Joshua 24 9

Joshua 24:9 kjv

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:

Joshua 24:9 nkjv

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose to make war against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.

Joshua 24:9 niv

When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you.

Joshua 24:9 esv

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you,

Joshua 24:9 nlt

Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you,

Joshua 24 verses

Joshua 24 9 Meaning

The verse "Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel, and he sent and invited Balaam son of Beor to curse you" recounts a specific historical event during Israel's journey through the wilderness. It serves as a stark reminder of God's active protection and powerful intervention on behalf of His people, despite the malicious intent of their enemies. It emphasizes that even powerful rulers and renowned diviners like Balaam could not circumvent God's divine plan or harm those whom He chose to bless. This incident underscores God's unwavering faithfulness and Israel's past deliverance from formidable spiritual and physical opposition, reinforcing the covenant presented by Joshua at Shechem.

Joshua 24 9 Context

Joshua 24 records Joshua's final address to the Israelites at Shechem, where he gathers all the tribes to renew their covenant with the LORD before his death. This chapter functions as both a historical review and a powerful exhortation, reminding the people of God's unwavering faithfulness from the call of Abraham to their successful settlement in the Promised Land. Joshua meticulously recounts specific instances of divine intervention, including God's deliverance from Egypt, His steadfast provision in the wilderness, and His decisive overcoming of their enemies. Verse 9 specifically highlights Balak's desperate attempt to curse Israel, emphasizing how God sovereignly transformed this malicious intent into a blessing, profoundly demonstrating His protective power even against supernatural attacks. Historically, this event took place towards the end of Israel's 40-year wilderness wandering, just before their entry into Canaan, in the plains of Moab (Numbers 22-24). Balak's deep fear of the numerous and victorious Israelites led him to seek a sorcerer, reflecting the widespread ancient Near Eastern belief in the potent efficacy of divination and curses as means to influence outcomes in warfare or tribal conflicts.

Joshua 24 9 Word analysis

• Then Balak (בָּלָק, Bālāq): The king of Moab, a key historical antagonist. His name, possibly meaning "devastator" or "waster," is ironically fitting given his intent against Israel. As a royal figure, he personifies human opposition driven by fear, and his actions reflect the political and military tensions of the era against God's advancing people.
• son of Zippor (צִפֹּור, Ṣippôr): This patronymic, meaning "bird" or "sparrow," adds specificity to Balak's identity. While seemingly minor, such details reinforce the historicity of the biblical account and the narrative's grounding in actual figures.
• king of Moab: Identifies his high status, power, and the nation he led. Moab, descended from Lot (Gen 19:37), was a powerful neighbor to the east of the Dead Sea and frequently antagonistic toward Israel. A king's power often included employing supernatural means, explaining his appeal to Balaam.
• arose and fought against Israel: The verb "fought" (lacham, לָחַם) here should be understood beyond mere physical combat. Balak's primary "fighting" involved attempting to secure a divine curse, a spiritual warfare. His fear prompted a sophisticated act of spiritual and diplomatic maneuvering against Israel, emphasizing that "battle" extended into the supernatural realm before any physical clash.
• and he sent and invited (shālaḥ vayiṭqal, שָׁלַח וַיִּקְרָא): This phrase denotes a deliberate, determined, and active seeking out of supernatural aid. The Hebrew highlights Balak's decisive initiative to contact a figure renowned for his magical abilities, underscoring the depth of his determination to undermine Israel.
• Balaam (בִּלְעָם, Bil‘ām): A significant non-Israelite prophet or diviner from Pethor near the Euphrates, famed throughout the ancient Near East. His name might mean "devourer of people" or "not of the people," reflecting his complex character. Although often motivated by personal gain (2 Pet 2:15; Jude 11), he did receive genuine divine messages from Yahweh, demonstrating God's sovereign use of anyone He chooses. Balaam embodies the power of ancient divination and pagan spiritual practices that God ultimately transcended.
• son of Beor (בְּעֹור, Bĕ‘ôr): His father's name further specifies Balaam. "Beor" may mean "burner" or signify one who is "stupid" or "senseless."
• to curse you (l'qobhakhā, לְקָבְךָ): This infinitive clause clearly articulates Balak's malevolent objective: to invoke divine judgment or bring ill-fortune upon Israel. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, curses were believed to possess tangible power, operating semi-autonomously once uttered, capable of inflicting harm, sickness, or military defeat. Balak desired a powerful supernatural weapon against God's people.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab: This precise and layered identification firmly establishes the specific adversary, his lineage, and his powerful role. It highlights the strategic geopolitical threat posed by Moab under its determined ruler and emphasizes that a national, well-resourced effort was mounted to thwart God's plans.
• arose and fought against Israel: This phrase encapsulates Balak's active hostility, pointing to a 'spiritual battle' as much as a potential physical one. Balak's 'fighting' was through invoking powerful, potentially devastating spiritual forces via Balaam. This crucial detail reveals the insidious nature of the spiritual opposition faced by Israel, extending beyond conventional military confrontation.
• sent and invited Balaam son of Beor: This detail vividly portrays the depth of Balak's fear and his chosen method of countering the perceived threat from Israel. The act of hiring a renowned diviner shows Balak's reliance on the potency of pagan sorcery and his attempt to counteract divine protection through alternative spiritual means. It sets up the central conflict of the narrative: human reliance on false spiritual power versus divine omnipotence and unwavering faithfulness.
• to curse you: This clause explicitly states the malevolent intent of the enemy. The pronoun "you" refers to Israel, underscoring the direct and personal nature of the threat to God's chosen people. It demonstrates a direct clash between a malevolent human will, empowered by pagan spiritual practices, and God's protective, benevolent will. The underlying biblical polemic is that no curse can alight on those whom God blesses and favors (Num 23:8).

