Numbers 22:32

Translations

Modern

The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.

Traditional

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

Literal

And the angel of YHWH said to him, “On account of what have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before me.

Latin

Cui angelus: Cur, inquit, tertio verberas asinam tuam? ego veni ut adversarer tibi, quia perversa est via tua, mihique contraria:

Original

Hebrew

English

The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.

Notes

Numbers 22:21–41

This passage clearly uses humor to make fun of Balaam, the professional diviner. The story shows that his spiritual understanding and obedience to God were less than those of his own donkey.

Numbers 22:2–24:25

The story of Balak and Balaam marks an important turning point in Israel’s history. It includes humor, drama, and deep teaching about God.

The story makes one main point clear. The Lord’s will must be carried out. No one could stop his plan for Israel.

Theme notes and profiles

Balaam Moab and Ammon Satan Angels

Related verses

Acts 13:10
…and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
Numbers 22:22
Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
Proverbs 28:18
He who walks with integrity will be kept safe, but whoever is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
Proverbs 28:6
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
Proverbs 14:2
He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
Psalm 145:9
The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.
2 Peter 2:14–15
Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.
Micah 6:5
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
Numbers 22:28
Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
Deuteronomy 25:4
Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
Numbers 22:20
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
Numbers 22:35
But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites Balaam Balak Curse, Cursed Deuteronomy, Book of False Prophets Jannes and Jambres Moab, Moabites Moses Numbers, Book of Prophets, False Shittim (Place)

Topics

Angel (Holy Trinity): One of the Holy Trinity: Called Angel of the Lord Animals: Cruelty to Balaam Balaam: Anger of, Rebuked by his Ass Beasts: Domestic: Not to be Cruelly Used Donkey: Domesticated used for Riding Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Balaam not Permitted to Curse Israel Repentance: Balaam, of his Spiritual Blindness Sin: Repugnant to God

Numbers 22:32

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