New Books in Biblical Studies Ben Wiggershaus, "The Man of Opened Eye: Ancient Near Eastern Revelatory Convention and the Balaam Cycle" (Gorgias Press, 2025)
Dec 22, 2025
Join Ben Wiggershaus, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and author specializing in the Balaam narrative, as he unravels the complexities of Numbers 22-24. He provides compelling insights on reading the Balaam Cycle cohesively through its ancient Near Eastern context. Wiggershaus explores whether Balaam is best viewed as a prophet or a diviner and examines the distinct structures of his oracles. His innovative approach highlights the preservation of the story's unity while addressing scholarly debates about diachronic readings.
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Problems Framed As Discontinuity
- Higher-critical markers of discontinuity in Numbers 22–24 arise from genre shifts, the donkey episode, tone toward Balaam, divine fickleness, and Balaam's varying practices.
- Ben Wiggershaus argues these puzzles can be reinterpreted by situating the text in its ancient Near Eastern context.
Academic Journey To Balaam
- Ben describes his path from studying under Bill T. Arnold to choosing Numbers because it received less attention than other Pentateuchal books.
- His archaeological background led him to a comparative ancient Near Eastern study as a solution for the Balaam problems.
Compare Primary Ancient Sources
- Use comparative study of relevant ancient Near Eastern primary sources to resolve perceived textual discontinuities in biblical narratives.
- Prioritize cultural and practice-based conventions before assuming multiple editorial layers.