Balak
The king of Moab who, terrified by Israel's numbers as they camped on his border, sent messengers to Pethor to hire the diviner Balaam to curse them. He offered honours and wealth, and moved Balaam from height to height so he could see the camp from different angles, building seven altars at each. Four times the oracle came out as blessing instead of curse, and Balak sent him home in fury with nothing paid. The episode is recalled in Micah and again in Revelation.
What we know — and how we know it
Where in scripture
NumbersJoshuaJudgesMicahRevelationBalak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Numbers 22:2
Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
Numbers 22:4 — Sends for Balaam
Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
Numbers 24:10
Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
Numbers 24:12
‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Yahweh’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says’?
Numbers 24:13
Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.
Numbers 24:25
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you,
Joshua 24:9
Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?
Judges 11:25
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In their own words — 8 recorded sayings
“So he sent men to Balaam, son of Beor, at Pethor by the River in the land of the children of his people, saying to him, See, a people has come out of Egypt, covering all the face of the earth, and they have put up their tents opposite to me: Come now, in answer to my prayer, and put a curse on this people, for they are greater than I: and then I may be strong enough to overcome them and send them out of the land: for it is clear that good comes to him who has your blessing, but he on whom you put your curse is cursed.” — Numbers 22:5-6
“And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you, requesting you with all my heart to come to me? why did you not come? am I not able to give you a place of honour?” — Numbers 22:37
“Then Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? I sent for you so that my haters might be cursed, and see, you have given them a blessing.” — Numbers 23:11
“And Balak said to him, Come with me now into another place from which you will not be able to see them all, but only the outskirts of them; and you will send curses on them from there.” — Numbers 23:13
“So he came to him where he was waiting by his burned offering with the chiefs of Moab by his side. And Balak said to him, What has the Lord said?” — Numbers 23:17
“Then Balak said to Balaam, If you will not put a curse on them, at all events do not give them a blessing.” — Numbers 23:25
“Then Balak said to Balaam, Come now, I will take you to another place; it may be that God will let you put a curse on them from there.” — Numbers 23:27
“Then Balak was full of wrath against Balaam, and angrily waving his hands he said to Balaam, I sent for you so that those who are against me might be cursed, but now, see, three times you have given them a blessing. Go back quickly to the place you came from: it was my purpose to give you a place of honour, but now the Lord has kept you back from honour.” — Numbers 24:10-11
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).