Numbers 22:5

Balaam. So written after the Greek. In Hebrew bis name is Bil'am. Compare Joshua 13:22 with Joshua 24:9 , Joshua 24:10 ; 2Pe 2:15 , 2 Peter 2:16 . He was a spiritist or medium. He is identified by Sayce with Bela, Genesis 36:31 , Genesis 36:32 , where Moses incorporates a list of Edomite kings. According to the Tel-el-Amama tablets he was a Hittite chieftain, who established a kingdom for himself: and he died fighting against Israel by the side of his Midianite allies (Numbers 31:8 . Joshua 13:22 ).

his people: i.e. whom he had banded together and led. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "sons of Ammon".