At first, Balaam seems successful in coaxing God to go along with the plan, but the omniscient narrator reveals God’s true position.
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The story of Balaam (Num. 22–24) is a curious aside in the Pentateuch— and not just because it includes a talking donkey.
Exodus through Deuteronomy tells the story of the Israelites, who follow Moses out of Egypt, through the wilderness of Sinai, and to the promised land. These books recount how God established his covenant with his people (Ex. 20; 24), the internal and external troubles they faced (e.g., Ex. 32), laws they were to follow (e.g., Ex. 20–23:19; Lev. 19), and even how they arranged their camp (Num. 2).
