Numbers 22:5

Balaam the son of Beor It is interesting that the name Bela the son of Beor occurs of a king of Edom(Genesis 36:32). Balaam (Heb. Bil-âm) and Bela- are practically identical words; and some have thought that the two men are the same, and that different conceptions of them were handed down in the Israelite and Edomite traditions. But there is no other evidence for the conjecture (see art. -Bela" in Enc. Bibl.[Note: nc. Bibl. Encyclopaedia Biblica.]).

Pethor, which is by the River i.e. by the Euphrates. Cf. Deuteronomy 23:4 -Pethor of Aram-naharaim (Mesopotamia)." It is probably to be identified with Pitru (mentioned in an Assyr. and an Egypt, inscription), which was situated a few miles from the Euphrates, a little to the south of Carchemish. This sentence, which is probably from E, represents Balaam as living some 400 miles from Moab.

the land of the children of his people This must mean -his native land"; but it is a very awkward periphrasis. The Sam., Syr., Lucianic LXX., Vulg. and some Heb. MSS. read -Ammon, for -ammô-his people." If this is correct, J and E contained different traditions as to the country from which Balaam came. This reading is supported by the narrative of J (Numbers 22:22) which relates that Balaam rode upon an ass, with two servants, suggesting a short journey through cultivated country rather than a long desert journey for which camels and a tent caravan would be required.