Pethor

Pethor was a town mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Numbers 22:5) as the home of Balaam, the diviner. The passage identifies it as being located by the River Euphrates, suggesting a considerable distance from Moab, where Balak, the king, requested Balaam's services to curse the Israelites.

While the exact location of Pethor remains uncertain, its association with the Euphrates River places it within Mesopotamia. Some scholars suggest that it may have been located in the region of present-day Turkey or Syria.

The biblical narrative portrays Pethor as a place known for its association with divination and the occult practices of Balaam. The mention of the Euphrates further emphasizes the town's connection to a region considered significant in ancient Near Eastern culture and religion.

The archaeological record has not yet definitively identified a specific site as Pethor, and therefore its existence is primarily known through the biblical account. Its importance lies primarily in its role within the story of Balaam and Balak and the themes of divine sovereignty and blessing found within that narrative.