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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Balaam {H1109} also the son {H1121} of Beor {H1160}, the soothsayer {H7080}, did the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} slay {H2026} with the sword {H2719} among them {H413} that were slain {H2491} by them.

Complete Jewish Bible

Along with the others the people of Isra'el killed with the sword, they also struck down Bil'am the son of B'or, who practiced divination.

Berean Standard Bible

The Israelites also killed the diviner Balaam son of Beor along with the others they put to the sword.

American Standard Version

Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among the rest of their slain.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 13:22 serves as a concise yet potent parenthetical note within the detailed account of Israel's tribal land allotments, specifically during the description of Reuben's inheritance. This verse unequivocally confirms the ultimate and divinely ordained demise of Balaam, the infamous soothsayer from Pethor, at the hands of the Israelites. It underscores the principle of divine justice and the thoroughness of Israel's conquest, ensuring that even those who sought to undermine God's people through spiritual deception and wicked counsel would face ultimate retribution.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse appears as a striking parenthetical interjection within the otherwise meticulous geographical and tribal descriptions of the land east of the Jordan, specifically the territory allocated to the tribe of Reuben. The surrounding verses detail the boundaries, cities, and inhabitants of Reuben's inheritance, making the sudden mention of Balaam's death a deliberate and significant disruption to the administrative tone. Its placement here, rather than in a more direct narrative of conquest, emphasizes that Balaam's demise was a settled fact, integral to the completion of Israel's initial victories and the secure establishment of their claim to the land, even as they divided it. It serves as a final, definitive statement on a figure whose influence extended beyond mere military opposition.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the culmination of Israel's conquest of the Transjordanian territories, particularly the defeat of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and the subsequent war against the Midianites. Balaam's involvement, as detailed in [Numbers 22](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22 - Balaam and Balak"), occurred prior to this final phase of the Midianite war, where his counsel led to the sin at Peor ([Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's Counsel at Peor")). Culturally, the term "soothsayer" (Hebrew: _qosem_) places Balaam firmly within the pagan traditions of divination, which were strictly forbidden by Yahweh to Israel ([Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Forbidden Practices")). His death, therefore, represents not merely the elimination of a military adversary but the eradication of a spiritual threat and a clear demonstration of God's judgment against those who practice such dark arts and seek to corrupt His people.
* **Key Themes:** Joshua 13:22 powerfully reinforces several key themes prevalent throughout the book of Joshua and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Justice**, demonstrating that God's retribution is comprehensive and inescapable, even for those who possess spiritual insight but use it for wicked ends. Balaam's death underscores the principle that sin, particularly that which leads God's people astray, will be met with severe consequences. Secondly, it speaks to **God's Sovereignty and Protection of Israel**. Despite Balaam's attempts to curse Israel and his later success in tempting them to sin, God's ultimate plan for His people could not be thwarted. His demise signifies the removal of a persistent spiritual enemy, ensuring Israel's purity and security in the promised land, a land cleansed of such corrupting influences.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Soothsayer (Hebrew, _qosem'_):** This term is highly significant, distinguishing Balaam from a true prophet of Yahweh. A _qosem_ is a diviner, one who practices forbidden arts of divination, augury, or magic to gain knowledge or influence events, often for personal gain. While Balaam did receive genuine revelations from God (e.g., [Numbers 23:8](/numbers/23-8 "Numbers 23:8 - Balaam's Inability to Curse Israel")), his fundamental identity and practice remained rooted in pagan divination, which was an abomination to the Lord ([Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominable Practices")). His title here emphasizes his spiritual opposition to God's ways, despite his occasional, divinely compelled pronouncements of blessing upon Israel. His death, therefore, is not merely a military casualty but a divine judgment against a practitioner of forbidden arts who sought to undermine God's people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer,":** This opening clause immediately identifies the infamous figure, emphasizing his lineage and, crucially, his professional identity as a "soothsayer." The inclusion of "also" (Hebrew: _gam_) links his death to the broader context of those slain during the conquest, yet his specific mention highlights his unique notoriety and the significance of his demise. The title "soothsayer" is not merely descriptive but condemnatory, marking him as an enemy of Yahweh's covenant people due to his illicit spiritual practices.
* **"did the children of Israel slay with the sword":** This phrase directly attributes Balaam's death to the Israelites, specifically "the children of Israel," underscoring that this was a divinely sanctioned act of judgment carried out by God's chosen people. The instrument, "the sword," signifies a decisive and violent end, consistent with the nature of holy war and the eradication of those who stood in opposition to God's will for Israel's settlement in the land. This confirms the fulfillment of the command to utterly destroy enemies who threatened Israel's spiritual and physical integrity.
* **"among them that were slain by them.":** This concluding phrase integrates Balaam's death into the larger narrative of the conquest, specifically the punitive war against the Midianites, as detailed in [Numbers 31](/numbers/31 "Numbers 31 - War Against Midian"). It confirms that Balaam was not merely a casualty of circumstance but was specifically targeted and executed as part of the comprehensive judgment against those who had conspired against Israel and led them into sin. His inclusion among "them that were slain" underscores the thoroughness of God's justice and the complete victory granted to Israel.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 13:22 employs several potent literary devices. The most prominent is its **Parenthetical Insertion**, where the verse abruptly interrupts the detailed geographical description of Reuben's inheritance. This unexpected interjection serves to highlight the exceptional significance of Balaam's demise, ensuring that his fate is explicitly noted as a completed aspect of the conquest, rather than being lost in the broader narrative of the Midianite war. This placement also creates a subtle **Irony**: a figure who once sought to curse Israel and later led them into spiritual compromise ultimately falls by the very people he sought to harm. Furthermore, the verse functions as a powerful statement of **Divine Judgment**, serving as a definitive closure to Balaam's narrative arc in the Pentateuch and Joshua. His death is not merely a historical fact but a theological declaration of God's unwavering justice against those who oppose His will and corrupt His people, reinforcing the theme of Israel's purification of the land.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 13:22 serves as a crucial theological marker, confirming the definitive end of a figure who embodied both prophetic insight and profound spiritual corruption. Balaam's story, stretching from his initial inability to curse Israel to his later counsel leading to the sin at Peor, highlights the enduring tension between divine revelation and human depravity driven by greed. His death at the hands of the Israelites underscores the principle of divine justice, demonstrating that even those who appear to possess spiritual power cannot escape God's judgment when they actively oppose His purposes and seek to lead His people astray. This verse acts as a final, emphatic statement that God's covenant people are protected, and their enemies, both spiritual and physical, will ultimately be vanquished.

