1 Then the people of Israel set out, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Balak means spoiler, destroyer. Moabites mean of the seed of Moab. They represent the consciousness of the body and materiality. Here, they signify the carnal mind, and are often associated with negligence. These ideas when ruled by the spoiler and destroyer must be replaced before we may progress spiritually.
3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many; Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.
4 And Moab said to the elders of Mid'ian, "This horde will now lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Be'or at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land 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.
6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Mid'ian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and gave him Balak's message.
8 And he said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring back word to you, as YHVH speaks to me"; so the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 And Gods came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"
10 And Balaam said to the Gods, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11 'Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"
12 And Gods said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."
Balaam is said to be a heathen sorcerer, as well as a true prophet, though not an Israelite, just as were Melchizedek, Job and Jethro. He was a famed priest-magician; a Wise Man from the East.
Balaam means lord and a gift of prophecy and has to do with the sun. This level of consciousness is at a spiritual level, for the sun symbolizes divine attributes, and ultimately Enlightenment. This level of consciousness seeks guidance from the awakened conscience, YHVH. He is told that he should not yield to the consciousness of Balak, the carnal self; for that which it seeks to destroy is the newly developing Spiritual Consciousness.
13 So Balaam rose in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your own land; for YHVH has refused to let me go with you."
14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."
15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than they.
16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: 'Let nothing hinder you from coming to me;
17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do; come, curse this people for me.'"
18 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 YHVH, my God, to do less or more.
19 Pray, now, tarry here this night also, that I may know what more YHVH will say to me."
20 And Gods came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only what I bid you, that shall you do."
At first, Balaam resisted temptation to yield. But this time, the carnal self offered even greater rewards and he was tempted. He returned to his conscience again, apparently hoping for a different decision. This time the answer was that he could go with them but only if he followed the instructions of the conscience. This apparent contradiction is difficult to explain if we interpret this as God, an external, omniscient God. But, realizing that this is the Spiritual Consciousness within him, we know that it is capable of temptation and doubt until its final Illumination." - "When ye stand, take heed lest ye fall."