Joshua 13:22 Meaning and Explanation
“Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Balaam son of Beor, the diviner, was among those Israel killed by the sword.
What Does Joshua 13:22 Mean?
A particular name surfaces from the slain: Balaam son of Beor, called here the soothsayer. Hired to curse Israel, he had been compelled instead to bless them, yet later counseled the snare that led Israel into sin. He fell among the Midianites Israel defeated.
Balaam's end is a sobering verse. A man who once heard God's word and spoke true blessing nevertheless perished outside the covenant, undone by the love of reward and the craft of cursing what God had blessed. His story warns that gifts of speech and even glimpses of revelation cannot save a heart set against God's people. The diviner who tried to turn God's blessing into a curse found that no enchantment prevails against those the LORD has chosen to bless.
Joshua 13:22 in the Original Language
qosem (קֹסֵם), 'soothsayer' -- one who practices divination, here marking Balaam as opposed to the true word of the LORD.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua 13:22
What does Joshua 13:22 mean?
Balaam son of Beor, the diviner, was among those Israel killed by the sword.