnant that have escaped from Constantina the guilty city, and will lay waste and ruin the rebellious city, even Kaiserin the strong city of the Gentiles. And he looked on the house of Amalek, and took up the parable of his prophecy, and said: The first of the nations who made war with the house of Israel were those of the house of Amalek; and they at last, in the days of the King Meshiha, with all the children of the east, will make war against Israel; but all of them together will have eternal destruction in their end. And he looked upon Jethro, who had been made proselyte, and took up the parable of his prophecy, and said: How strong is thy habitation, who hast set thy dwelling in the clefts of the rocks! Yet so is it decreed that the children of the Shalmaia must be despoiled, but not until Sancherib the king of Athur shall come and make thee captive. [JERUSALEM. And now, behold, I go to my people. Come now, I will counsel thee how thou art to act with this people. Lead them into sin; for else thou canst have power

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against them to prevail over thy people at the end of the days. And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said: Bileam the son of Beor saith; the man who is more honourable than his father saith, for what hath been hid from all the prophets is revealed unto me: the man speaketh who heard the Word from before the Lord, and learned knowledge from the Most High; who saw the vision in the presence of the Almighty, seeking prostrate on his face, when the visions of prophecy were disclosed to him, and he was made to foreknow of himself that he will fall by the sword, but that his prophecy will be confirmed. I shall see Him, but not now; I shall behold Him, but He is not nigh. A King is to arise from the house of Jakob, and a Redeemer and Ruler from the house of Israel, who will slay the strong ones of the Moabaee, and bring to nothing and consume all the children of the east. And Edom may inherit Mount Gabela from their enemies but Israel will be stronger with a mighty host. A King will arise from the house of Jakob, and destroy what shall remain of the strong city. And he beheld the Amalkaah, and took up the parable of his prophecy and said: The house of Amalek was the first of the peoples to make war with Israel, and at last in the end of the days they will array battle against them; but their end is to perish, and their destruction to be for ever. And when he looked upon the Shalmaia, taking up the parable of his prophecy, he said, How strong is thy abode, who hast set the house of thy dwelling in the clefts of the rock! But the Shalmaia will not be spoiled, until Athuria shall arise, and take thee captive.] And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said, Woe to them who are alive at the time when the Word of the Lord shall be revealed, to give the good reward to the righteous, and to take vengeance on the wicked, to smite the nations and the kings, and bring these things upon them! And ships (lit., sails) armed for war will come forth with urreat armies from Lombarnia, and from the land of Italia, conjoined with the legions that will come forth from Constantina, and will afflict the Athuraee, and bring into captivity all the sons of Eber; nevertheless the end of these and of those is to fall by the hand of the King Meshiha, and be brought to everlasting destruction: [JERUSALEM. Woe to him who is alive when the Word of the Lord setteth Himself to give the good reward to the just, and to take vengeance on the wicked! And great hosts in Livernia will come from the great city, and will conjoin with them many legions of the Romaee, and subjugate Athuria, and afflict all the children beyond the river. Nevertheless the end of these and of those is to perish, and the destruction to be everlasting. And Bileam rose up and went to return to his place; and Balak also.] And Bileam rose up and went to return to his place, and Balak also went upon his way, and appointed the daughters of the Midianites for the tavern booths at Beth Jeshimotb, by the snow mountain, where they sold sweetmeats cheaper than their price, after the counsel of Bileam the wicked, at the dividing of the way.

42 Numbers 30-32
XXXI. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Take retribution for the children of Israel from the Midianites; and afterward thou shalt be gathered to thy people. And Moses spake with the people, saying: Arm of you men, [JERUSALEM. Arm of you,] for the host to make war against Midian, to give the people of the Lord avengement upon Midian; a thousand of each tribe of all the tribes of Israel send ye to the war. And of the thousands of Israel fit men were chosen who gave up themselves, a thousand of a tribe, twelve thousand, armed for the war. And Mosheh sent them, a thousand of each tribe
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to the war, them and Phinehas bar Elazar the priest unto the war, with the Uraia and Thummaia consecrated to inquire for them, and the Jubilee trumpets in his hand for assembling, encamping, and ordering forward the host of Israel. And they warred against Midian, circumventing them from three corners, as the Lord had instructed Mosheh, and they killed every male; and they slew the kings of the Midianites with the slain of their armies, Evi, Rekem, Zur, who is Balak, and Hur and Reba, five kings of Midian; and Bileam bar Beor they killed with the sword. And it was when Bileam the guilty saw Phinehas the priest pursuing him, he made use of his magical arts, (lit., made words of enchantment,) and flew in the air of the heavens; but Phinehas forthwith pronounced the Great and Holy Name, and flew after him, and seized him by his head, and bringing him down drew the sword, and sought to kill him; but he opened his mouth with words of deprecation, and said to Phinehas: If thou wilt spare my life, I swear to thee that all the days I live I will not curse thy people. He answered him, and said: Art thou not Laban the Amarite who didst seek to destroy Jakob our father, who wentest down into Mizraim, to destroy his children, and, after they had come out of Mizraim, didst send the wicked Amalek against them; and hast thou not now been sent to curse them? But after thou hadst seen that thy works did not prosper, and that the Word of the Lord would not hear thee, thou didst give the evil counsel to Balak to set his daughters in the way to make them go wrong, when there fell of them twentyfour thousand. Therefore, it cannot be that thy life may be spared; and at once he drew the sword and slew him. (skip) And Mosheh and Elazar the priest, with all the heads of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. But Mosheh was angry with the leaders appointed over the host, the chiefs of thousands and of hundreds who came from the war with the host; and Mosheh said to them, Why have you spared all the women? These are they who caused the offence of the sons of Israel, by the counsel of Bileam, to do wrongly before the Lord in the matter of Peor, so that pestilence came upon the congregation of the Lord. Now, therefore, slay every male among the children, and every woman who hath known a man; but every female child you shall stand before the Crown of Holiness, (the priest's tiara,) and look upon her: she who is not a virgin will be pallid in the face, but she who is a virgin child will blush in the face, like fire; them you shall spare. But as for you, abide without the camp seven days; whoever hath slain a man, or touched the dead, you shall sprinkle on the third; and on the seventh day both you and your captives, and every garment, and whatever is made of skin, goats' hair, horn, or bone, and every vessel of wood, you shall sprinkle.

40 Deuteronomy 21-26
XXIII. A man should not take a wife who is bowed down (or violated), or who hath had intercourse with his father, much less his father's wife, nor disclose the skirt that covereth his father. He who is castrated is not fit to take a wife from the congregation of the Lord's people. He who is born of fornication, or who hath upon him the evil mark which is set upon the unclean Gentiles, is not fit to take an upright wife from the congregation of the people of the Lord; nor unto the tenth generation shall it be fit for him to enter into the congregation of the Lord. Neither an Ammonite nor a Moabite man is fit to take a wife from the congregation of the Lord's people, nor unto the tenth generation shall they take a wife from the congregation of the people of the Lord, because they met you not with bread and water in the way when you came from Mizraim, but hired against you Bileam bar Beor from Petho Chelmaya, which is built in the land of Aram upon the Phrat, to curse you; but the Lord your God would not hearken unto Bileam, but turned
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in his mouth curses into blessings, because the Lord your God loveth you. Ye shall not seek their peace or, their prosperity all your days, because, if even they become proselytes, they will entertain enmity in their hearts for ever. You shall not abhor an Edomite when he cometh to be a proselyte, for he is your brother; nor shall you abhor a Mizraite, because you were dwellers in their land. The children who are born to them in the third generation shalt be fit to take wives from thepeople of the congregation of the Lord. [E.O.Q.] The noted Jewish/Roman historian, Flavius Josephus also speaks at length about Balaam. This is what the great confirmer had to say:

Josephus Antiquities of the Jews, Book 4

CHAPTER 6 CONCERNING BALAAM THE PROPHET AND WHAT KIND OF MAN HE WAS.
1. NOW Moses, when he had brought his army to Jordan; pitched his camp in the great plain over against Jericho. This city is a very happy situation, and very fit for producing palm-trees and balsam. And now the Israelites began to be very proud of themselves, and were very eager for fighting. Moses then, after he had offered for a few days sacrifices of thanksgiving to God, and feasted the people, sent a party of armed men to lay waste the country of the Midianites, and to take their cities. Now the occasion which he took for making war upon them was this that follows :-2. When Balak, the king of the Moabites, who had from his ancestors a friendship and league with the Midianites, saw how great the Israelites were grown, he was much affrighted on account of his own and his kingdom's danger; for he was not acquainted with this, that the Hebrews would not meddle with any other country, but were to be contented with the possession of the land of Canaan, God having forbidden them to go any farther So he, with more haste than wisdom, resolved to make an attempt upon them by words; but he did not judge it prudent to fight against them, after they had such prosperous successes, and even became out of ill successes more happy than before, but he thought to hinder them, if he could, from growing greater, and so he resolved to send ambassadors to the Midianites about them. Now these Midianites knowing there was one Balaam, who lived by Euphrates, and was the greatest of the prophets at that time, and one that was in friendship with them, sent some of their honorable princes along with the ambassadors of Balak, to entreat the prophet to come to them, that he might imprecate curses to the destruction of the Israelites. So Balsam received the ambassadors, and treated them very kindly; and when he had supped, he inquired what was God's will, and what this matter was for which the Midianites entreated him to come to them. But when God opposed his going, he came to the ambassadors, and told them that he was himself very willing and desirous to comply with their request, but informed them that God was opposite to his intentions, even that God who had raised him to great reputation on account of the truth of his predictions; for that this army, which they entreated him to come and curse, was in the favor of God; on which account he advised them to go home again, and not to persist in their enmity against the Israelites; and when he had given them that answer, he dismissed the ambassadors. 3. Now the Midianites, at the earnest request and fervent entreaties of Balak, sent other

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ambassadors to Balaam, who, desiring to gratify the men, inquired again of God; but he was displeased at [second] trial (8) and bid him by no means to contradict the ambassadors. Now Balsam did not imagine that God gave this injunction in order to deceive him, so he went along with the ambassadors; but when the divine angel met him in the way, when he was in a narrow passage, and hedged in with a wall on both sides, the ass on which Balaam rode understood that it was a divine spirit that met him, and thrust Balaam to one of the walls, without regard to the stripes which Balaam, when he was hurt by the wall, gave her; but when the ass, upon the angel's continuing to distress her, and upon the stripes which were given her, fell down, by the will of God, she made use of the voice of a man, and complained of Balaam as acting unjustly to her; that whereas he had no fault find with her in her former service to him, he now inflicted stripes upon her, as not understanding that she was hindered from serving him in what he was now going about, by the providence of God. And when he was disturbed by reason of the voice of the ass, which was that of a man, the angel plainly appeared to him, and blamed him for the stripes he had given his ass; and informed him that the brute creature was not in fault, but that he was himself come to obstruct his journey, as being contrary to the will of God. Upon which Balaam was afraid, and was preparing to return back again: yet did God excite him to go on his intended journey, but added this injunction, that he should declare nothing but what he himself should suggest to his mind. (skip paragraph 4) 5. Thus did Balaam speak by inspiration, as not being in his own power, but moved to say what he did by the Divine Spirit. But then Balak was displeased, and said he had broken the contract he had made, whereby he was to come, as he and his confederates had invited him, by the promise of great presents: for whereas he came to curse their enemies, he had made an encomium upon them, and had declared that they were the happiest of men. To which Balaam replied, "O Balak, if thou rightly considerest this whole matter, canst thou suppose that it is in our power to be silent, or to say any thing, when the Spirit of God seizes upon us? - for he puts such words as he pleases in our mouths, and such discourses as we are not ourselves conscious of. I well remember by what entreaties both you and the Midianites so joyfully brought me hither, and on that account I took this journey. It was my prayer, that I might not put any affront upon you, as to what you desired of me; but God is more powerful than the purposes I had made to serve you; for those that take upon them to foretell the affairs of mankind, as from their own abilities, are entirely unable to do it, or to forbear to utter what God suggests to them, or to offer violence to his will; for when he prevents us and enters into us, nothing that we say is our own. I then did not intend to praise this army, nor to go over the several good things which God intended to do to their race; but since he was so favorable to them, and so ready to bestow upon them a happy life and eternal glory, he suggested the declaration of those things to me: but now, because it is my desire to oblige thee thyself, as well as the Midianites, whose entreaties it is not decent for me to reject, go to, let us again rear other altars, and offer the like sacrifices that we did before, that I may see whether I can persuade God to permit me to bind these men with curses." Which, when Balak had agreed to, God would not, even upon second sacrifices, consent to his cursing the Israelites. (9) Then fell Balaam upon his face, and foretold what calamities would befall the several kings of the nations, and the most eminent cities, some of which of old were not so much as inhabited; which events have come to pass among the several people concerned, both in the foregoing ages, and in this, till my own memory, both by sea and by land. From which completion of all these predicPage 22 of 38

