Professor Tom Meyer from Shasta Bible College and Graduate School in California, US, told Express.co.uk: "Balaam is probably best remembered for the Biblical account of his donkey speaking to him in a human voice to stop his insane action of cursing God’s chosen people Israel.

"Unsuccessful in his attempts to curse Israel, Balaam became synonymous with rebellion and apostate religion in later Jewish history.

"But 600 years after Balaam lived, he posthumously retained his fame and following. "In fact, he probably became more popular after he died."

In 1967, archaeologists in Jordan discovered a non-Hebrew temple that has been dated between 840 BC and 760 BC.

The temple was found at Succoth or tel Deir’alla, the first Bronze Age city excavated in Jordan. And within the temple is an intriguing inscription that mentions Balaam by name.

Professor Meyer said: "Inside the temple archaeologists discovered next to collapsed plaster walls a jigsaw puzzle of a find.

"The fragmented remains of plaster were eventually reconstructed to reveal an Aramaic inscription that once decorated the walls of the temple.

"The discovery, which turns out to be the oldest example of Aramaic literature in the world, was dedicated to none other than the 'seer of the gods, Balaam, son of Beor.'"

The inscription was painted in red and black inks on fragments of the temples plastered wall. In total, 119 pieces of the plaster have been recovered.

Part of the Aramaic inscription reads: "The misfortunes of the Book of Balaam, son of Beor. "A divine seer was he. The gods came to him at night …"

The longer text, or at least the surviving fragments of it, describe Balaam's vision of divine destruction by the gods.

Professor Meyer believes the pagan temple may have been a school of prophets that began in the tradition of Balaam’s prophecies.

In a similar way, he said, other Old Testament prophets such as Elijah and Samuel developed a following.

This theory is shared by Eliezer Segal at the University of Calgary in Canada, who wrote: "The text in question, which was probably composed around 700 BCE, was written in Aramaic (or Ammonite) on plaster slabs that might have formed part of a sanctuary or cultic monument.

"From it we learn of the existence, some six hundred years after Balaam's lifetime, of a religious movement that continued to revere Balaam as its great prophet and spiritual mentor.

The temple remained in use until about the eighth century when it was brought down by an earthquake.

Professor Meyer said: "The inscription was perhaps a way of commemorating one of Balaam’s famous (extra-Biblical) prophecies.

"In the inscription, he curses the gods who brought famine and death and also petitions the fertility gods who could restore life and order to the region.

"The Balaam inscription is one of over 100 examples wherein archaeologists have found the name of a person mentioned in the Bible on an object buried in the earth.

"Such discoveries demonstrate that the people mentioned in the Bible were historical persons, even such notorious characters as Balaam the diviner."

kingxsamz:
It's not rocket science.
Certain stories/names in the bible were adapted from somewhere or events that actually happened. Same way the Spider-Man movie is based in a real location, (New York) but we can't conclude that a man who shoots spider webs and flies in the air exists.
But I don't expect much from folks who won't read the article but jump into conclusions that a donkey once talked simply because an inscription which contained a name was found.
It's only a brain dead mofo that'll believe a snake and donkey talked simply because a 2000 year old book said so.
But you'll call these same archeologists liars when they show you 'alleged' bone fossils of Dinosaurs. Who is fooling who?

Image123:


It is just things like this that make you believe that Caesar, Aristotle and co existed. But here you are almost having an epileptic fit because a Bible name is mentioned.smh

kingxsamz:
It's not rocket science.
Certain stories/names in the bible were adapted from somewhere or events that actually happened. Same way the Spider-Man movie is based in a real location, (New York) but we can't conclude that a man who shoots spider webs and flies in the air exists.
But I don't expect much from folks who won't read the article but jump into conclusions that a donkey once talked simply because an inscription which contained a name was found.
It's only a brain dead mofo that'll believe a snake and donkey talked simply because a 2000 year old book said so.
But you'll call these same archeologists liars when they show you 'alleged' bone fossils of Dinosaurs. Who is fooling who?

ifejobi84754:
are ALL KNOW THE BIBLE IS A compendium OF TALES FROM variety cultures.

