He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
So he sent messengers to Balaam, son of Beor, who lived in Pethor by the river in his homeland. They were to invite him, saying, 'Look, there's a nation that came out of Egypt. They cover the land like a blanket, and they're camped right across from me.'
The writer is describing how Balak, king of Moab, sent messengers to hire a prophet named Balaam because he was afraid of the huge number of Israelites camped near his territory.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Numbers, the Israelites are wandering through the wilderness after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, having grown into a large nation that intimidates neighboring kings. King Balak of Moab sees this multitude as a threat to his territory and seeks supernatural help to counter them. He sends messengers to Balaam, a known prophet from Pethor in Mesopotamia, hoping he can curse the Israelites and drive them away.
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