The account of Balaam and his donkey is a significant narrative found in the Book of Numbers, specifically in Numbers 22:21-34. This account highlights the theme of animal cruelty and divine intervention, offering insights into the moral and ethical treatment of animals from a biblical perspective.

Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites who were encamped on the plains of Moab. Despite God's initial instruction to Balaam not to go with Balak's messengers, Balaam eventually set out on his journey after receiving further permission from God, albeit with specific conditions.

As Balaam traveled on his donkey, the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. However, Balaam was unaware of the angel's presence. The donkey, seeing the angel with a drawn sword, turned off the path into a field. Balaam, in his frustration, struck the donkey to get it back on the road. This act of cruelty was repeated two more times as the donkey attempted to avoid the angel, first by pressing against a wall and then by lying down under Balaam. Each time, Balaam responded with anger and struck the donkey.

In a miraculous turn of events, the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, allowing it to speak to Balaam. The donkey questioned Balaam's actions, asking, "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?" (Numbers 22:28). Balaam, in his anger, replied that he wished he had a sword to kill the donkey. The donkey then reminded Balaam of its long history of faithful service, prompting Balaam to reconsider his actions.

At this point, the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, allowing him to see the angel of the LORD standing in the road. The angel rebuked Balaam for his mistreatment of the donkey, stating, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me" (Numbers 22:32). The angel further explained that the donkey had saved Balaam's life by turning away, as the angel would have killed Balaam had the donkey not acted.

This narrative underscores the biblical principle that animals are part of God's creation and deserve humane treatment. The donkey's ability to perceive the angel and its subsequent speech serve as a divine reminder of the value and dignity of all living creatures. Balaam's cruelty is condemned, and the account illustrates that God is concerned with the welfare of animals, using this incident to teach Balaam—and by extension, the readers—a lesson in humility and respect for God's creation.

The account of Balaam and his donkey serves as a poignant reminder of the moral responsibility humans have towards animals. It reflects the broader biblical theme that calls for stewardship and compassion towards all of God's creatures, emphasizing that cruelty and mistreatment are contrary to God's will.Numbers 22:22-33
And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Nave's Topical Index

The Doctrine of the Scriptures.
... So, again, the fact that David's cruelty to the Ammonites ... were saying; and of men
and animals speaking without ... of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the scriptures.htm

His Past Work.
... and goats, the innumerable herds of animals slain, were ... all the wickedness and vileness
and cruelty man is ... iniquity and perverse-ness, as Balaam, beheld them ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the work of christ/i his past work.htm

Extracts No. vii.
... done it, if there had been only bigotry and cruelty enough in ... God be good to all
the race Of animals before his ... Balaam smote his ass with a staff, but said: "I ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no vii.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... hollows and caverns with rotting bodies of animals in the ... the first time the star
promised by Balaam rise in ... The same cruelty was shown to me in the heartless ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

The Same Necessary and Eternal Different Relations
... they are not, and wish, with Balaam, that though ... and necessarily assents, as all
animals conspire in ... of them; and that, on the contrary, cruelty, violence, and ...
/.../i proposition i the same.htm

The Dialogue against the Luciferians.
... That is to say, with senseless cruelty they would have ... the ark there were all kinds
of animals, so also ... that time believed, having held the doctrine of Balaam? ...
/.../the principal works of st jerome/the dialogue against the luciferians.htm

The Mystery
... the wilderness, with the calf, Baal-peor, Balaam, Korah, &c ... midst of the elders and
of the animals a Lamb ... reckoned from the beginning of his cruelty, or warfare ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... Yea, let me add further, What laws have been made, what blood hath been shed, what
cruelty hath been used, and what flatteries and lies invented, and all to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

How did Noah fit all the animals on the Ark? | GotQuestions.org

What made some animals clean and others unclean (Genesis 7)? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God also destroy animals in the Flood (Genesis 6-8)? | GotQuestions.org

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