Archaeological Evidence for the Biblical Balaam of Numbers
by Owen Borville
April 28, 2021
Bible, Archaeology
Evidence for the Biblical Balaam of the Book of Numbers (chapters 22-24) was found in 1967 the country Jordan at a site known as Dier'Alla, in the form of fragments of an ancient Aramaic text on a wall believed to be at least 2,800 years old. The text mentions the prophet Balaam three times as "Balaamson of Beor," giving strong evidence for the prophet of the Bible outside the Bible that complements the Biblical account.
According to the Biblical account in the Book of Numbers, Balaam was hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the rival Israelites as they approached them on their journey toward the Jordan River and the Promised Land. Upon the mission travelling on his donkey, an angel from God only allowed Balaam to give good prophecies about Israel and not curse them. The prophetic messages in chapter 24 are believed to foreshadow the throne of the future king David and Jesus Christ.
Other significances of this discovery include it being the oldest Aramaic inscription ever found, centuries older than the Dead Sea Scrolls. The mention or inscription of a Biblical figure exactly as found in the Biblical scriptures (Numbers 22-24) is unique and this is the only archaeological or historic figure from the Exodus event ever confirmed. (The Exodus event described from the Biblical Books of Exodus through Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.) The inscription was also found near where Balaam of the Bible was located (east of the Jordan River near the Israeli border), therefore helping confirm the authenticity.
by Owen Borville
April 28, 2021
Bible, Archaeology
Evidence for the Biblical Balaam of the Book of Numbers (chapters 22-24) was found in 1967 the country Jordan at a site known as Dier'Alla, in the form of fragments of an ancient Aramaic text on a wall believed to be at least 2,800 years old. The text mentions the prophet Balaam three times as "Balaamson of Beor," giving strong evidence for the prophet of the Bible outside the Bible that complements the Biblical account.
According to the Biblical account in the Book of Numbers, Balaam was hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the rival Israelites as they approached them on their journey toward the Jordan River and the Promised Land. Upon the mission travelling on his donkey, an angel from God only allowed Balaam to give good prophecies about Israel and not curse them. The prophetic messages in chapter 24 are believed to foreshadow the throne of the future king David and Jesus Christ.
Other significances of this discovery include it being the oldest Aramaic inscription ever found, centuries older than the Dead Sea Scrolls. The mention or inscription of a Biblical figure exactly as found in the Biblical scriptures (Numbers 22-24) is unique and this is the only archaeological or historic figure from the Exodus event ever confirmed. (The Exodus event described from the Biblical Books of Exodus through Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.) The inscription was also found near where Balaam of the Bible was located (east of the Jordan River near the Israeli border), therefore helping confirm the authenticity.
