Numbers 22

¹And the sons of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.

²And Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorite,

³and Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people, because they were numerous. And Moab was sick with dread because of the sons of Israel.

⁴And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the green of the field.” And Balak son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

⁵And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come from Egypt. Behold, he has covered the eye of the land, and he is dwelling next to me.”

⁶And now, come please, curse for me this people, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I will be able to strike them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whom you bless is blessed, and whom you curse is cursed.”

⁷And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hands. And they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.

⁸And he said to them, “Lodge here the night, and I will bring back to you word as YHWH speaks to me.” And the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

⁹And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

¹⁰And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me:

¹¹‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and have covered the eye of the land. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to overpower them and drive them out.’”

¹²And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for it is blessed.”

¹³And Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for YHWH has refused to give me permission to go with you.”

¹⁴And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

¹⁵And Balak yet added to send princes, more numerous and more honorable than these.

¹⁶And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me.

¹⁷For I will very greatly honor you, and whatever you say to me, I will do. Therefore come, please, curse for me this people.’”

¹⁸And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give to me the fullness of his house in silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of YHWH my God to do less or more.

¹⁹And now stay, please, in this place you also tonight, that I may know what more YHWH will speak to me.”

²⁰And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise and go with them. And only the word that I speak to you, that shall you do.”

²¹And Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

²²And the anger of God was kindled because he went, and the angel of YHWH took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and two of his servants with him.

²³And the donkey saw the angel of YHWH standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to return her to the road.

²⁴And the angel of YHWH stood in a narrow passage of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.

²⁵And the donkey saw the angel of YHWH, and she pushed herself against the wall and crushed the foot of Balaam against the wall, and again he struck her.

²⁶And the angel of YHWH added to pass over and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

²⁷And the donkey saw the angel of YHWH, and she lay down under Balaam. And the anger of Balaam was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

²⁸And YHWH opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”

²⁹And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have acted mockingly with me! Oh, I wish a sword were in my hand, for now I would kill you!”

³⁰And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden always until this day? Have I at all been accustomed to do to you, acting this way?” And he said, “No.”

³¹And YHWH opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of YHWH standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.

³²And 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.

³³And the donkey saw Me and turned aside before my face these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely by now I would also have killed you and let her live.”

³⁴And Balaam said to the angel of YHWH, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood against me in the road. And now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will turn back by myself.”

³⁵And the angel of YHWH said to Balaam, “Go with the men, and only the word that I speak to you shall you speak.” And Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

³⁶And Balak heard that Balaam was coming, and he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is the boundary of the territory.

³⁷And Balak said to Balaam, “Was it not that I earnestly sent to you to call for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not truly able to honor you?”

³⁸And Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you; now am I able at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.”

³⁹And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

⁴⁰And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.

⁴¹And it was the next day that Balak took Balaam and brought him up into Bamoth-baal, that he might observe from there the extremity of the people.