Olney Hymns · Character
Balaam
The prophet who was hired to curse Israel but could only bless them, a warning against covetousness.
minor
First appearance: Balaam's Wish
Balaam shows up with force in Balaam's Wish. The page is where that presence becomes real.
Wished to die the death of the righteous but his heart was insincere and he loved unrighteous gain.
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In Balaam's Wish: Wished to die the death of the righteous but his heart was insincere and he loved unrighteous…
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See Balaam in Balaam's WishCharacter Web
6 connectionsA slice of how Balaam sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Divine Judgment and Mercy
- Protagonist
- Faith and Redemption Figures
+1 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs in stanza V, where the speaker’s hope is violently extinguished as Satan obscures ev…
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Balaam appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
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See Balaam in Balaam's Wish