tions that he made, one may easily guess that the rest will have their completion in time to come. 6. But Balak being very angry that the Israelites were not cursed, sent away Balaam without thinking him worthy of any honor. Whereupon, when he was just upon his journey, in order to pass the Euphrates, he sent for Balak, and for the princes of the Midianites, and spake thus to them: - "O Balak, and you Midianites that are here present, (for I am obliged even without the will of God to gratify you,) it is true no entire destruction can seize upon the nation of the Hebrews, neither by war, nor by plague, nor by scarcity of the fruits of the earth, nor can any other unexpected accident be their entire ruin; for the providence of God is concerned to preserve them from such a misfortune; nor will it permit any such calamity to come upon them whereby they may all perish; but some small misfortunes, and those for a short time, whereby they may appear to be brought low, may still befall them; but after that they will flourish again, to the terror of those that brought those mischiefs upon them. So that if you have a mind to gain a victory over them for a short space of time, you will obtain it by following my directions: - Do you therefore set out the handsomest of such of your daughters as are most eminent for beauty, and proper to force and conquer the modesty of those that behold them, and these decked and trimmed to the highest degree able. Then do you send them to be near camp, and give them in charge, that the young men of the Hebrews desire their allow it them; and when they see they are enamored of them, let them take leaves; and if they entreat them to stay, let give their consent till they have persuaded leave off their obedience to their own laws, the worship of that God who established them to worship the gods of the Midianites and for by this means God will be angry at them. Accordingly, when Balaam had suggested counsel to them, he went his way. 7. So when the Midianites had sent their daughters,as Balaam had exhorted them, the Hebrew men were allured by their beauty, and came with them, and besought them not to grudge them the enjoyment of their beauty, nor to deny them their conversation. These daughters of Midianites received their words gladly, and consented to it, and staid with them; but when they brought them to be enamored of them, and their inclinations to them were grown to ripeness, they began to think of departing from them: then it was that these men became greatly disconsolate at the women's departure, and they were urgent with them not to leave them, but begged they would continue there, and become their wives; and they promised them they should be owned as mistresses all they had. This they said with an oath, and called God for the arbitrator of what they promised; and this with tears in their eyes, and all such marks of concern, as might shew how miserable they thought themselves without them, and so might move their compassion for them. So the women, as soon as they perceived they had made their slaves, and had caught them with their conservation began to speak thus to them: (skip paragraph 8-12) 13. This was the cause why Moses was provoked to send an army to destroy the Midianites, concerning which expedition we shall speak presently, when we have first related what we have omitted; for it is but just not to pass over our legislator's due encomium, on account of his conduct here, because, although this Balaam, who was sent for by the Midianites to curse the Hebrews, and when he was hindered from doing it by Divine Providence, did still suggest that advice to them, by making use of which our enemies had well nigh corrupted the whole multitude of the Hebrews with their wiles, till some of them were deeply infected with their opinions; yet did he do him great honor, by setting
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down his prophecies in writing. And while it was in his power to claim this glory to himself, and make men believe they were his own predictions, there being no one that could be a witness against him, and accuse him for so doing, he still gave his attestation to him, and did him the honor to make mention of him on this account. But let every one think of these matters as he pleases. ENDNOTES (skip first 7 notes) (8) Note that Josephus never supposes Balaam to be an idolater, nor to seek idolatrous enchantments, or to prophesy falsely, but to be no other than an ill-disposed prophet of the true God; and intimates that God's answer the second time, permitting him to go, was ironical, and on design that he deceived (which sort of deception, by way of punishment for former crimes, Josephus never scruples to admit, as ever esteeming such wicked men justly and providentially deceived). But perhaps we had better keep here close to the text which says Num_23:20-21, that God only permitted Balaam to go along with the ambassadors, in case they came and called him, or positively insisted on his going along with them, on any terms; whereas Balaam seems out of impatience to have risen up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and rather to have called them, than staid for their calling him, so zealous does he seem to have been for his reward of divination, his wages of unrighteousness, Num_23:7, Num_23:17-18, Num_23:27; 2Pe_2:15; Jud_1:5, Jud_1:11; which reward or wages the truly religious prophets of God never required nor accepted, as our Josephus justly takes notice in the cases of Samuel, Antiq. B. V. ch. 4. sect. 1, and Daniel, Antiq. B. X. ch. 11. sect. 3. See also Gen_14:22-23; 2Ki_5:15-16, 2Ki_5:26-27; and Act_8:17-24. (9) Whether Josephus had in his copy but two attempts of Balaam in all to curse Israel; or whether by this his twice offering sacrifice, he meant twice besides that first time already mentioned, which yet is not very probable; cannot now be certainly determined. In the mean time, all other copies have three such attempts of Balaam to curse them in the present history. [E.O.Q.]

The Book of Jasher on Balaam: The Book of Jasher

Chapter 61 7 And after some time Angeas hearkened to the words of Zepho and consented to him to fight with the sons of Jacob in Egypt, and Angeas got all his people in order, a people numerous as the sand which is upon the sea shore, and he formed his resolution to go to Egypt to battle. 8 And amongst the servants of Angeas was a youth fifteen years old, Balaam the son of Beor was his name and the youth was very wise and understood the art of witchcraft. 9 And Angeas said unto Balaam, Conjure for us, I pray thee, with the witchcraft, that we may know who will prevail in this battle to which we are now proceeding. 10 And Balaam ordered that they should bring him wax, and he made thereof the likePage 24 of 38

