여호수아 13:22의 미드라쉬

There is wisdom which is both beneficial and harmful to the one who possesses it. Joshua possessed wisdom that was beneficial, as it is said: Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom (Deut. 34:9). To what may this be compared? To a reservoir that supplied an entire city with water. Everyone praised it, with the exception of one man who advised them to praise the well that supplied the water (for the reservoir) instead. Similarly, while they were extolling Joshua for giving drink to Israel through his wisdom, he said to them: “Praise Moses instead,” for Moses had laid his hands upon him (ibid.). Balaam had wisdom which was harmful to him, as it is stated: The saying of him who heareth the word of God, and knoweth the knowledge of the Most High (Num. 24:23), and finally: Balaam the son of Beor they slew with a sword (ibid. 31:8).

(Exodus 14:9) "And Egypt pursued them" (This is ostensibly redundant.) We are hereby apprised that not one of them stumbled on the way, lest they resort to divination and turn back. For thus do we find, that these nations resorted to divination, viz. (Devarim 18:14) "For these nations that you are to inherit resort to soothsayers and diviners, etc.", and (Numbers 22:7) "And the elders of Moav and the elders of Midian went, with (instruments of) divination in their hands," and (Joshua 13:22) "And Bilaam the son of Beor the augur they slew by the sword," and the elders of Midian divined and turned back.

(Num. 31, 8) And the kings of Midian they slew, besides the rest of their men that were slain … and Bil'am, the son of Boer, they slew with the sword. What has Bil'am to do there? R. Jochanan said: "He went to take the reward for the twenty-four thousand Israelites who were killed because of his advice." Mar Zutra b. Tubia said in the name of Rab: "This is what people say: A camel wanted to get horns, and therefore the ears he possessed were cut off." (Josh. 13, 22) And Bil'am, the son of Beor, the soothsayer. The soothsayer! Was he not a prophet? R. Jochanan said: "At the beginning he was a prophet, but thereafter he became a soothsayer."