* [Numbers 22:1-6](/numbers/22-1 "Numbers 22:1-6 - Balak Summons Balaam")
* [Numbers 31:7-8](/numbers/31-7 "Numbers 31:7-8 - Balaam Slain by Israel")
* [Revelation 2:14](/revelation/2-14 "Revelation 2:14 - The Doctrine of Balaam")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 13:22, though brief, offers profound lessons for believers today. It serves as a stark reminder that divine justice is ultimately inescapable, even for those who might appear to operate with spiritual gifts or knowledge but whose hearts are corrupted by greed and a desire to compromise God's truth. Balaam's story is a timeless warning against using spiritual influence for selfish gain or leading others into sin. For us, it underscores the importance of spiritual discernment, guarding against false teachers and deceptive doctrines that subtly encourage compromise with worldly values or idolatry. We are called to stand firm in our faith, recognizing that God is sovereign over all opposition, and His purposes for His people will prevail. Our commitment must be to purity and obedience, not to the pursuit of gain through unholy means. This verse also offers comfort, assuring us that God will ultimately deal with those who seek to harm His church or lead believers astray, reinforcing our trust in His protective hand and His righteous judgment.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Balaam's story, as summarized by his death in Joshua 13:22, challenge our understanding of spiritual authority and integrity?**
* **In what ways might the "doctrine of Balaam" manifest in contemporary Christian contexts, and how can believers guard against it?**
* **What comfort or warning does this verse offer regarding God's ultimate justice for those who oppose His people or His will?**

