Numbers 22
1 And they set out [the] people of Israel and they encamped in [the] plains of Moab from [the] other side of [the] Jordan of Jericho.
Then the Israelis traveled west to the area of Moab that was in the valley of the Jordan [River], across the river from Jericho [city].
2 And he saw Balak [the] son of Zippor all that it had done Israel to the Amorite[s].
But King Balak, the son of Zippor, who ruled Moab, found out what the Israelis had done to the Amor people-group.
3 And it was afraid Moab because of the people exceedingly for [was] numerous it and it felt dread Moab because of [the] people of Israel.
[When he saw that] the Israelis were very numerous, he and his people became terrified.
4 And it said Moab to [the] elders of Midian now they will lick up the company all around us as licks up the ox [the] greenery of the field and Balak [the] son of Zippor [was] king of Moab at the time that.
So the king of Moab [went to] the leaders of the Midian people-group and said to them, “This huge group [of Israelis] will (wipe out/destroy) everything around them, like an ox devours grass!” Balak was the king of Moab.
5 And he sent messengers to Balaam [the] son of Beor Pethor towards which [was] at the river [the] land of [the] sons of people his to summon him saying here! a people it has come out from Egypt here! it has covered [the] eye of the land and it [is] dwelling from in front of me.
He sent messengers to [a prophet named] Balaam, who was living in his own area, in Pethor [town], near the [Euphrates] River. He sent this message to request that Balaam would come [to help him]: “A huge group of people has arrived here from Egypt. [It looks like] they are covering the entire land! And they have begun to live close to us.
6 And therefore come! please curse! for me the people this for [is too] mighty it for me perhaps I will be able to strike it and I will drive out it from the land for I know [the one] whom you bless [is] blessed and [the one] whom you curse he is cursed.
Because they are very powerful/numerous, [we are afraid of them. So] please come and curse them for me. Then my army may be able to defeat them and expel them from the land [where they are now living]. I know that good things will happen to the people whom you bless, and disasters will happen to the people whom you curse.”
7 And they went [the] elders of Moab and [the] elders of Midian and divinations [were] in hand their and they came to Balaam and they spoke to him [the] words of Balak.
[Balak’s messengers, who were] leaders of both the Moab and Midian people-groups, took money with them to pay Balaam in order that he would [come and] curse the Israelis. They went to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.
8 And he said to them lodge here this night and I will bring back you word just as he will speak Yahweh to me and they remained [the] leaders of Moab with Balaam.
Balaam said, “Stay here tonight. [Tomorrow morning] I will tell you whatever Yahweh tells me that I should say to you.” So the leaders from Moab stayed there that night.
9 And he came God to Balaam and he said who? [are] the men these with you.
During the night, God appeared to Balaam and asked him, “(Who are/Tell me about) these men who are staying with you.”
10 And he said Balaam to God Balak [the] son of Zippor [the] king of Moab he sent to me.
Balaam replied, “Balak, the king of Moab, sent these men to tell me this:
11 Here! the people which has come out from Egypt and it has covered [the] eye of the land now come! curse! for me it perhaps I will be able to engage in battle against it and I will drive out it.
‘A huge group of people has come from Egypt, and they have spread all over this area. Please come immediately to curse them. Then I may be able to defeat them and expel them [from this area].’”
12 And he said God to Balaam not you will go with them not you will curse the people for [is] blessed it.
God replied to Balaam, “Do not go with them! I have blessed those people, so you must not curse them!”
13 And he arose Balaam in the morning and he said to [the] leaders of Balak go to land your for he has refused Yahweh to permit me to go with you.
The next morning, Balaam got up and told Balak’s men, “Go back home. [But go by yourselves, because] Yahweh is not allowing me to go with you.”
14 And they arose [the] leaders of Moab and they went to Balak and they said he has refused Balaam to come with us.
So the men from Moab returned to King Balak and they reported to him, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 And he repeated again Balak to send leaders many and honored more than these.
But Balak sent another [group of] leaders to Balaam. It was a group that was larger and they were more important [than the men in the first group].
16 And they came to Balaam and they said to him thus he says Balak [the] son of Zippor do not please let yourself be restrained from coming to me.
They went to Balaam and told him this: “This is what King Balak says: ‘Please do not allow anything to hinder you from coming here.
17 For surely I will honor you exceedingly and all that you will say to me I will do and come! please curse! for me the people this.
I will pay you (a lot of money/very well) [if you come], and I will do anything that you ask me to do. Just come and curse these [Israeli] people for me!’”
18 And he answered Balaam and he said to [the] servants of Balak if he will give to me Balak [the] fullness of house his silver and gold not I will be able to transgress [the] mouth of Yahweh God my by doing a small [thing] or a large [thing].