ness of chariots and horsemen representing the army of Angeas and the army of Egypt, and he put them in the cunningly prepared waters that he had for that purpose, and he took in his hand the boughs of myrtle trees, and he exercised his cunning, and he joined them over the water, and there appeared unto him in the water the resembling images of the hosts of Angeas falling before the resembling images of the Egyptians and the sons of Jacob. 11 And Balaam told this thing to Angeas, and Angeas despaired and did not arm himself to go down to Egypt to battle, and he remained in his city. 12 And when Zepho the son of Eliphaz saw that Angeas despaired of going forth to battle with the Egyptians, Zepho fled from Angeas from Africa, and he went and came unto Chittim. Chapter 64 1 And Balaam the son of Beor was at that time with Angeas in the battle, and when he saw that Zepho prevailed over Angeas, he fled from there and came to Chittim. 2 And Zepho and the children of Chittim received him with great honor, for Zepho knew Balaam's wisdom, and Zepho gave unto Balaam many gifts and he remained with him. 6 And Balaam the son of Beor the Syrian was there in the camp of Zepho, for he came with the children of Chittim to the battle, and Balaam was a man highly honored in the eyes of Zepho and his men. 27 And Zepho said unto Balaam, Try by divination for us that we may know who will prevail in the battle, we or the Egyptians. 28 And Balaam rose up and tried the art of divination, and he was skillful in the knowledge of it, but he was confused and the work was destroyed in his hand. 29 And he tried it again but it did not succeed, and Balaam despaired of it and left it and did not complete it, for this was from the Lord, in order to cause Zepho and his people to fall into the hand of the children of Israel, who had trusted in the Lord, the God of their ancestors, in their war. Chapter 67 8 And it was after the death of the king of Chittim that Balaam the son of Beor fled from the land of Chittim, and he went and came to Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 And Pharaoh received him with great honor, for he had heard of his wisdom, and he gave him presents and made him for a counsellor, and aggrandized him. 10 And Balaam dwelt in Egypt, in honor with all the nobles of the king, and the nobles exalted him, because they all coveted to learn his wisdom. 18 And Balaam the son of Beor answered the king and said unto him, This means nothing else but a great evil that will spring up against Egypt in the latter days. 19 For a son will be born to Israel who will destroy all Egypt and its inhabitants, and
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bring forth the Israelites from Egypt with a mighty hand. 20 Now therefore, O king, take counsel upon this matter, that you may destroy the hope of the children of Israel and their expectation, before this evil arise against Egypt. 21 And the king said unto Balaam, And what shall we do unto Israel? surely after a certain manner did we at first counsel against them and could not prevail over them. 22 Now therefore give you also advice against them by which we may prevail over them. 23 And Balaam answered the king, saying, Send now and call thy two counsellors, and we will see what their advice is upon this matter and afterward thy servant will speak. 44 And the king said unto Balaam, What dost thou say, Balaam, speak thy word that we may hear it. 45 And Balaam said to the king, Of all that the king has counselled against the Hebrews will they be delivered, and the king will not be able to prevail over them with any counsel. 50 And the king heard the words of Balaam, and the thing pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Balaam. Chapter 69 4 And when Pharaoh king of Egypt saw that the counsel which Balaam had advised respecting the children of Israel did not succeed, but that still they were fruitful, multiplied and increased throughout the land of Egypt, 5 Then Pharaoh commanded in those days that a proclamation should be issued throughout Egypt to the children of Israel, saying, No man shall diminish any thing of his daily labor. Chapter 70 1 And in the third year from the birth of Moses, Pharaoh was sitting at a banquet, when Alparanith the queen was sitting at his right and Bathia at his left, and the lad Moses was lying upon her bosom, and Balaam the son of Beor with his two sons, and all the princes of the kingdom were sitting at table in the king's presence. 2 And the lad stretched forth his hand upon the king's head, and took the crown from the king's head and placed it on his own head. 3 And when the king and princes saw the work which the boy had done, the king and princes were terrified, and one man to his neighbor expressed astonishment. 4 And the king said unto the princes who were before him at table, What speak you and what say you, O ye princes, in this matter, and what is to be the judgment against the boy on account of this act? 5 And Balaam the son of Beor the magician answered before the king and princes, and
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he said, Remember now, O my lord and king, the dream which thou didst dream many days since, and that which thy servant interpreted unto thee. (skip 6-18) 19 If it please the king, let us now spill his blood upon the ground, lest he grow up and take away the government from thy hand, and the hope of Egypt perish after he shall have reigned. 20 And Balaam said to the king, Let us moreover call for all the judges of Egypt and the wise men thereof, and let us know if the judgment of death is due to this boy as thou didst say, and then we will slay him. 21 And Pharaoh sent and called for all the wise men of Egypt and they came before the king, and an angel of the Lord came amongst them, and he was like one of the wise men of Egypt. 22 And the king said to the wise men, Surely you have heard what this Hebrew boy who is in the house has done, and thus has Balaam judged in the matter. (skip 23-36) 37 And they told him all the counsels which Balaam the son of Beor had counselled against them, and what he had also counselled against him in order to slay him when he had taken the king's crown from off his head. 38 And when Moses heard these things his anger was kindled against Balaam, and he sought to kill him, and he was in ambush for him day by day. 39 And Balaam was afraid of Moses, and he and his two sons rose up and went forth from Egypt, and they fled and delivered their souls and betook themselves to the land of Cush to Kikianus, king of Cush. Chapter 72 1 And it was in those days that there was a great war between the children of Cush and the children of the east and Aram, and they rebelled against the king of Cush in whose hands they were. 2 So Kikianus king of Cush went forth with all the children of Cush, a people numerous as the sand, and he went to fight against Aram and the children of the east, to bring them under subjection. 3 And when Kikianus went out, he left Balaam the magician, with his two sons, to guard the city, and the lowest sort of the people of the land. 4 So Kikianus went forth to Aram and the children of the east, and he fought against them and smote them, and they all fell down wounded before Kikianus and his people. 5 And he took many of them captives and he brought them under subjection as at first, and he encamped upon their land to take tribute from them as usual. 6 And Balaam the son of Beor, when the king of Cush had left him to guard the city and the poor of the city, he rose up and advised with the people of the land to rebel against king Kikianus, not to let him enter the city when he should come home.
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(skip 7-13) 14 So the king and the troops approached the city door and they looked up and behold, all the gates of the city were closed, and they called out to the sentinels, saying, Open unto us, that we may enter the city. 15 But the sentinels refused to open to them by the order of Balaam the magician, their king, they suffered them not to enter their city. Chapter 73 27 So all the children of Cush went each to his home, to his wife and children and to all belonging to him. 28 And Balaam the magician, when he saw that the city was taken, he opened the gate and he and his two sons and eight brothers fled and returned to Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt. (See Josephus Antiquities of the Jews, Book 2, Chapter 10 for a really incredible story of Moses and his battles in Ethiopia. Credible seems to be the more operable word.) Chapter 79 27 And when they had gone Pharaoh sent for Balaam the magician and to Jannes and Jambres his sons, and to all the magicians and conjurors and counsellors which belonged to the king, and they all came and sat before the king. 28 And the king told them all the words which Moses and his brother Aaron had spoken to him, and the magicians said to the king, But how came the men to thee, on account of the lions which were confined at the gate? 29 And the king said, Because they lifted up their rod against the lions and loosed them, and came to me, and the lions also rejoiced at them as a dog rejoices to meet his master. (skip 31-38) 39 And Balaam the magician answered and said, This thing has been from the days of old, that a serpent should swallow its fellow, and that living things devour each other. Chapter 84 15 And Sihon sent messengers to Beor the son of Janeas, the son of Balaam, counsellor to the king of Egypt, and to Balaam his son, to curse Moab, in order that it might be delivered into the hand of Sihon. 16 And the messengers went and brought Beor the son of Janeas, and Balaam his son, from Pethor in Mesopotamia, so Beor and Balaam his son came to the city of Sihon and they cursed Moab and their king in the presence of Sihon king of the Amorites. 17 So Sihon went out with his whole army, and he went to Moab and fought against them, and he subdued them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands, and Sihon slew the king of Moab. 18 And Sihon took all the cities of Moab in the battle; he also took Heshbon from them, for Heshbon was one of the cities of Moab, and Sihon placed his princes and his nobles in Heshbon, and Heshbon belonged to Sihon in those days.

