Plain Truth 1962 (Vol XXVII No 08) Aug - Lcgmn.com

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Tbe PLAIN TRUTH
to meet Balaam and the princes. The caravan set out at once, and stopped at a town
in the northeast corner of Moab--about as close as Balak could get to the caravan
coming ftom Pethot without going into another nation. This town was on the well·
used ttail to Pethor and the Euphrates river region, and it was there that the rwo
cara vans met. (Verse 36.)
Balaam Again Weakens
"Why didn't you come to Moab the first time I sent for you)" king Balak asked
Balaam a little impatiently. "Didn't you tealize that I am able to give you a high and
honotable position in my government, as well as the treasure my men offered you'"
Balaam was happy to hear the treasure mentioned again. He had again begun to
rhink more about it and less about the warning God gave through His angel.
"It was difficult fot me to leave Pethor when your first caravan arrived," Ba·
laam repl ied. "Here I am at last, but I want you to know that 1 have no power to curse
or to bless any nation unless my God gives me that power. I can speak only what I
am told to speak." (Vetses 37·38.) Balaam was careful to speak in such a way thal
king Balak would not give up, but would keep trying harder to buy his setvices. He
had become greedy for the reward Balak promised. ( II Peter 2: 15-16; Jude 11.)
As Balaam hoped, his statement didn't discou rage Balak. The king was convinced
that the prophet somehow could manage to bring down his God's wrath on
Istael. He correctly believed that Balaam's statement perhaps meant that the price
would be higher rhan anything Balak had already offered. Whatever the price, the
king was willing to pay and was pleased to take Balaam with him farther into Moab,
to the town of Kirjath.h1lzoth, which means "a city of streets." Its many fine streets
made it a good place for a festive occasion to celebrate Balaam's arrival.
Because the king and princes of Moab and Midian were present, there was a great
celebration that night in the town where rugged men who dealt in sheep and cattle
often came for business and entertainment. Kirjath-huzoth was something like an
, ancient Middle East version of ao American cattle tOwn of a century ago. Streets were
\ ablaze with torches. Carefree, pleasure-seeking sheepherders and cattledrivers whooped
and yelled as they moved in aod Out of the various establishments of the town.
The festive feeling was further promoted when the king ordered his musicians,
entertainers and dancing girls to perform their best and loudest in the streets and market
place. Although Balaam realized that tllis festivity was at least partly in his honor,
he was uncomfortable because it was coming from such boisterous idol worshippers.
He was even less at ease when he noticed a huge fire being built at a street intersection,
and was told thac the Moabites \Vere about to sacrilice oxen and sheep to their