Joshua 24 9 Bonus section

• The unique narrative of Balak and Balaam in Numbers 22-24 showcases Yahweh interacting directly with a non-Israelite diviner, even using him as a mouthpiece against his own malevolent intentions. This emphasizes God's universal sovereignty, not being confined to His covenant people alone.
• This incident vividly highlights the prevalent ancient Near Eastern practice of employing professional diviners and curses as instruments in warfare and political conflicts. The account in Joshua 24:9 and its fuller version in Numbers demonstrate unequivocally that Israel's God stood superior to and actively controlled such practices, unlike other national deities, thereby undermining pagan beliefs.
• In the ancient context, "fighting" by sending for a curse was considered a legitimate act of war. This implies that spiritual attacks were viewed as equally real and dangerous as physical ones, underscoring the necessity of divine intervention.
• Later biblical interpretations, particularly in the New Testament (2 Pet 2:15, Jude 11, Rev 2:14), extensively elaborate on Balaam's "error," his "way," and his destructive "teaching." These passages underscore the enduring cautionary tale of Balaam's example, warning believers against the perils of covetousness, leading God's people astray through spiritual compromise, and the entanglement with pagan practices, especially after Balaam counseled Balak to entice Israel into idolatry and immorality (Num 31:16).

Joshua 24 9 Commentary

Joshua 24:9 functions within Joshua's profound farewell address as a potent reminder of God's past fidelity and unceasing protection over Israel. By recounting Balak's malicious attempt to employ the renowned diviner, Balaam, to curse Israel, Joshua powerfully emphasizes the extraordinary extent of God's active involvement in their national history. The "fighting" mentioned was fundamentally a spiritual warfare, where a foreign king sought supernatural means to negate God's blessing on His people. This incident underscores several critical theological truths: God's absolute and uncontestable sovereignty over all spiritual powers, including divination and sorcery; His unbreakable covenant faithfulness, demonstrated by actively defending His people against even supernaturally orchestrated attacks; and the ultimate futility of any curse directed against those He has chosen to bless, indeed, often transforming such curses into blessings (Neh 13:2). This specific historical detail serves not merely as a factual recount, but as a foundational testimony for calling Israel to renewed covenant commitment. It reassures them that if God fought for them against such potent spiritual threats, they can assuredly trust Him for all future challenges. This narrative profoundly exemplifies that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human malevolence or pagan spiritual practices, providing enduring assurance for all who belong to Him.