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19 Therefore the parable speakers Beor and Balaam his son uttered these words, saying, Come unto Heshbon, the city of Sihon will be built and established. 20 Woe unto thee Moab! thou art lost, O people of Kemosh! behold it is written upon the book of the law of God. 21 And when Sihon had conquered Moab, he placed guards in the cities which he had taken from Moab, and a considerable number of the children of Moab fell in battle into the hand of Sihon, and he made a great capture of them, sons and daughters, and he slew their king; so Sihon turned back to his own land. 22 And Sihon gave numerous presents of silver and gold to Beor and Balaam his son, and he dismissed them, and they went to Mesopotamia to their home and country. Chapter 85 42 And the elders of Midian said to Moab, We have heard that at the time when Sihon king of the Amorites fought against you, when he prevailed over you and took your land, he had sent to Beor the son of Janeas and to Balaam his son from Mesopotamia, and they came and cursed you; therefore did the hand of Sihon prevail over you, that he took your land. 43 Now therefore send you also to Balaam his son, for he still remains in his land, and give him his hire, that he may come and curse all the people of whom you are afraid; so the elders of Moab heard this thing, and it pleased them to send to Balaam the son of Beor. 44 So Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab sent messengers to Balaam, saying, 45 Behold there is a people come out from Egypt, behold they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me. 46 Now therefore come and curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me, peradventure I shall prevail to fight against them, and drive them out, for I heard that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and whom thou cursest is cursed. 47 So the messengers of Balak went to Balaam and brought Balaam to curse the people to fight against Moab. 48 And Balaam came to Balak to curse Israel, and the Lord said to Balaam, Curse not this people for it is blessed. 49 And Balak urged Balaam day by day to curse Israel, but Balaam hearkened not to Balak on account of the word of the Lord which he had spoken to Balaam. 50 And when Balak saw that Balaam would not accede to his wish, he rose up and went home, and Balaam also returned to his land and he went from there to Midian. Chapter 86 8 And the children of Israel warred against Midian, and they slew every male, also the five princes of Midian, and Balaam the son of Beor did they slay with the sword. [E.O.Q.]
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The Book of Jasher on Genealogy of Balaam

Chapter 67 5 In those days died Zepho the son of Eliphaz, son of Esau, king of Chittim, and Janeas reigned in his stead. 6 And the time that Zepho reigned over the children of Chittim was fifty years, and he died and was buried in the city of Nabna in the land of Chittim. 7 And Janeas, one of the mighty men of the children of Chittim, reigned after him and he reigned fifty years. Chapter 74 6 And in those days died Janeas king of the children of Chittim, and they buried him in his temple which he had built for himself in the plain of Canopia for a residence, and Latinus reigned in his stead. 7 In the twenty-second year of the reign of Moses over the children of Cush, Latinus reigned over the children of Chittim forty-five years. Chapter 79 26 And when Pharaoh heard their words he was greatly terrified before them, and he said to them, Go today and come back to me tomorrow, and they did according to the word of the king. 27 And when they had gone Pharaoh sent for Balaam the magician and to Jannes and Jambres his sons, and to all the magicians and conjurors and counsellors which belonged to the king, and they all came and sat before the king. (This identifies Pharaohs leading magicians and part of their genealogy.) Chapter 84 15 And Sihon sent messengers to Beor the son of Janeas, the son of Balaam, counsellor to the king of Egypt, and to Balaam his son, to curse Moab, in order that it might be delivered into the hand of Sihon. 16 And the messengers went and brought Beor the son of Janeas, and Balaam his son, from Pethor in Mesopotamia, so Beor and Balaam his son came to the city of Sihon and they cursed Moab and their king in the presence of Sihon king of the Amorites. [pause quote] (This gives quite a bit of genealogy: 1. Balaam {the elder} 2. Janeas {may have been king of Chittim} 3. Beor {of Pethor} 4. Balaam {the younger, also a resident of Pethor}) (Note: Chittim is thought by a predominance of scholars to be the island of Cyprus. The lower map on page 3 shows the island a few miles off the Mediterranean coast. As the crow would fly, Chittim was no further from Pethor than Mt. Hermon.)

