Why wasn’t Balaam surprised when he heard his Donkey talk ?

[QuestionQuest74]

Animals don’t talk to humans unless they are birds so why wasn’t Balaam surprised when he heard his donkey speak ?

 

[Sabertooth]

Balaam had a "degree" in the prophetic. He was used to thinking "outside of the box."
Eve was not surprised when a serpent talked to her...

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What was a chicken called before Adam named them?
"Hey, you...!"

Super Chicken Theme (1967)

 

[AlexB23]

Animals don’t talk to humans unless they are birds so why wasn’t Balaam surprised when he heard his donkey speak ?

Here is some context, for those who haven't heard about the speaking donkey, or have forgotten. The story of Balaam and his talking donkey is found in the Old Testament book of Numbers, chapters 22-24. In this account, Balaam is a prophet who is asked by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Despite God's initial disapproval, Balaam decides to go with Balak's messengers, but God sends an angel to block his way. Only Balaam's donkey can see the angel, and it tries to avoid the divine being by going off the road into a field and then pressing against a wall. Each time, Balaam beats the donkey for not moving forward. Finally, the Lord enables the donkey to speak to Balaam, asking him why he has beaten her. Stated in Numbers 22:28 (NIV): "Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?'" At this point, Balaam realizes that something extraordinary has happened, and he acknowledges that the Lord has used the donkey to prevent him from sinning.

While animals do not normally communicate with humans using human language, there are several reasons we might consider why Balaam was initially not surprised or alarmed at hearing his donkey speak:

1. Divine intervention: As a prophet, Balaam would have been familiar with supernatural occurrences and direct communication from God. He may have understood that God could use any means necessary to convey His message, even if it meant enabling a donkey to speak.
2. Previous experiences: Although not explicitly mentioned in the text, some scholars suggest that Balaam might have had previous encounters with divine revelation through unusual circumstances, making the talking donkey less surprising.
3. Cultural context: Some ancient Near Eastern literature includes instances where gods interacted directly with animals. While this does not necessarily mean that such stories were commonplace during Balaam's lifetime, it suggests that people living in that era might have been more open to the possibility of non-human speech than modern readers.
4. Openness to miracles: A faithful person like Balaam would likely have believed in the power of God and expected Him to perform miracles. Hearing about or experiencing a miracle firsthand—even one involving a speaking animal—might not have caused immediate surprise or alarm.
5. Symbolic meaning: It's possible that the talking donkey served a symbolic purpose rather than simply conveying information. Donkeys often represent humility, stubbornness, or lowly status in biblical narratives. By having the donkey speak, God demonstrates both its obedience and Balaam's lack thereof, emphasizing the importance of listening to God's guidance.