Joshua 13:22 kjv
Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
Joshua 13:22 nkjv
The children of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, among those who were killed by them.
Joshua 13:22 niv
In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination.
Joshua 13:22 esv
Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel among the rest of their slain.
Joshua 13:22 nlt
The Israelites had also killed Balaam son of Beor, who used magic to tell the future.
Joshua 13 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 22:4-6 | ...Balak the son of Zippor... sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor... | Balaam first called by Balak |
| Num 22:28 | Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey... | God speaks through donkey to Balaam |
| Num 23:7-10 | ...Balak has brought me from Aram... Come, curse Jacob for me... | Balaam blesses Israel instead of cursing |
| Num 24:15-17 | ...a star shall come out of Jacob; a scepter shall rise out of Israel... | Balaam's final prophetic blessings of Israel |
| Num 25:1-3 | ...the people began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women... | Israel's sin at Peor through Moabite women |
| Num 31:8 | They killed the kings of Midian... Also Balaam the son of Beor they killed | Initial fulfillment of Balaam's death prophecy |
| Num 31:16 | These, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treache- | Balaam's role in the Peor apostasy |
| Deut 23:4-5 | ...they did not meet you with food and water... because they hired Balaam | Israel remembered Balaam's intent to curse them |
| Josh 13:21 | all the kings of the Midianites, Evi, Rekem... whom Moses had killed. | Immediate context: death of Midianite kings |
| 1 Cor 10:8 | We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did... twenty- | Echoes Israel's sin influenced by Balaam |
| Deut 18:10-12 | There shall not be found among you anyone who burns... a soothsayer... | Law forbidding soothsaying like Balaam's |
| Isa 44:25 | who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners... | God's sovereign control over false divination |
| Jer 27:9-10 | So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers... | Warning against false spiritual guides |
| Mic 6:5 | O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised... and what Balaam... | Balaam as a reminder of past threat |
| Neh 13:2 | because they had not met the people of Israel with food... hired Balaam... | Nehemiah mentions Balaam in historical context |
| 2 Pet 2:15-16 | They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of | Balaam as an example of false teachers for gain |
| Jude 1:11 | Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain and abandoned them- | Balaam mentioned for greedy deception |
| Rev 2:14 | But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold | Balaam's teaching as an example of corrupt doctrine |
| Ps 78:36 | But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their... | Depicts the hypocrisy/deception that led to sin, resonant with Balaam's counsel |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life | General principle of sin's consequence, Balaam's death is an illustration |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he | Balaam reaped what he sowed with his counsel |
Joshua 13 verses
Joshua 13 22 Meaning
This verse states that Balaam, son of Beor, the soothsayer, was among those whom the people of Israel killed with the sword. It serves as an interjection in the text of Joshua 13, which is primarily concerned with the distribution of the land. It confirms the execution of a key antagonist from the wilderness journey, solidifying the completion of a specific judgment prophesied against him.
Joshua 13 22 Context
Joshua chapter 13 transitions from a summary of completed conquests (chapters 10-12) to the intricate process of land distribution among the Israelite tribes. Although Moses had conquered the land east of the Jordan, much territory still remained to be possessed, particularly in the west. This verse acts as a parenthetical note, detailing a specific, important event from the preceding conquest of the Transjordan. It reaffirms the fulfillment of God's judgment against Israel's enemies, including one who caused them great spiritual harm. This brief interjection reminds the reader of critical divine justice carried out by Israel before focusing on the inheritance. Historically, Balaam's demise took place during the punitive war against Midian after the Moabite seduction at Peor (Numbers 31), highlighting that even those with supernatural access who sought to undermine God's people faced His ultimate judgment.
Joshua 13 22 Word analysis
- Balaam (בִּלְעָם֙, Bil'am): A well-known figure from the Book of Numbers, distinctively a non-Israelite prophet from Mesopotamia who was hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse Israel. Despite being used by God to pronounce blessings upon Israel, he later counseled Balak to lure Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality, leading to the plague at Peor. His identity signifies a potent spiritual threat to Israel.
- also (גַּם, gam): This small word is significant as it links Balaam's death directly with "the rest of their slain" (verse 21), implying he received no special treatment or exemption despite his unique, prophetic encounter with God. He died as an enemy.
- the son of Beor (בֶן־בְּעוֹר, ben-Be'or): A standard patronymic identifying his lineage. This consistent biblical naming confirms it is the same Balaam throughout the narratives, removing any ambiguity.
- the soothsayer (הַקּוֹסֵם֙, ha-qosem): The Hebrew term qosem refers to a diviner or practitioner of augury, forbidden by Mosaic Law (Deut 18:10). This label identifies his core practice, which stood in stark contrast to true prophecy from Yahweh. While Balaam was forced by God to speak divine blessings, his inherent inclination and professional identity remained that of a forbidden diviner, underscoring why he met a dire end. It highlights the divine distinction between genuine divine revelation and pagan practices.
- did the people of Israel kill (הָרְג֨וּ בְּנֵי֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, hargehu b'nei Yisrael): Directly attributes the act to the Israelite nation, acting as God's instrument of judgment. It emphasizes their obedient participation in the conquest.
- with the sword (בְּחֶ֣רֶב, be-ḥereb): The conventional weapon of war and execution in the ancient Near East, symbolizing a direct, decisive, and final judgment.
- among the rest of their slain (עַל־חַלְלֵיהֶֽם, ‘al-ḥaleleihem): This phrase further emphasizes that Balaam was not distinct in his death; he perished like any other enemy who resisted or harmed God's people. Despite his spiritual experiences and abilities, his ultimate actions placed him firmly among those under divine condemnation, and thus, he suffered the same fate.
Joshua 13 22 Bonus section
This verse, though concise, serves multiple purposes in the narrative. It reinforces the thoroughness of God's judgment against all who seek to undermine His people, even through deceptive spiritual means. It also validates Israel's military success and their role as agents of divine judgment. The mention of Balaam here, while seemingly out of sequence for land division in Transjordan, specifically grounds the conquest in divine command and moral necessity, emphasizing that those who bring spiritual harm to God's chosen will not escape accountability. It highlights a recurring biblical theme that even those gifted with spiritual insight or revelation, if corrupt in character and intent, will ultimately face God's just wrath alongside other unrighteous adversaries.
Joshua 13 22 Commentary
Joshua 13:22 serves as a pivotal, parenthetical confirmation of God's justice. Balaam, a man uniquely encountered by God and forced to utter divine blessings over Israel, eventually misused his prophetic influence by advising Balak to corrupt the Israelites through pagan sensuality and idolatry at Peor. His death "with the sword" by "the people of Israel" is a definitive act of divine retribution, fulfilling the judgment initially recorded in Numbers 31:8. His identification as "the soothsayer" highlights his illegitimate profession in God's eyes, despite temporary divine inspiration, confirming that even individuals granted glimpses of God's truth are not exempt from judgment if their hearts remain aligned with wickedness and their counsel leads God's people astray. His end, "among the rest of their slain," underscores that despite any past 'fame' or perceived spiritual power, he was merely an enemy justly removed by God's hand through His people. It exemplifies the principle that divine knowledge misused for corrupt purposes ultimately leads to severe consequences. This serves as a warning against spiritual compromise and leading others into sin.