### FAQ
**Why is Balaam's death mentioned here, seemingly out of place in a list of land allotments?**

Answer: Balaam's death is mentioned in [Joshua 13:22](/joshua/13-22 "Joshua 13:22 - Balaam's Demise") as a parenthetical note within the description of the land allotted to the tribe of Reuben. Its placement, though seemingly abrupt, serves several important purposes. Firstly, it provides a definitive closure to the narrative of Balaam, confirming that this notorious figure, who had sought to curse Israel and later led them into sin at Peor ([Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's Counsel")), was indeed among those justly slain by Israel. This ensures that readers understand his fate was sealed as part of God's judgment against Israel's enemies. Secondly, it emphasizes the thoroughness of Israel's conquest and the eradication of all significant threats, both military and spiritual, from the land. His death is not just a historical detail but a theological statement about the purity required for Israel's inheritance and the triumph of God's will over spiritual opposition. It underscores that even as the land is being divided, the spiritual landscape has been cleansed of such corrupting influences.

**What was Balaam's primary sin that led to his death?**

Answer: While Balaam initially could not curse Israel because God prevented him ([Numbers 22](/numbers/22 "Numbers 22 - Balaam and Balak")), his primary sin that ultimately led to his demise was his wicked counsel to Balak, the king of Moab. As recorded in [Numbers 31:16](/numbers/31-16 "Numbers 31:16 - Balaam's Counsel at Peor"), Balaam advised Balak to entice the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality through the Midianite women at Peor. This counsel led to a devastating plague among Israel, resulting in 24,000 deaths ([Numbers 25:1-9](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25:1-9 - The Sin at Peor")). Balaam's motivation was likely greed, as he sought to gain favor and reward from Balak despite being unable to directly curse Israel. His death in [Joshua 13:22](/joshua/13-22 "Joshua 13:22 - Balaam's Demise") and [Numbers 31:8](/numbers/31-8 "Numbers 31:8 - Balaam Slain by Israel") is presented as divine retribution for this malicious and spiritually destructive counsel, which directly caused great harm to God's people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The demise of Balaam, the soothsayer, in [Joshua 13:22](/joshua/13-22 "Joshua 13:22 - Balaam's Demise") foreshadows the ultimate triumph of Christ over all spiritual opposition and deceptive forces. Balaam, though possessing a form of spiritual insight, was ultimately a false prophet driven by greed, seeking to undermine God's people through compromise and corruption. In contrast, Jesus Christ is the **true Prophet** ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - The Prophet Like Moses")), who perfectly speaks God's word and never leads His people astray. While Balaam's counsel led to death and defilement for Israel, Christ's counsel leads to life and purification for His church ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Cleanses the Church")). Balaam's end signifies God's judgment against those who pervert spiritual truth for gain, a judgment fully realized in Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Just as Israel was cleansed of Balaam's corrupting influence to inherit the promised land, so too does Christ purify His people, enabling them to inherit the eternal kingdom, free from the "doctrine of Balaam" and every other deceitful teaching ([Revelation 2:14](/revelation/2-14 "Revelation 2:14 - The Doctrine of Balaam"); [John 8:32](/john/8-32 "John 8:32 - Truth Sets Free")). His cross and resurrection are the ultimate "slaying with the sword" of all spiritual enemies, securing the inheritance for His redeemed.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 31:8

And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; [namely], Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

Jude 1:11

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Revelation 2:14

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Numbers 24:1

¶ And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Numbers 22:5

He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which [is] by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

Numbers 22:7

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.