Image123:
It is just things like this that make you believe that Caesar, Aristotle and co existed. But here you are almost having an epileptic fit because a Bible name is mentioned. smh

kingxsamz:
It's not rocket science.
Certain stories/names in the bible were adapted from somewhere or events that actually happened. Same way the Spider-Man movie is based in a real location, (New York) but we can't conclude that a man who shoots spider webs and flies in the air exists.
But I don't expect much from folks who won't read the article but jump into conclusions that a donkey once talked simply because an inscription which contained a name was found.
It's only a brain dead mofo that'll believe a snake and donkey talked simply because a 2000 year old book said so.
But you'll call these same archeologists liars when they show you 'alleged' bone fossils of Dinosaurs. Who is fooling who?

khia:


True, it's more logical to believe Balaam's talking donkey was a result of schizophrenia.

kingxsamz:


What you wrote would make sense if you can intelligently point out where in my write up that suggests that I believe in Caesar and Aristotle, And also tell me how what you wrote discredits or debunks the point I made up there in anyway.
No time for fallacies.

Image123:


You don't believe Caesars existed?

kingxsamz:


Lol, I don't know anything about Ceasar, whether he existed or not. And I could care less about his existence or non-existence.
But I'd like to know how this proves that a donkey and snake talked.

kingxsamz:

But I'd like to know how this proves that a donkey and snake talked.

Macsjebs:

Just wow, ur name is Samuel...

kingxsamz:


Lol, yes o.

Image123:


Who proved or tried to prove that a donkey and snake talked? Samuel, hope you have not started smoking banned substances?
So you don't believe Caesars existed? It's a yes or no.

CAPSLOCKED:


WONDER WHY THESE PEOPLE KEEP PUSHING THESE SO CALLED BIBLICAL EVIDENCE TO THE WORLD WHILE TRYING TO DESTROY EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SUMERIANS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE AGENDA. IT'S EASY TO SEE.

Macsjebs:

Na u suppose be Nairaland prophet o, , na u suppose dey do wetin Righteousness89 dey do, lol

kingxsamz:


And who is debating Ceasar's existence or in-existence with you? You brought that up without addressing my point.
I see you clearly avoided my write up and making up assumptions because you're unable to address my initial post.
And no, I don't know if a Ceasar existed because I don't know anything about Ceasar. That's like asking me if I believe a 'Mr Gabon' from China existed.

Image123:


You don't know if Caesars existed. Meaning that you don't know if there was a Roman Empire. And you are here glibly making noise about people who know better than you do. You don't know anything than to destroy.
Your post was not avoided but deliberately ignored because i have told you several times. You don't compare apples and carrots, or put birds and lions in the same class. You are asking why people question dinosaur discovery and do not question this. Did you read the OP at all?
It says that there was excavation, they found broken pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are about 2800years old. They pieced them together. They found writings of people who at that time believed Balaam existed. This is very straight forward and documentary.
It is not finding a particle, and telling us this is Lucy the dinosaur who lived 40million years ago and flew eating it's best food eba. But it had a rival that killed it and its family out of jealousy. That is tales by moonlight. FOR children like you to be happy and clap.

Image123:
is Lucy the dinosaur who lived 40million years ago and flew eating it's best food eba. But it had a rival that killed it and its family out of jealousy. That is tales by moonlight. FOR children like you to be happy and clap.

CAPSLOCKED:
WE ALL KNOW THE BIBLE IS A COMPILATION OF TALES FROM VARIOUS CIVILIZATIONS.
IT'S JUST LIKE CHINUA MENTIONING ORLU AND AWKA IN HIS BOOKS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE AMADIOHA REAL.