THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
refinement in the individual poems must have lasted till the eighth century.
An appendix to the oracles is found in chap, xxiv, 20-24. which must have been composed originally at a late date, since deportations by the Assyrians are referred to (verse 22), and perhaps also even the Macedonian conquests of the fourth century (verse 24). This poem should of course be separated from the others in our texts.
Quite apart from the main current of tradition
and its idealization is the use made of the Balaam
story by the priestly writer in Num.
The Story xxxi, 8, 16. He connects the prophet
in P and with the Midianitish seductions de- Later Lit- scribed (also by P) in Num. xxv, 6-18.
erature. The statement that Balaam suggested the corruption of Israel by sensual allurements and suffered death in the ensuing holy war, is out of harmony with the original conception of the prophet, which is retained throughout the older accounts. The notion, however, gained continually in popularity, and is recalled in the later literature even in New Testament times (cf. II Pet. ii, 15, Jude 11; Josephus, Ant., IV, vi, 6). Prejudice is already shown in Josh, xxiv, 9; Deut. xxiii, 4, 5; but a more just sentiment is displayed in Mic. vi, 5. A historical example of the influence of the tradition may be seen in Neh. xiii, 1, 2.
J. F. McCuedy.
Bibliography: For review of literature up to 1887 consult
F. Delitzsch, Zur neuesten Literatur iiber den Abscknitt Bileam, in ZKW- 1888. On the general subject. F. A. G. Tholuck, Die Geschichte Bileams, in his Vermischte Schriften, i, 406-432, Hamburg, 1839; E. W. Hengstenberg, Geschichte Bileams und seine Weissagungen, Berlin, 1842; H. Oort, Disputatio de Num. xxii-xxiv, Leyden, 1860;
G. Baur. Geschichte der alttestamentlichen Weissagungen, pp. 329 sqq., Giessen, 1861; A. Kuenen, in ThT, xviii (1884), 497-540; A. Dillmann, consult on the passage his commentary in Kurzgefasstes exegetisches Handbuch zum Alien Testament, Strasburg, 1887; A. H. Sayce, Balaam's Prophecy, Num. xxiv. 17-24, and the God Seth, in Hebraica, iv (1887), 1—6; A. van Hoonacker, Observations critiques sur les recits concernant Bileam, in Le Museon, Lyons, 1888; J. HaleVy, in Revue Semitique, 1894, 201-209; DB. i, 232-234; EB, i, 461-464; T. K. Cheyne, in Expository Times, 1899, 399-402. Bishcp Butler's celebrated sermon on the character of Balaam is in vol. ii of his works, Oxford, 1844.
BALAN, ba'lan, PIETRO : Roman Catholic church historian; b. at Este (17 m. s.s.w. of Padua), Italy, Sept. 3, 1840. He was educated in the seminary at Padua, where he was appointed professor in 1862. He was director of the Venetian La Liberta Cattolica in 1865 and of the Modenese Diritto Cattolico in 1867. In 1879 he became subarchivist of the Vatican, but retired on account of ill health four years later, and has since resided at Pregatto in the province of Bologna. He was nominated chamberlain by Leo XIII in 1881, and domestic prelate in the following year, while in 1883 he was appointed referendary of the Papal " segnatura." In the latter year he was also created a commander of the order of Francis Jcseph He is the author of Studi sul Papato (Padua, 1862); Tommaso Becket (1864); Storia di S. Tommaso di Cantorbery e dei suoi tempi (2 vols., Modena, 1867); I Precursor! del razionalismo moderno fino a Lutero (2 vols. Parma. 1867-68); Ilomani e Longobardi (Modena,
1868); L'Economia, la Chiesa e gli umanitari (1869); Pio IX, la Chiesa e la Rivoluzione (2 vols., 1869); Dante ed i Papi (1870); Chiesa e Stato (1871); Sidle Legazioni compiute nei paesi nordici da Guglielmo vescovo di Modena nel secolo XIII (1872); // Vescovo di Modena Alberto Boschetti (1872); Storia di Gregorio IX e dei suoi tempi (3 vols., 1872-73); Storia d' Italia dai primi tempi fino al 1870 (7 vols., 1875-86); Storia del pontiflcato di Papa Giovanni
VIII (1876); Storia delta Lega Lombarda, con documenti (1876); Memorie storiche di Tencarola nel Padovano con documenti inediti (1876); Storia della Chiesa Cattolica durante il pontiflcato di Pic
IX (3 vols., Turin, 1876-86); Memorie della B Beatrice I di Este (1877); Roberto Boschetti t V Italia dei suoi tempi (2 vols., 1878-84) ; Discorsi tenut\ nel quinto Congresso Cattolico in Modena (Bologna, 1879); Suit' Autenticita del diploma di Enrico II d\ Germania a Papa Benedetto VIII (Rome, 1880) S. Catterina da Siena e il Papato (1880); La Politico italiana dal 1863 al 1870, secondo gli ultimi documenti (1880); La Storia d' Italia e gli archivi segreh della Santa Sede (1881); Le Relazioni fra la Chiesc Cattolica e gli Slavi meridionali (1881); / Papi ea i vespri siciliani, con documenti (1881); II Processc di Bonijazio VIII (1881); La Politica di ClemenU VII fino al sacco di Roma (1884); Roma capitah d'ltalia (1884); Monumenta reformationis Lutheran m ex tabular Us Sancti Sedis secretis, 1531-25 (Regensburg, 1884); and Clemente VII e V Italic del suo tempo (Milan, 1887).
BALDACHIN: A canopy-like ornament ir stone or bronze over the altar in some Romar Catholic churches, designed originally to protect the Eucharist from objects that might fall on it from above. The name is derived from Baldacco, an old Italian form of Bagdad, and owes its use in this connection to the fact that Bagdad was a rich source of the precious cloths which were frequently employed in decorating the protecting ornament over altars. In spite of legislation of the Congregation of Rites requiring a baldachin over every altar, the contrary practise is common everywhere at the present day, even in Rome. Formerly the baldachin was called a ciborium because the ciborium or vessel containing the Eucharist was suspended from it. A splendid example of the baldachin is seen in the bronze masterpiece of Bernini over the main altar of St. Peter's in Rome. A portable baldachin is held over the sacrament of the altar when it is borne in procession or, in some places, when it is carried to the sick. A baldachin should be erected also over a bishop's throne.
John T. Ceeagh.
BALDE, bal'da, JAKOB: German Jesuit, distinguished as a scholar, poet, and preacher; b. at Ensisheim (55 m. s.s.w. of Strasburg), Alsace, Jan. 4, 1604; d. at Neuburg (29 m. n.n.e. of Augsburg), Bavaria, Aug. 9, 1668. He was destined for a legal career, and was educated by the Jesuits in his native town, at Molsheim, and at Ingolstadt. In 1624 he renounced the world and entered the Society, still continuing his classical studies, and teaching rhetoric at Munich and Innsbruck. In 1633 he was ordained; from 1635 to 1637 he was