After two unsuccessful attempts to influence God to curse the Israelites, King Balak of Moab and Balaam the diviner/sorcerer were not yet ready to give up. Balak decided to try one more location---"the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert" (Nu 23:28). Rashi proposed that Balak might have chosen this location because he sensed that the Israelites would run into trouble related to it (see Numbers 25)
Again, they set up seven altars for the sacrifice of seven bulls and seven rams (verse 29). No expense would be spared in their efforts to persuade God to change his mind, despite what God had said already about that (verses 19-20).
Balaam decided to try a different approach this time. Instead of seeking to interpret omens, he "set his face toward the wilderness" (24:1). Commentator Michael Morales speculates that this time Balaam wanted to avoid contact with God and hoped to just curse Israel. In support of his proposal, he points to the wording of verse 1, observing that in the book of Ezekiel, one "sets one's face" before giving a prophecy of doom about some nation (Eze 6:2; 13:17; 20:46; 21:2; 25:2; 28:21; 29:2; 35:2; 38:2). This phrase in Numbers 24:1 may signal that Balaam intended to prophecy against Israel.
In any case, God did not allow Balaam to utter curses. Instead, he overpowered Balaam with his Spirit and forced Balaam to pronounce more blessings upon Israel. As we read elsewhere, God turned Balaam's curses into blessings (Dt 23:5; Josh 24:10; Neh 13:1-3).
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