Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-12-30
Hliseellaneuus 8saains.
PROPHET BALAAM
Interesting Old Bible Story That
Makes Good Reading.

| camped In the plains OF MoaD, tnls
side Jordan, and they covered the face
Of tic land like an army Of grasshop-
pers. Balek, the king of Moab, had
| drawn up his warriors in fighting ar
ray to prevent the Israelites from
passing through his borders, but when
he saw their might, he feared to do
battle, for they were more than the
men Of Moab.
Now, there was dwelling in the
mountains of the east a prophet whose
name was Balaam, a wise man who
lived afar off and alone, and walked
much upon the mountain tops, pom
dering many things. And in Moab II
was whispered that he did not walk
alone. Though none was seen with
him, men said he heard strange voices
there among the clouds, and that the
spirits Of God, too bright for mortal
eyes, came down and walked and talk
ed with him a space.
To this man King Balak sent ennis
saries, princes, saying:
"Balak, king Of Moab, sayeth to
thee, Come down, for there is people
come out Of Egypt, and they cover
the face Of the plains; curse thou
them, that we may bring them to con-
fusion"
But Balaam, the lonely man Of the
mountains, shook his head, nor heed
ed their talk Of great riches and hon
or which should be his, saying:
abide the night and in the morn
ing 1 will tell you what the Lord tell
eth me-"
And while they slept he walked
alone among the hills.
In the morning Balaam said:
Get you down to the plains OF
Moab; the Lord refuseth to give me
leave to go with you.'
So they returned to Balak. Then
the king Of Moab, being without un-
derstanding. said in his heart:
This is a great man, and exalted
above all the prophets Of the east; 1t
may be that l did not send him
princes of high enough degree and
therefore he will not come down."
So he sent other princes to Balaam,
commanding them that they should
treat the prophet with great respect
and promise him all things, whatso-
ever he desired.
"only." said Balak, bring him
down to curse this people for me-"
Richly clad in their robes Of scarlet
and purple, wearing gold chains
around their necks. the princes OF
Moab came to Balaam. heads rever-
emily inclined and bowed the knee.
| And they said:
20, thou mightiest Of prophets, wise
| ters beyond the understanding Of mer
and into whose ears the high gods dc
breathe their secrets, hearken to us
thy servants! Hear thou the word OF
Balak, son Of Zippor, who hath said
Let nothing, l pray thee, hinder thee
| from coming unto me; for I will pro-
mote thee unto very great honor, and
/ will do whatsoever thou sayest unto
me; come therefore, I pray thee, curse
me this people,"
Balaam, the prophet, clad in the
skins of wild goats, lean and hard
from frugal living saw the princes OF
Moab bowed at his feet and heard
their words and their promises. He
knew that the promises would be full
filled If he chose; and 1t would be very
easy-a little journeying, few short
words of imprecation agaist the
| Israelites.
And then-no longer the hard her
nit life among the hills, but glory and
honor and power. Power, that was
what he wanted most of all-the other
things were inconsiderable baubles
But power throughout all Moab, pow
er over all the priesthood-ah, with
that a man might travel very far in
deed. A road to unknown heights lay
open-and the price little lip service
paltry cursing Of a vagabond tribe
| bdlddIn NOlCt WdS idi oh WHICH, he
replied and he spoke shortly:
abide the night; in the morning
will give you my answer"
He did not walk among the hills
that night, but lay long upon his bed
| Of boughs and goat skins, wrestling
the problem. If only the Lord would
give him permission to go, it would all
be so easy; why did the Lord with
hold him from this thing? For all his
dream Of power had not wholly blind
ed Balaam. He knew very we'll that
hitherto he had been but the trumpet
through which one higher spoke. And
the voice did not bid him go-had
once before commanded him to stay
The voice of Balak the king, the
voices of the mobiles, thousand clam
| orous voices in his own brain urged
| him to make the journey.
Balaam was pale and his face
clouded when he met the princes OF
Moab in the morning, but he had
| made up his mind. He would go down
this time to Balak, the king, and he
would speak the thing the Lord put
into his mouth. He hoped beyond ut
terance that the Lord would put
curses into his mouth; surely he
would; who were these Israelites but
escaped slaves of Pharoh, runaway
brickmakers?
They set out early. Balaam refused
the prancing horse they offered him.
and rode his humble donkey; it better
became a prophet, he declared. The
| beast was curiously uneasy, leaped
about, would hardly let him mount
her. And usually she was the most
docile creature imaginable. Her fool
ishness annoyed Balaam. An hours
riding brought them to a region Of lit
tie farms in the foothills. And there
an odd thing happened. Ba!aam's
donkey SHE'D suddenly from the road,
and careered through a plowed field,
| snorting madly. He belabored the
foolish creature; there had not been
even a stump or stone by the side of
| the road to cause her alarm.
Again, when they were riding