therefore he called upon the well-known heathen soothsayer, Balaam, to pronounce a curse upon them, and in return Balaam would be well paid.

• 游牧民米甸人与摩押是盟友，他们可能在旅途中听说巴兰的大名而向笃信魔术、占卜的巴勒通风报信。