Yes — Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites because Moab feared Israel's overwhelming numbers and could not defeat them militarily.
Balak, king of Moab, had seen how Israel utterly destroyed the Amorites (Numbers 22:2). The Bible says Moab was "sore afraid" because the people were many, and Moab feared Israel would "lick up" everything around them like an ox eats grass. Les Feldick explains that Balak knew he couldn't win in battle because there were too many, so he hired the false prophet Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22:6).
Numbers 22:2-6 — This is the foundational passage where Balak, seeing Israel's destruction of the Amorites and Israel's great numbers, sends for Balaam to curse Israel.
In Numbers 22:2-6, the Scripture records that Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. Because Israel was so many, Moab was "sore afraid" and "distressed because of the children of Israel." Moab compared Israel to an ox that would lick up all the grass of the field, and Balak sent messengers to Balaam, saying, "Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt, behold, they cover the face of the earth." Balak asked Balaam to curse this people, saying, "for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land."
Les Feldick points out that when the children of Israel camped in the plains of Moab, King Balak "got just as shook up as the pharaohs" (Clip 4). Les emphasizes that Balak "saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites" — Israel had utterly destroyed them in battle — and that news of Israel's power spread by word of mouth through camel caravans (Clip 0). According to Les, Balak knew he couldn't defeat Israel militarily because "there were too many" (Clip 1), and when Moab looked at the camp, they said Israel would "lick up all that are around about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field" (Clip 2). So Balak tried to hire a false prophet to curse the children of Israel, hoping to overcome them and drive them out (Clip 5). Les further observes that old Balaam was a false prophet motivated by money, which is why he went along with Balak's request (Clip 3).
The Bible says Balak "saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites" (Numbers 22:2). Les Feldick explains that Israel had utterly destroyed the Amorites in battle, and news of this spread through camel caravans traveling from Egypt to Mesopotamia even though there was no radio or television (Clip 0).
Balak himself told Balaam, "they are too mighty for me" (Numbers 22:6). Les Feldick is even more direct: Balak "knew he couldn't defeat them militarily, there were too many" (Clip 1). Israel's numbers were so great that they covered the face of the earth — Les estimates several million (Clip 2).
In Numbers 22:6, Balak said he hoped the curse would allow him to "prevail" against Israel, "smite them," and "drive them out of the land." Les Feldick says Balak brought Balaam over to curse the children of Israel because he knew he couldn't defeat them militarily, and since God would not let Balaam curse them directly, Balaam devised a satanically inspired plan to seduce Israel through Moabite women (Clip 1, Clip 5).
Les Feldick describes Balaam as a false prophet who was motivated only by money — "What's in it for old Balaam?" was his driving question (Clip 3). That is why Balak, a desperate king, thought he could hire Balaam to accomplish what Moab's army could not.
Balak Saw Israel Defeat the Amorites
Les explains that Balak saw everything Israel had done to the Amorites, and that news of Israel's power spread by camel caravans even without modern communication.
Balak Couldn't Defeat Israel Militarily
Les teaches that Balak knew he couldn't defeat Israel in battle because there were too many, so he brought Balaam to curse them and later used seduction.
Israel Covered the Face of the Earth
Les quotes Moab's complaint that Israel would lick up everything like an ox eats grass, and notes the camp was so vast you couldn't see the end of them — several million people.
Balaam the False Prophet
Les identifies Balaam as a false prophet who was dominated by greed, which is what made him willing to serve Balak's purpose.
Moab Terrified Like Pharaoh
Les compares King Balak's fear to the pharaohs and says he sent for the false prophet Balaam when Israel came through Moab.
Balak's Hire and Partial Success
Les recounts that Balak tried to hire a false prophet to curse Israel, and although the curse didn't fully succeed, Balaam advised using Moabite women to seduce Israel.
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Numbers 22:2: And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Shows the opening of the account — Balak saw Israel's military victory over the Amorites.
Numbers 22:3: And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
Explains Moab's fear because Israel was so numerous.
Numbers 22:4: And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
Records Moab's comparison of Israel to an ox licking up the grass.
Numbers 22:5: He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt, behold, they cover the face of the earth: and they abide over against me:
Describes Balak's summons of Balaam and his report that Israel covered the face of the earth.
Numbers 22:6: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
Contains Balak's actual request for Balaam to curse Israel so he could smite them and drive them out.
Balak's fear came from seeing Israel's victory over the Amorites and the sheer size of the Israelite camp. Numbers 22:3 says Moab was "sore afraid" because the people were many, and Les Feldick notes the camp was millions strong.
Balak told Balaam, "they are too mighty for me" (Numbers 22:6), and Les Feldick explains that Balak knew he couldn't defeat Israel militarily because there were too many (Clip 1). So he turned to a hired curse.
The curse itself did not succeed because God would not let Balaam curse Israel. However, Les Feldick says Balaam then advised the Moabites to use their prettiest young women to seduce the Israelite men, which was a partial success that brought God's judgment on Israel.
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