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[resume quote] Chapter 85 42 And the elders of Midian said to Moab, We have heard that at the time when Sihon king of the Amorites fought against you, when he prevailed over you and took your land, he had sent to Beor the son of Janeas and to Balaam his son from Mesopotamia, and they came and cursed you; therefore did the hand of Sihon prevail over you, that he took your land. Chapter 30 18 And in the fourth year of Jacob's residence in the house of Laban, the Lord visited Laban and remembered him on account of Jacob, and sons were born unto him, and his first born was Beor, his second was Alib, and the third was Chorash. Chapter 31 54 And he hastened and sent off his son Beor, who was seventeen years old, with Abichorof the son of Uz, the son of Nahor, and with them were ten men. (Establishes time frame for Labans son Beor.) Chapter 57 41 And there was a man there from the people of Angeas king of Dinhabah; his name was Bela the son of Beor, who was a very valiant man, beautiful and comely and wise in all wisdom, and a man of sense and counsel; and there was none of the people of Angeas like unto him. (This Beor is likely the son of Laban, though not herein stated.) Chapter 58 20 And of the people of Esau and the children of the east that were slain, there fell before the sons of Jacob about two hundred thousand men, and their king Bela the son of Beor fell with them in the battle, and when the children of Esau saw that their king had fallen in battle and was dead, their hands became weak in the combat. Chapter 64 26 And Balaam the son of Beor the Syrian was there in the camp of Zepho, for he came with the children of Chittim to the battle, and Balaam was a man highly honored in the eyes of Zepho and his men. 27 And Zepho said unto Balaam, Try by divination for us that we may know who will prevail in the battle, we or the Egyptians. 28 And Balaam rose up and tried the art of divination, and he was skillful in the knowledge of it, but he was confused and the work was destroyed in his hand. 29 And he tried it again but it did not succeed, and Balaam despaired of it and left it and did not complete it, for this was from the Lord, in order to cause Zepho and his people to fall into the hand of the children of Israel, who had trusted in the Lord, the God of their ancestors, in their war. [E.O.Q.]

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From the Babylonian Talmud we have: (regarding Beor and Balaam)

08 Sanhedrin 20 It reads concerning Bil'am [Num. xxii. 5]: "The son of Beor." And [Num. xxiv. 3]: "Bil'am, his son Beor." Said R. Johanan: His father was a son to him what concerns prophecy. The Mishna says that Bil'am has no share in the world to come, but other nations will have. 08 Sanhedrin 21 It reads [Num. xxxi. 8]: "And the kings of Midian they slew, besides the rest of their men that were slain . . . and Bil'am, the son of Beor, they slew with the sword." What hath Bil'am to do there? Said R. Johanan: He went to take the reward for the twentyfour thousand Israelites who were killed through his advice. Said Mar Zutra b. Tubia in the name of Rabh: This is what people say: A camel wanted to get horns, and therefore the ears he possessed were cut off. [Josh. xiii. 22]: "And Bil'am, the son of Beor, the soothsayer." The soothsayer! Was he not a prophet? Said R. Johanan: At the beginning he was a prophet, but thereafter became a soothsayer. A Sadducaer said to R. Hanina: Are you aware of Bil'am's age when he was slain? And he answered: There is nothing written about it, but from [Ps. iv. 24]: "Let not the men of blood and deceit live out half their days," I understand that he must have been thirtytwo or thirty-three when he was killed. And the Sadducaer answered: Thou sayest well, as I saw the record of Bil'am, and it was written therein thirty-three years was Bil'am when he was killed by Pinehas, the murderer. [E.O.Q.]

The Book of Jubilees on Laban

XXIX. And it came to pass when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Laban went to shear his sheep; for they were distant from him a three days' journey. 2. And Jacob saw that Laban was going to shear his sheep, and Jacob called Leah and Rachel, and spake kindly unto them that they should come with him to the land of Canaan. 3. For he told them how he had seen everything in a dream, even all that He had spoken unto him that he should return to his father's house; and they said: "To every place whither thou goest we will go with thee." 4. And Jacob blessed the God of Isaac his father, and the God of Abraham his father's father, and he arose and mounted his wives and his children, and took all his possessions and crossed the river, and came to the land of Gilead, and Jacob hid 1 his intention from Laban and told him not. 5. And in the seventh year of the fourth week Jacob turned (his face) toward Gilead in the first month, on the twenty-first thereof. And Laban pursued after him and overtook Jacob in the mountain of Gilead in the third month, on the thirteenth thereof. 6. And the Lord did not suffer him to injure Jacob; for He appeared to him in a dream by night. And Laban spake to Jacob, 7. And on the fifteenth of those days Jacob made a feast for Laban, and for all who came with him, and Jacob sware to Laban that day, and Laban also to Jacob, that neither should cross the mountain of Gilead to the other with evil purpose. 8. And he made there a heap for a witness; wherefore the name of that place is called: "The Heap of Witness," after this heap. 2 9. But before they used to call the land of Gilead the land of the Rephaim; 3 for it was the land of the Rephaim, and the Rephaim were born (there), giants
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whose height was ten, nine, eight down to seven cubits. 10. 4 And their habitation was from the land of the children of Ammon to Mount Hermon, and the seats of their kingdom were Karnaim and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, and Msr, and Beon. 11. And the Lord destroyed them because of the evil of their deeds; for they were very malignant, and the Amorites dwelt in their stead, wicked and sinful, and there is no people to-day which hath wrought to the full all their sins, and they have no longer length of life on the earth. 4 12. And Jacob sent away Laban, and he departed into Mesopotamia, the land of the East, and Jacob returned to the land of Gilead. [E.O.Q.]

The Book of Jasher on Labans Wizardry

Chapter 31 40 And Rachel stole her father's images, and she took them and she concealed them upon the camel upon which she sat, and she went on. 41 And this is the manner of the images; in taking a man who is the first born and slaying him and taking the hair off his head, and taking salt and salting the head and anointing it in oil, then taking a small tablet of copper or a tablet of gold and writing the name upon it, and placing the tablet under his tongue, and taking the head with the tablet under the tongue and putting it in the house, and lighting up lights before it and bowing down to it. 42 And at the time when they bow down to it, it speaketh to them in all matters that they ask of it, through the power of the name which is written in it. 43 And some make them in the figures of men, of gold and silver, and go to them in times known to them, and the figures receive the influence of the stars, and tell them future things, and in this manner were the images which Rachel stole from her father. 44 And Rachel stole these images which were her father's, in order that Laban might not know through them where Jacob had gone. [E.O.Q.]

The Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on Labans Treachery and the Poisoning of Bethuel

05 Genesis 23-25 And the man entered the house, and Laban undid the gear of the camels, and gave the camels straw and provender; and water (to Eliezer) to wash his feet, and the feet of the men who were with him. And he set in order before him to eat, prepared food in which was poison to kill; but he objected to it, and said, I will not eat, until I have spoken my words. And he said, Speak. And he said, I am the servant of Abraham. And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and hath increased, and given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, servants and handmaids, and camels and asses. And Sarah; my master's wife, bare a son after she was old, and he hath given to him all that he hath. And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son from the daughers of the Kenaanites in whose land I dwell, but shall go to my kindred, and take a wife for my son. But I said to my master, Perhaps the woman will not come after me. And he said to me, The Lord before whom I worship will appoint His angel to be with thee, and will prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son from my household, from the race of my father's house. Then shalt thou be free from my oath:
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if, when thou art come to the house of my kindred, they give not to thee, thou shalt be free from thy oath. And I came to-day to the fountain, and said, Lord God of my master ABraham, if now Thou hast prospered the journey upon which I have come, behold, I stand at the fountain of water,--let the damsel who may come forth to fill, to whom I will say, Give me now a little water to drink from thy pitcher, and she say, Drink, and for thy camels also will I draw, be the wife whom the Lord hath prepared by His decree for my master's son. I had not yet finished speaking in the thoughts of my heart, when, behold, Rivekah came forth with the pitcher upon (her) shoulder, and went down to the fountain, and filled. And I said, Let me now drink. And she hastened and let down her pitcher from her, and said, Drink, and I will also give thy camels drink. And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nachor, whom Milcha bare to him. And I set the jewel upon her brow, and the bracelets on her hand, and bowed and worshipped before the Lord; and I blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the true way to take the daughter of master's brother for his son. And now, if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the south or to the north. And Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing hath come forth from before the Lord that Rivekah should be given to Izhak, and we cannot say to thee either evil or good. Behold, Rivekah is before thee, take and go, and let her be the wife of thy master's son, as the Lord hath spoken. And when Abraham's servant heard these words, he worshipped on the ground before the Lord. And the servant brought forth vessels of silver and of gold, and vestments, and gave them to Rivekah; and presents give he to her brother and to her mother. And they ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and passed the night. And he arose in the morning, and said, Send me away to my master. But as they were talking in the evening, Bethuel had eaten of that prepared food; and in the morning they found that he was dead. And the brother and mother said therefore, Let the damsel dwell with us the days of one year or ten months, and then she shall go. And he said, Hinder me not, when the Lord hath prospered my way; let me depart, and I will go to my master. And they said, We will call Rivekah, and hear what she says. And they called Rivekah, and said to her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. [E.O.Q.]

The dryness of this passage, notwithstanding, it clearly reveals Labans murderous intent to poison Eliezer and take possession of what was imagined to be his goods.

Final Disposition of Balaam

(repeating from page 16) 42 Numbers 30-32 XXXI. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Take retribution for the children of Israel from the Midianites; and afterward thou shalt be gathered to thy people. And Moses spake with the people, saying: Arm of you men, [JERUSALEM. Arm of you,] for the host to make war against Midian, to give the people of the Lord avengement upon Midian; a thousand of each tribe of all the tribes of Israel send ye to the war. And of the thou-

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sands of Israel fit men were chosen who gave up themselves, a thousand of a tribe, twelve thousand, armed for the war. And Mosheh sent them, a thousand of each tribe to the war, them and Phinehas bar Elazar the priest unto the war, with the Uraia and Thummaia consecrated to inquire for them, and the Jubilee trumpets in his hand for assembling, encamping, and ordering forward the host of Israel. And they warred against Midian, circumventing them from three corners, as the Lord had instructed Mosheh, and they killed every male; and they slew the kings of the Midianites with the slain of their armies, Evi, Rekem, Zur, who is Balak, and Hur and Reba, five kings of Midian; and Bileam bar Beor they killed with the sword. And it was when Bileam the guilty saw Phinehas the priest pursuing him, he made use of his magical arts, (lit., made words of enchantment,) and flew in the air of the heavens; but Phinehas forthwith pronounced the Great and Holy Name, and flew after him, and seized him by his head, and bringing him down drew the sword, and sought to kill him; but he opened his mouth with words of deprecation, and said to Phinehas: If thou wilt spare my life, I swear to thee that all the days I live I will not curse thy people. He answered him, and said: Art thou not Laban the Amarite who didst seek to destroy Jakob our father, who wentest down into Mizraim, to destroy his children, and, after they had come out of Mizraim, didst send the wicked Amalek against them; and hast thou not now been sent to curse them? But after thou hadst seen that thy works did not prosper, and that the Word of the Lord would not hear thee, thou didst give the evil counsel to Balak to set his daughters in the way to make them go wrong, when there fell of them twentyfour thousand. Therefore, it cannot be that thy life may be spared; and at once he drew the sword and slew him. [E.O.Q.]

At this point, weve presented a broad range of ancient scriptures for your examination.

Amazing conclusions may drawn, such as here that the Targum seems to imply that Phinehas and Balaam became airborne through supernatural means. I cant comment on the veracity of this text except to offer this quote from the Bible: Acts 8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. Check your Bible. As Balaam and Phineas flew, so did Philip, except in that Philip and Phineas likely used a different power source. Philip came out from Samaria and he went back to Samaria, and might I add, by a method that could very well qualify him as an ancient astronaut. I cant offer one shred of proof regarding their methods of transportation, but the Aramean magicians covered a whole lot of ground from Babel to Egypt and perhaps more remote areas of the globe as well. In Revelations 2:14, Jesus makes mention of the doctrine of Balaam being practiced well north of Turkey in Pergamum, well into the land of Greece. The apparent ease of Balaams flight and the Mesopotamian influence in Egyptian culture suggest that practitioners of Kinms brand of magic may have regularly booked demonic flights into Egypt and points far beyond. Simon Magus, a relatively amateur magician, by comparison to the Arameans, became fascinated with Philips ministry and dabbled with levitation. If youd like to know more about the depravity of Simon, check John Gills commentary on Acts 8:24 and the numerous references of the Ante-Nicean Fathers to the deeds of this wretch. According to this literature, he actually did learn to fly but soon crashed in an event that led to his death. Like Laban and other Aramean magicians, Simon derived much of his mystical power from the violent murder of an unsullied boy and like Laban used his head for conjuring. (See Volume 8 of the Ante-Nicean Fathers, 8.04.04, Chap. XIII. Simon Magus: Secret of His Magic) ETs and flying scoundrels have been with us a long time and are likely still amongst us.

