13:22 Balaam . . . the son of Beor. See Num. 31:8. Balaam was associated with “the incident of Peor” (Num. 31:16) referred to in Josh. 22:17. Balaam’s evil influence was long remembered (2 Pet. 2:15; Rev. 2:14).

practiced divination. A soothsayer tries to attain knowledge by magical or occult means. This was a common practice among the pagans, but forbidden in Israel (Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:9–14; 1 Sam. 15:23; 2 Kin. 17:17; 21:6; Is. 2:6; Ezek. 13:23).