Bible Figure
Balaam's Ass
female donkey owned by Balaam, which is miraculously given the power to speak and complains to her owner (Num. 22:28)
Balaam's donkey was the animal God miraculously enabled to speak when Balaam failed to perceive the angel blocking his path.
Biography
Numbers 22 describes Balaam riding his donkey toward Balak. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord with drawn sword three times and tried to avoid him, while Balaam, unable to see the angel, beat the animal. The Lord opened the donkey's mouth, and she protested Balaam's treatment. God then opened Balaam's eyes so he too saw the angel and recognized his peril. Second Peter later refers to the speaking donkey as a rebuke of Balaam's madness.
Biblical Significance
This is an animal rather than a human figure. The episode reverses expectations: the supposedly perceptive seer is spiritually blind while his donkey sees the danger. The record may be worth retaining if AVWJ's 'figures' category intentionally includes notable biblical animals.