The New Student's Reference Work/Balaam

Ba'laam, a Midianite, the son of Peor, who was hired by Balak, King of Moab, to curse the children of Israel while the latter were encamped in the land of Moab on their way to the Promised Land. Although Balaam made three attempts to pronounce the curse desired by Balak, he was each time constrained by the Lord to bless instead of curse. Balaam was afterward killed by the Israelites in a war with the Midianites. See Numbers xxii-xxiv, also xxxi.