Balaam’s Oracles: Balaam’s oracles comprise much of the rest of the Balaam cycle. Olson’s treatment of the first three oracles has shown clearly how the material is organized as a narrative. Olson has further noted that the account of the three oracles mirrors the account of the three encounters with Balaam’s donkey in chapter 22 (Numbers, pp. 145–47). Balaam is caught between God’s intention to bless and Balak’s desire for a curse, as the donkey was caught between Balaam and the angel. As Balaam’s response in chapter 22 escalated with each episode, so Balak becomes angrier as each oracle comes. Each oracle account has six elements:

Balak brings Balaam to a high point to see Israel.
Balak builds seven altars and sacrifices a bull and ram on each.
Balaam consults with God elsewhere.
Balaam pron…