The people of Moab were closely connected with the Midianites, both by the ties of nationality and religion. And Balak, the king of Moab, aroused the fears of the kindred people, and secured their co-operation in his designs against Israel by the message, "Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field." Balaam, an inhabitant of Mesopotamia, was reported to possess supernatural powers, and his fame had reached to the land of Moab. It was determined to call him to their aid. Accordingly, messengers of "the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian," were sent to secure his divinations and enchantments against Israel. 439


Patriarker og profeter kapitel 40. 224.     Fra side 438 i den engelske udgave.tilbage

Bileam

Moabitterne var nært knyttet til midjanitterne, både nationalt og religiøst, og Moabs konge, Balak, satte også skræk i broderfolket og sikrede sig deres samarbejde i kampen mod Israel med dette budskab: "Nu vil denne menneskemasse opæde alt, hvad der er rundt omkring os, som okserne opæder græsset på marken!" Bileam, som var fra Mesopotamien, blev anset for at være i besiddelse af overnaturlige kræfter, og hans ry var nået til Moabs land. Man besluttede at bede ham om hjælp. "Moabs og Midjans ældste" blev derfor sendt af sted for at sikre sig hans spådomsevner og trolddomsmagt i kampen mod Israel.

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