STRONGS NT 903: Βαλαάμ

Βαλαάμ, ὁ, indeclinable (in the Sept. for בִּלְעָם, according to Gesenius (perhaps) from בַּל and עָם non-populus, i. e. foreign; according to Jo. Simonis equivalent to עָם בֶּלַע a swallowing up of the people; in Josephus, ὁ Βαλαμος), Balaam (or Bileam), a native of Pethor a city of Mesopotamia, endued by Jehovah with prophetic power. He was hired by Balak (see Βαλάκ) to curse the Israelites; and influenced by the love of reward, he wished to gratify Balak; but he was compelled by Jehovah's power to bless them (Numbers 22-24; Deuteronomy 23:5; Joshua 13:22; Joshua 24:9; Micah 6:5). Hence, the later Jews saw in him a most abandoned deceiver: Revelation 2:14; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11. Cf. Winers RWB (and BB. DD.) under the word.