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Untangling the Beors and Balaams After all the information thus far presented, I still havent given you a definitive answer on who really
is Balaam. The preceding Targum passage of Numbers 42:30-32 seems to imply that Balaam may actually be Laban. Gill disagrees. All Im prepared to offer is my opinion and it is that the Targum does not actually and literally mean that Balaam is Laban, rather that Balaam is patterned after Laban. Following the scriptures presented in this paper, one can easily determine that Laban was an unsavory character with evil intentions toward the children of Israel. One may suggest that there were more than one Balaam and one Beor. Lets look at some of the facts. We found that Laban was a sorcerer/poisoner who initially purposed to poison Eliezer when he was sent by Abraham to get a wife for Isaac. That lethal poison resulted in the death of his father, Bethuel. Note, also, the close relationship of Laban to Kemuel, the master of the Aramean magicians. Laban used the skull of a murdered first-born son to practice the art of divination. Rachel stole some of the idols from Labans witchcraft laboratory in order to thwart his evil actions toward Jacob, Rachel, Leah and company as they prepared to leave Paddan-aram. Somewhat hindered by this action, Laban sent his then 17 year-old son Beor ahead to Esau in an attempt to provoke trouble for Jacob. That Laban dispatched Beor to encircle Jacobs party is prototypical of what it appears to me that the Targum is indicating. Effectively, Laban unleashed the entire brood of Aramean magicians to perform evil against the family of Israel and this action continued through Egypt, Ethiopia and the wilderness journey as well as the campaign into Israel. After Balaams death, the Arameans continue to exist and even appear in Nebuchadnezzars court in the time of Daniel. The evil and unseen Prince of Persia may well have persisted to the time of the holocaust in Nazi Germany. Perhaps this evil Prince is still busy as thousands, perhaps millions, of bloodthirsty political partisans prepare to slaughter our children and grandchildren in conquest of world domination. Note also that all of the Aramean magicians who practiced mischief against the Israelites were rooted in essentially the same geographic area. Paddan-aram and Pethor are pretty much in the same country, up near the headwaters of the Euphrates River, in the area of the present day border between Turkey and Syria. Chittim, which seems to have contributed to the bloodline through Janeas is actually the island of Cyprus, a short way from Paddan-aram, off the Mediterranean and Turkish or Syrian coast. Alternately spelled Kittim its people are listed among the children of darkness in the War Scrolls. Lets consider the genealogy list on page 25 and try to complete it. By way of extending the list we may propose that the bloodline would have passed through Beor, Labans son, who he dispatched to foment trouble for Israel. In that case, We would have something like: 1. Laban 2. Beor 3. Balaam 4. Janeas (& Jambres) 5. Beor 6. Balaam Jacob Levi Kohath Amram Moses, Aaron & Miriam

I would postulate that the Balaam sixth in line from Laban was the one who was killed by Phinehas. He would have been just a little older than Moses. The Beor who is second from Laban would be the one he dispatched to pass ahead of Jacob to Esau. According to the quote of the Talmud on page 32, Balaam must be much younger than I would have guessed, likely being the great grandson of the wicked Balaam described in the Book of Jasher and the Targums. This might account for why the character of Balaam is portrayed somewhat less wickedly in the Bible than other ancient scriptures. Promi-

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nent patriarchs of the elect people are paralleled here to illustrate that the time reference of this genealogical lineup is not without merit If you should ask me why I researched this stuff and what I hope to accomplish by assembling it, I must tell you that I use history to try understanding whats going on today. Historical continuity appears to be a product of individual comprehension. In my heart and mind, Im convinced that Jesus is the real deal. As the reader, you must draw your own conclusions because many pieces of this great, panoramic historical puzzle have been thrown away, much to the delight of those who prefer unadulterated ignorance over imaginative speculation. The many fossils and megalithic structures remaining on this earth today have confounded even christians for hundreds of years. I sincerely believe that if we had the missing pieces, history would mesh perfectly with Jesus and thered be no loose ends. Jesus is the head of His Church, and I have no business trying to stand in between Him and anyone else. He hasnt given me a message to deliver. The commission that hes given to all Christians is the same that he has given to me. If anyone will listen to me to try to gain understanding of the gospel, I will do my best to try and explain it. Honestly, most people dont want to hear what Ive got to say, but if someone does its a wonderful privilege to try to explain it. I enjoy this stuff and hope someone else will be able to get some enjoyment from these sources. It all comes from free downloads off the internet, mainly E-sword and free E-sword modules. Enjoy and may God bless.

Addendum: What I attempted in this text was to provide information and sources regarding the world in which we live and its history. Though there are many, perhaps the major shortcoming of this document is that it fails to provide relevance to current events and the future. Please allow me to suggest the following list of links, each of which in its own way is outstanding. Steve Quayle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guum_Zmz-3E Tom Horn http://www.raidersnewsupdate.com/vaticana1.htm Paul McGuire http://www.paulmcguire.org/ Gary Stearman http://www.prophecyinthenews.com/about/gary-stearman/ IDE Thomas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1_BmEJ39DM Chuck Missler http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0gZMFD34Vc Other topics of interest: Og, a Jewish Fairy Tale http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/jftl/jftl05.htm
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From the Midrash: More information on Og. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090727171808AAwTI4F A Youtube video on giants and Ogs lineage. (Be forewarned this starts slowly.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOvhsuns1RI The Coming Strong Delusion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsZPRl878Zo Demonic Alien Agenda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtWxy4sJx78 Who Were the Mysterious Aramean Magicians http://www.scribd.com/doc/123776712/Who-Were-the-Mysterious-Aramean-Magicians

Daniel and Jubilee Numbers http://www.scribd.com/doc/118572394/Daniel-and-Jubilee-Numbers

Og the Giant: What Do the Ancient Scriptures Tell of Him? http://www.scribd.com/doc/149911977/Og-the-Giant-What-Do-Ancient-Scriptures-Tell-of-Him

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