Once again, we find that if we limit our understanding of Balaam to the narrative that holds the bulk of his story, we will come to an incomplete and, in this case, wrong conclusion. Aaron has died, and the people of God have wandered for thirty-nine and a half years in the wilderness. King Balak wants to put a curse on these Hebrews before they see him destroyed, and he hires Balaam to do the cursing.

Balaam seems almost holy and righteous as he insists he can only say what God directs him to say and subsequently blesses the people of God four separate times. Balak becomes more unhinged each time until he says, "I called you to curse my enemies and behold, you have blessed them these three times. I would have honored you, but the Lord has held you back from honor." Again, Balaam seems noble as he says, "If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak?"...