Numbers 22
1 The Israelites moved on and camped on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan, opposite Jericho.
Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2 Balak, son of Zippor, had seen all that the Israelites had done to the Amorites.
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3 The Moabites were terrified of the Israelites because there were so many of them. The Moabites dreaded the arrival of the Israelites
and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 and told the leaders of Midian, “This horde will eat up everything we have, just like an ox eats up grass in the field!” (Balak son of Zippor, was king of Moab at that time.)
So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,
5 He sent messengers to call Balaam, son of Beor, who lived in Pethor near the Euphrates River in his own country. “Listen, a group of people has arrived here who came from Egypt,” Balak said in his message to Balaam. “There are hordes of them and they present a real threat to me.
he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
6 Please come immediately and curse these people for me, because they are stronger than me. Maybe then I'll be able to attack them and drive them out of my country because I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”
7 The Moabite and Midianite leaders departed, taking payment for the fortune-telling with them. When they arrived they gave Balaam the message from Balak.
The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.
8 “Stay the night and I'll let you know the answer the Lord gives me,” Balaam told them. So the Moabite leaders stayed there with Balaam.
“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 God came to Balaam and asked him, “Who are these men staying with you?”
Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam told God, “Balak, son of Zippor, the king of Moab, sent me this message:
And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 ‘Listen, a group of people has arrived here who came from Egypt. There are hordes of them. Please come immediately and curse these people for me. Maybe then I'll be able to fight them and drive them out of my country.’”
‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”
12 But God told Balaam, “You are not to go back with them. You must not curse this people, for they are blessed.”
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 In the morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's messengers, “Go back to where you came from because the Lord has refused to allow me to go with you.”
So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
14 The Moabite leaders left. They returned to Balak, and told him, “Balaam refused to come back with us.”
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Then Balak sent even more leaders who were more prestigious than before.
Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16 When they arrived they told Balaam, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please don't let anything stop you from coming to see me,
They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 because I will pay you a great deal and follow all the advice you give me. Please come and curse these people for me!’”
for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
18 But Balaam told Balak's officials, “Even if Balak gave me his whole palace full of silver and gold, I couldn't disobey the command of the Lord my God in any way.
But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
19 Now you should also stay the night so I can see if the Lord has anything else to tell me.”
So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20 God came to Balaam during the night and told him, “Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But only do what I tell you.”
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.”
21 In the morning Balaam got up, put a saddle on his donkey, and left with the Moabite leaders.
So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 God's got angry because Balaam had decided to go. The angel of the Lord came and stood in the road to confront him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and he was accompanied by his two servants.
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.
23 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword, so it turned from the road and went into a field. So Balaam beat it to make it go back to the road.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.
24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow part of the road that passed between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and tried to get past. It pushed up against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it. So he beat it again.
And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.
26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to get past, either on the right or the left.
And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left.
27 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and lay down under Balaam. He got angry and beat it with his walking stick.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.
28 The Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you for you to beat me three times?”
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?”
29 “You made me look stupid!” Balaam told the donkey. “If I was holding a sword, I'd kill you now!”
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
30 But the donkey asked Balaam, “Aren't I the donkey you've ridden all your life right up to today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he admitted.
But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.
31 Then the Lord gave Balaam the ability to see the angel of the Lord standing in the road holding a drawn sword. Balaam bowed low and fell facedown on the ground.
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why did you beat your donkey three times? Listen, I have come to confront you because you're being obstinate.
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.
33 The donkey saw me and avoided me three times. If it had not avoided me, by now I definitely would have killed you and allowed the donkey to live.”
The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”
34 “I have sinned because I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me,” Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “So if this isn't what you want, I'll go back home.”
“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”
35 The angel of the Lord told Balaam, “No, you can go with the men, but only say what I tell you.” So Balaam continued on with Balak's officials.
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.
36 When Balak found out that Balaam was on his way, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the border at the Arnon River, the farthest point of his territory.
When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.
37 He said to Balaam, “Didn't you think my call for you to come was urgent? Why didn't you come to me straight away? Did you think I couldn't pay you enough?”
And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”
38 “Look, I'm here with you now, aren't I?” Balaam replied. “But do you think I can just say anything? I can only speak the words that God gives me to say.”
“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39 So Balaam went with Balak and they arrived at Kiriath-huzoth.
So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he shared with meat with Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the extent of the Israelite camp.
The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.
