Peor: Opening.1. A mountain peak
(Numbers 23:28) to which Balak led Balaam as a last
effort to induce him to pronounce a curse upon Israel. When he
looked on the tribes encamped in the acacia groves below him, he
could not refrain from giving utterance to a remarkable
benediction
(Numbers 24:1-9) Balak was more than ever enraged at
Balaam, and bade him flee for his life. But before he went he
gave expression to that wonderful prediction regarding the
future of this mysterious people, whose "goodly tents" were
spread out before him, and the coming of a "Star" out of Jacob
and a "Sceptre" out of Israel
(Numbers 24:14-17)
2. A Moabite divinity, called also "Baal-peor"
(Numbers 25:3,5,18) comp.
(Deuteronomy 3:29)
