Numbers 22:5 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

He sent messengers Ancient history informs us that it was a general custom among most of the heathen nations, before they took up arms, to consult their gods by oracles and other methods of divination, about the event of the war. Thus the king of Moab is desirous, before he engaged in this war, to know the event, to interest the gods in his cause, and turn their power against his enemies. Unto Balaam He is called a soothsayer, or diviner, Joshua 13:22; and is thought by some to have used enchantments; see on chap. Numbers 24:1. And it was the opinion of the generality of the fathers, as it is of numbers of commentators, that he was a mere magician, a false prophet, and idolater. But that he was a true prophet, or one who had revelations from the true God, is evident from 2 Peter 2:16, compared with Numbers 22:8-13; Numbers 24:1. And indeed no prophet in Israel could speak of God more reverently, and yet in more familiar terms, than he does, Numbers 22:18. The Jewish writers say that he had been a great prophet, who, for the accomplishment of his predictions, and the answers of his prayers, had been justly looked upon as a man having great interest with God. But the history shows that afterward his covetousness and ambition got the better of his piety, and that God departed from him. Beor Or Bosor, (2 Peter 2:15,) for he had two names, like many others. Pethor A city of Mesopotamia. By the river Euphrates, called the river, by way of eminence, and here the river of Balaam's land, or country, namely, of Mesopotamia.