Numbers 22:4

And Moab said The people are represented in the person of their king.

the elders of Midian They are mentioned, in this story, only here and in Numbers 22:7. The Midianites may be supposed to have made common cause with the Moabites in fear of the formidable enemy. But if so, it is surprising that they are not named in Balaam's utterances in ch. 24. Behind the present narrative there may lie some unknown tradition in J which formed the basis of P's narrative in 31:161 [Note: Notice that Midian is geographically connected with the territory of Moab in Genesis 36:35 (J).]. Or perhaps, as some think, a late compiler has here introduced the Midianites in view of Numbers 31:16.

And Balak … at that time In Numbers 22:2 E has already mentioned Balak as a well-known person.