NUM295 The Bible depicts Balaam as having genuine prophetic ability and, like Moses, of being in personal contact with God. Though King Balak is willing to pay him well to curse the Israelites, Balaam, inspired by God, praises and blesses them instead [this verse, 24:9]. Why then is Balaam regarded as a villain? Because of an incident that happens a short time later. Perhaps to win back the favor of the highly irritated Balak, Balaam invites the Midianites to send out attractive women to seduce the Israelite men and lure them away from their attachment to God (See Numbers 31:16 and 25:1–3). Ever since, he has been regarded as an exemplar of someone blessed by God with great gifts, which he uses to oppose God's will instead of supporting it.