The episode involving the donkey is full of irony. The donkey sees what the seer or visionary does not: the angel of the Lord blocking the way as an “adversary” (KJV, RSV; Hebrew satan; 22:22–23). When the donkey miraculously speaks, Balaam dialogues with her as if this were a usual occurrence, and she has the better of the argument. Balaam accuses her of treating him badly and says he would kill her if he had a sword, but she saves his life from the sword of the angel. When the Lord opens Balaam’s eyes and he sees the angel, he prostrates himself on the ground, a similar reaction to that of his donkey the third time she saw the angel. Once the distinguished prophet is blinded by profit and sets out to destroy Israel, he is diminished to a level below that of a donkey.

When he meets Balak, …