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Bilam (Balaam) בלעם הרשע

Bilam son of Beor was a prophet of the nations whom Balak king of Moav hired to curse the Jews; instead he blessed them.

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Bilam son of Beor was a prophet of the nations, from Pesor. Balak son of Tzippor, king of Moav, hired him to curse the Jews (Bamidbar 22).

On the way an angel blocked him and his donkey spoke to him (22:28). When he arrived he could only say what Hashem put in his mouth, and instead of cursing he blessed, up to 'How goodly are your tents, Yaakov' (24:5).

Later Bilam advised leading the Jews to sin at Baal Peor (31:16; see ch. 25), and he was killed in the war with Midian (31:8).

Pirkei Avos (5:19) says the disciples of Bilam have 'an evil eye, a haughty spirit and a greedy soul'. The Gemara discusses him in Sanhedrin 105. Chazal say that among the nations there was a prophet like Moshe — Bilam (Sifrei, Vezos HaBracha).

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Sources

  1. 1במדבר כ"ב (Numbers 22)
  2. 2במדבר כ"ג (Numbers 23)
  3. 3במדבר כ"ד (Numbers 24)
  4. 4במדבר ל"א (Numbers 31)
  5. 5אבות ה':י"ט
  6. 6סנהדרין ק"ה ע"א
  7. 7ספרי דברים שנ"ז
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Last reviewed: October 21, 2026. Spotted an error? Let us know.

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