פָּקַם, to split, perforate (cmp. פצם), esp. to prick an animal’s mouth with the bit; to govern. Num. R. s. 20 (ref. to Num. XXIII, 16) ‘he put a thing in his mouth’ כאדם שנותן … ופוֹקְמָהּ להיכן שירצה as a man puts a bit in the mouth of a beast and makes it go in what direction he desires; כך הקב"ה פוֹקֵם את פיו so the Lord pricked his (Balaam’s) mouth (making him ‘go back’ to Balak); Tanḥ. Balak 13; Y’lamd. to Num. l. c., quot. in Ar. היה פוקם … ופוקמה (ed. Koh. ופוקקה, corr. acc.).