Numbers 23:5

Key Reflection

In Numbers 23:5, Balaam recounts to God that he has set up seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each, indicating his preparation for divination and sacrifice as part of the Moabite king Balak's plan to curse Israel. This detail would have resonated with the original audience, highlighting Balaam's commitment to his astrological and sacrificial duties, which were integral to his reputation as a soothsayer in ancient Near Eastern culture.