Tweedle-Balaam and Tweedle-Balak

Old Testament
Book Four: Numbers
The approach to the promised land (cont'd)
Chapter 21: From the border of Edom to the plains of Moab
Israel in the plains of Moab
Chapter 22: Balaam is summoned to curse Israel
Chapter 23: Balaam fails to curse Israel
Chapter 24: Balaam continues to fail to curse Isreal, goes home

I don't know what to say about this section. It is actually a little more interesting than what's been going on, because it's not just rules, there is actually a little action. But it is very little action. Maybe I'm preoccupied, or just not in the mood, but I didn't follow Chapter 21 at all. It may just be that this book is so boring, mine eyes glazed over immediately. Israel is still traveling, still failing.

Then it starts talking about Balaam and Balak. It took me two chapters before I figured out which one was which. Balaam is some kind of seer, an oracle, something. Balak is a king. He summons Balaam to curse Israel. But Balaam goes to get a word from God, and what comes out is always a blessing on Israel rather than a curse. So, this is why the bible is so boring. The narrative technique is always exactly the same. Exactly the same thing happens over and over until the writer thinks he's made some point. This must be the twentieth-century B.C. version of drama. It happens three or four times, the exact same thing. Balak says, "Curse Israel." Balaam builds an alter and gives a prayer but it comes out as a compliment. So Balak yells at him and says do it again. That happens over and over, and that is it.

Finally, the big climax of this story, I'm not kidding, here it is: "Then Balaam arose and returned home, and Balak also went on his way." Num. 24:25. I guess that says it all.

--bibletoenail