No, animals do not have the gift of intelligent speech; in other words animals cannot talk so it could not have been the donkey that conversed with BALAAM.
Doesn't the bible say the donkey spoke?
Yes, but it does not say
where the words that supposedly came out of the donkey's mouth originated. The donkey in the bible account was evidently a dumb beast being maniupulated in a similar way to how a VENTRILOQUIST makes a dummy "speak" by projecting his voice so that he listener is unaware of WHO really is speaking. For example, imagine you could not see the puppeteer below, who would "
appear " to be speaking.
This conclusion is supported by the fact that the report reveals a powerful spirit made himself manifest as Baalam was interacting with the animal. Since spirits are invisible a d extremely powerful (and can and do manipulate the physical environment) it would be simple for one to make it APPEAR as if an animal was speaking, when in fact it was effectively "possesed" (controlled) by an unseen spirit.
COULD A SPIRIT CONTROL A DONKEY'S MOUTH?
Please read the account of the demon possessed man of Gerasenes.
MARK 5:3-9
When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”
Who was Jesus conversing with? The poor tortured soul who was possessed or the demons that controlled him? Although the man's mouth no doubt was moving the words that came out of it were not his own. Spirits are
incredibly powerful creatures so yes, controlling the movements of a human or a donkey (or a snake for that matter) so they appear to be speaking when are not, would be child's play for them.
JW
