So Balak…sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people 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. Come now, curse this people for me.” [Numbers 22:4b-6a (ESV)]
When reading the narratives of the Old Testament, it’s tempting to think that some of the stories are more legend than history. Take the story of Balaam, the pagan prophet hired by King Balak to curse the Israelites, who ended up blessing the Israel and pronouncing disaster on its enemies. Since this took place around 1407 BC, it’s easy to question the story’s accuracy. Balaam’s existence, however, has extra-biblical non-Israelite confirmation.
Over 2,800 years ago, the story of Balaam, “a divine seer,” who pronounced doom to his own people, was written in red and black ink on the plaster wall of a building in the ancient city of Deir ‘Alla in present day Jordan (about 25 miles from where the incident recorded in Numbers 21 took place). The building collapsed as the result of an earthquake around 760 BC (an event referenced in the books of Amos and Zechariah). In 1967, 119 fragments of Balaam’s story were found in the building’s rubble. Probably written about 800 BC, the text begins with the title, “Warnings from the Book of Balaam the son of Beor. He was a seer of the gods.” It continues with, “The misfortunes of the book of Balaam son of Beor. A divine seer was he.” Two more times in the first four lines, the prophet is referred to as “the son of Beor” just as he is in the Hebrew Bible. Referencing “the Book of Balaam” indicates that the wall’s words were copied from an earlier text and that the original material was older than the writing on the wall. While the Deir ‘Alla story mentions pagan gods, the God whose visit caused the prophet to weep bitterly is referred to as “El Shaddai,” which is how the God of Israel was referenced during this time.
The wall’s text tells us that Balaam was well known as a “cursing prophet” and much of the Deir ‘Alla text is given to the prophet’s many curses. These ancient wall fragments help explain why King Balak’s representatives traveled 400 miles to hire Balaam to curse the Israelites. Although the story on the wall, with its mention of other gods and goddesses, doesn’t exactly match the version in Numbers, one would expect a pagan people to put their slant on it and, with only a portion of the wall existing, we have only part of the story. Nevertheless, we know Balaam did exist.
When archeologists wondered why Balaam’s book would be written on the wall of a building in Deir ‘Alla, their answer was found in eleven clay tablets found in the same area. Dating from 1200 BC or earlier (the time of Balaam), they identify Deir ‘Alla as Pethor (Balaam’s home in the Hebrew Scriptures) and speak of the “smiters of Pethor.” If this “divine seer” lived in what is now Deir ‘Alla, it is not surprising that his story would be preserved in his hometown. While these fragments of wall and tablets don’t prove Balaam’s story in Numbers, they certainly back it up. However, there is no doubt that Balaam existed; he was a real prophet, well-known for casting curses, who lived on the east side of the Jordan, and was revered for centuries after his death.
While more ancient artifacts are being discovered every year, archeology is based on what’s been left behind, discovered, and deciphered. Many pieces are missing in the puzzle and the fragmentary nature of archeological evidence makes it impossible to recreate the Middle East’s complete history. Fortunately, we don’t need every biblical event to be confirmed by archeology because we accept the Bible as the Word of God. Scripture doesn’t need proof because it comes with the authority of God; saying archeology proves the Bible gives it more authority than that given to Scripture. Let us remember that, long before there were archeologists, Jesus accepted Scripture’s authority, cited it frequently, and attributed its words directly to God. If it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us!
Nevertheless, as time goes on and bits and pieces of ancient history are discovered and analyzed, we find that archeology continues to support the Bible. Extra-biblical evidence for Scripture’s people, places, and events continue to be found and verified. Archeological findings like those at Deir ‘Alla pose a problem for skeptics who’d prefer to think of the exodus, Israel’s wilderness wanderings, and the conquest of Canaan as things of legend. Since there is extra-biblical verification that Balaam was real, they should be cautious of dismissing other people like Balak, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and the Israelites! Who knows what archeological treasures are hidden under the feet of those who walk in the Holy Land today?
Before stepping inside of the Bern Münster Cathedral, you’ll probably stop and stare at the archway above the main entrance. There you’ll see 294 carved sandstone figures in a graphic illustration of God’s final judgment when the wicked are separated from the righteous. To your right are the naked damned souls in the midst of flames while, on your left, the righteous stand clothed in white and marked with the seal of God on their foreheads. Lady Justice with her scales and the Archangel Michael with his sword stand in the center. The entire scene is surrounded by larger statues of various saints and martyrs as well as the five wise virgins and the five foolish ones who weren’t ready for the bridegroom’s return!
When writing about nitroglycerin recently, I realized there’s something else in our lives much like this strange chemical that is both helpful and harmful. Like nitroglycerin, man’s capabilities are a dichotomy between good and evil, constructive and destructive, and beneficial or detrimental. The same mind capable of creating a vaccine that saves thousands of lives is capable of creating a nuclear bomb that can take those lives. James speaks of this incongruity when writing about the way we use our words, “We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself. Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen.” [3:9-10]
Proof of the truth is no substitute for our faith; nevertheless, it is important to know the truth of what we believe. At some point, we will ask ourselves how we can believe the validity of what we’re reading in our Bibles. Fortunately, we have Christian apologists to help us see its truth. Rather than offering apologies for the wrongs committed by evil people in the name of Jesus, apologists share the objective reasons and evidence that Christianity is true and should be believed. The Apostle Paul was probably the first apologist when he showed that Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture’s prophecies proved He was the Messiah. Paul knew that the truth could stand up to scrutiny and it still does today. As for those prophecies: by conservative estimate, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies while on earth.
Devotions of the Heart 