Numbers 24:10

"And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor. And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers that thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak? And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. And he took up his parable and said,"

Despite Balak's very justifiable anger against Balaam and the threatening manner of his abrupt dismissal, it appears that Balaam did not actually return to his "own people" at all, for it was not long until he died in the defeat of the Midianites (Numbers 31:8). One wonders why this change on Balaam's part. It was likely due to the fact that Balaam probably offered to mollify the anger of Balak by counseling him with regard to the seduction of the Israelites by the Moabite women, a seduction surely carried out on Balaam's advice, and we are apparently justified in supposing that it came about from Balaam's further seeking to win the approval of Balak (Numbers 31:16).

"Spake I not also unto thy messengers ...?" (Numbers 24:12). Balaam's defense of his duplicity here was only partially true. Yes, he had indeed spoken to Balak's messengers as he here indicated, but he omitted to tell them that God would bless Israel and not curse them at all. That partial answer coupled with his continuance in keeping the matter before him for consideration very effectively deceived Balak into believing that Balaam would indeed actually curse Israel. Balak's frustration and anger were justified. Despite this, however, his implacable hatred of the people of God was not justified.