Balak son of Zippor בלק בן צפור

Israel came to the borders of Moab, having already beaten Sihon and Og. Balak, king of Moab, saw it and, in the Torah's words, "was sore afraid"—but did not go to war. He sent for Balaam son of Beor, the seer, and summoned him with the words: "he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed".

What came of it. Three times seven altars were built, three times Balak brought Balaam to a new place—where the edge of the camp could be seen, where the whole of it could be seen—and three times a blessing came out of the hireling's mouth. From there come the words Jews say on entering a synagogue: "How goodly are your tents, Jacob".

Where the danger lay. The curse failed, and then, by the account of the Torah and of Chazal, other counsel was given—not to curse but to seduce: the daughters of Moab and Midian drew the people out to Baal Peor. More died there than could have died in war.

And one thing more. Chazal say: for the forty-two altars Balak offered, he was granted that Ruth the Moabitess should descend from him, and from her David. This is no defence of Balak; it is about the reckoning being kept otherwise than it seems to the man who keeps it himself.