Joshua 24:9

Then Balak the son of Zippor He is also mentioned in Judges 11:25; Micah 6:5; Revelation 2:14. The Israelites were at this time encamped in the plains of Shittim, "the meadow of the Acacias."

and warred against Israel In conjunction with the Midianites (Numbers 22:1 ss).

sent and called Balaam (Numbers 22:5) from Pethor, far away from the encampment of the Israelites, beyond the Euphrates, among the mountains of the east, whence his fame had spread, across the Assyrian desert, to the shores of the Dead Sea. "As warrior chief (by that combination of soldier and prophet already seen in Moses himself) he ranked with the five kings of Midian" (Numbers 31:8).

to curse you For he was regarded throughout the whole East as a Prophet, whose blessing or whose curse was irresistible. Balak, who lacked the courage to meet the Israelites in arms, thought to lay upon them the powerful ban of the mighty seer. "Even at the present day the pagan Orientals, in their wars, have always their magicians with them to curse their enemies, and to mutter incantations for their ruin. In our own war with the Burmese, the generals of the natives had several magicians with them, who were much engaged in cursing our troops." Kitto's Bible Illustr. ii. 214.