Pethor
Pethor is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Syria in modern-day Syria. Known today as Til Barsip. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Pethor was the home city of Balaam, the diviner summoned by Balak king of Moab to curse Israel. Numbers 22:5 identifies Pethor as located near the Euphrates River in the land of Amaw (or "the land of the children of his people"). Balak sent messengers with fees for divination to Pethor, requesting that Balaam come and pronounce a curse upon the Israelites who had encamped on the plains of Moab after their exodus from Egypt. Deuteronomy 23:4 confirms that Balaam came from Pethor of Mesopotamia, emphasizing the great distance Balak was willing to reach to secure supernatural opposition against Israel. The journey from the upper Euphrates region to Moab would have covered several hundred miles, underscoring Balaam's reputation as a powerful diviner. Yet despite Balak's elaborate efforts and Balaam's distant origins, God sovereignly transformed every intended curse into a blessing, demonstrating that no human or supernatural power summoned from even the remotest lands could thwart His purposes for His chosen people.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Pethor is generally identified with Pitru, known from Assyrian inscriptions as a city on the western bank of the Euphrates River near its confluence with the Sajur River, in the region of modern northern Syria. Some scholars associate it with Tell Ahmar (ancient Til Barsip), an important site on the Euphrates that has been excavated revealing significant Bronze Age and Iron Age remains, including Assyrian palace murals. The Assyrian king Shalmaneser III mentions Pitru in his inscriptions, confirming its existence as a settlement in the upper Euphrates region. The identification aligns well with the biblical description of Pethor as being near the River (Euphrates) in Aram-Naharaim (Mesopotamia).
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →