Balaam traveled with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth to set the stage for a curse, but God ultimately used this journey to display His sovereignty and protect His people.
Balaam, who lived around the mid-to-late second millennium BC, was a prophet summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites (he was ultimately thwarted by God). In Numbers 22:39, we see the moment following Balaam’s agreement to come at Balak’s summons: So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. (v.39) This event unfolds as Balaam journeys from his home near the Euphrates River to the land of Moab, emphasizing just how determined Balak was to secure a curse against the Israelites. Kiriath-huzoth, the destination named here, was likely a significant urban site within Moab’s territory, known by a term that could mean “city of streets” or “a place of many quarters.” Its exact location is uncertain, but it was situated east of the Dead Sea, in the region where the ancient Moabite kingdom thrived.
When Balaam arrives, he is entering a land directly across from the plains where Israel camped before entering Canaan. The passage reveals how Balak hoped the prophet would use his spiritual influence against God’s people, since Balak feared Israel’s growing strength. Politically, this underscores the tension between Israel and Moab, as Balak and his people had witnessed Israel’s victories over other nations in the wilderness. Balaam himself had fame as a prophet whose blessings and curses carried great weight, and Balak spared no effort—including money and prestige—to enlist Balaam’s power. The narrative that follows in Numbers shows God’s sovereign hand in preventing Balaam from cursing the Israelites, even as Balaam wrestled with his own covetous desire for Balak’s reward.
Spiritually, the arrival in Kiriath-huzoth highlights the conflict between following God’s will versus yielding to worldly enticements. God had given Balaam specific directives not to curse His covenant people, yet Balaam still toyed with the offer of riches from Balak. In the larger arc of the Bible, it foreshadows the timeless struggle believers face when confronted with temptations that promise earthly gain over faithful obedience. Jesus would later teach that one cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), affirming that God alone deserves our ultimate loyalty and that pursuit of worldly reward often leads us astray from His revealed purpose.
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Numbers 22:39 meaning
Balaam, who lived around the mid-to-late second millennium BC, was a prophet summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites (he was ultimately thwarted by God). In Numbers 22:39, we see the moment following Balaam’s agreement to come at Balak’s summons: So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. (v.39) This event unfolds as Balaam journeys from his home near the Euphrates River to the land of Moab, emphasizing just how determined Balak was to secure a curse against the Israelites. Kiriath-huzoth, the destination named here, was likely a significant urban site within Moab’s territory, known by a term that could mean “city of streets” or “a place of many quarters.” Its exact location is uncertain, but it was situated east of the Dead Sea, in the region where the ancient Moabite kingdom thrived.
When Balaam arrives, he is entering a land directly across from the plains where Israel camped before entering Canaan. The passage reveals how Balak hoped the prophet would use his spiritual influence against God’s people, since Balak feared Israel’s growing strength. Politically, this underscores the tension between Israel and Moab, as Balak and his people had witnessed Israel’s victories over other nations in the wilderness. Balaam himself had fame as a prophet whose blessings and curses carried great weight, and Balak spared no effort—including money and prestige—to enlist Balaam’s power. The narrative that follows in Numbers shows God’s sovereign hand in preventing Balaam from cursing the Israelites, even as Balaam wrestled with his own covetous desire for Balak’s reward.
Spiritually, the arrival in Kiriath-huzoth highlights the conflict between following God’s will versus yielding to worldly enticements. God had given Balaam specific directives not to curse His covenant people, yet Balaam still toyed with the offer of riches from Balak. In the larger arc of the Bible, it foreshadows the timeless struggle believers face when confronted with temptations that promise earthly gain over faithful obedience. Jesus would later teach that one cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), affirming that God alone deserves our ultimate loyalty and that pursuit of worldly reward often leads us astray from His revealed purpose.