But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not do anything to disobey Yahweh, (my God/the God whom I [worship]).
19 And now remain please in this [place] also you this night so let me know what? will he increase Yahweh to speak with me.
But stay here one more night, like the other messengers did, and I will find out if Yahweh has anything more to say to me.”
20 And he came God - to Balaam night and he said to him if to summon you they have come the men arise go with them and only the word which I will speak to you it you will do.
That night God appeared to Balaam again and said to him, “These men have come to request that you go back with them, so you may go with them, but do only what I tell you [to do]!”
21 And he arose Balaam in the morning and he saddled donkey his and he went with [the] leaders of Moab.
So the next morning, Balaam put a saddle on his donkey and he departed [with two of his servants] along with the men from Moab.
22 And it burned [the] anger of God for [was] going he and he stood [the] angel of Yahweh in the road to an adversary to him and he [was] riding on donkey his and two of servants his [were] with him.
[Even though God had given Balaam permission to go, he was still angry]. So he sent one of his angels to Balaam. This angel stood in the road to block Balaam’s path. As Balaam and the two servants were riding on their donkeys,
23 And it saw the donkey [the] angel of Yahweh standing in the road and sword his [was] drawn in hand his and it turned aside the donkey from the road and it went in the field and he struck Balaam the donkey to turn it the road.
Balaam’s donkey saw the angel. The angel was standing in the road and was holding a sword in his hand, [but Balaam did not see him]. Balaam’s donkey turned off the road into a field. So Balaam struck the donkey and forced it to go back onto the road.
24 And he stood [the] angel of Yahweh in [the] narrow way of the vineyards a wall from this and a wall from this.
Then the angel stood in a place where the road was very narrow, between two vineyards, with walls on each side of the road.
25 And it saw the donkey [the] angel of Yahweh and it squeezed itself to the wall and it squeezed [the] foot of Balaam to the wall and he repeated to strike it.
When the donkey saw the angel standing there, it walked very close to the wall [to try to get past the angel]. As a result, it bashed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam struck the donkey again.
26 And he increased [the] angel of Yahweh to pass on and he stood in a place narrow where there not [was] a way to turn aside right [hand] and left [hand].
Then the angel went further along the road and stood at a place that was extremely narrow, with the result that the donkey could not get past at all.
27 And it saw the donkey [the] angel of Yahweh and it lay down under Balaam and it burned [the] anger of Balaam and he struck the donkey with the stick.
This time, when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down [on the ground] with Balaam sitting on top of it. Balaam became extremely angry, and he struck the donkey again with his walking stick.
28 And he opened Yahweh [the] mouth of the donkey and it said to Balaam what? have I done to you that you have struck me this three feet.
Then Yahweh enabled the donkey to speak! It said to Balaam, “What bad thing have I done to you that caused you to strike me three times?”
29 And he said Balaam to the donkey that you have dealt wantonly with me if there [were] a sword in hand my that now I killed you.
Balaam shouted, “I struck you because you have caused me to appear to be foolish! If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”
30 And it said the donkey to Balaam ¿ not [am] I donkey your which you have ridden on me from duration your until the day this ¿ really have I had [the] habit to do to you thus and he said no.
But the donkey answered, “I am your own donkey [RHQ], the one that you have always ridden! Have I ever done anything like this previously?” Balaam said, “No.”
31 And he uncovered Yahweh [the] eyes of Balaam and he saw [the] angel of Yahweh standing in the road and sword his [was] drawn in hand his and he bowed low and he bowed down to face his.
Then Yahweh enabled Balaam to see the angel standing on the road, holding a sword in his hand. Balaam [realized that it was an angel and] prostrated himself on the ground in front of the angel.
32 And he said to him [the] angel of Yahweh concerning what? did you strike female donkey your this three feet here! I I came out to an adversary for it is precipitate the way to before me.
The angel asked him, ‘(Why did you strike your donkey three times?/ You should certainly not have struck the donkey three times! [RHQ] I have come to block your path because what you are planning to do is wrong.
33 And it saw me the donkey and it turned aside before me this three feet perhaps it had turned aside from before me if now also you I killed and it I preserved alive.
Three times your donkey saw me and turned away from me. If it had not done that, I would certainly have killed you already, but I would have allowed the donkey to live.”
34 And he said Balaam to [the] angel of Yahweh I have sinned for not I knew that you [were] standing to meet me in the road and therefore if [it is] displeasing in view your I will turn back for myself.
Then Balaam said to the angel, “I have sinned. But I did not realize that you were standing there, trying to block my path. So if you do not want me to continue going, I will return home.”
35 And he said [the] angel of Yahweh to Balaam go with the men and only the word which I will speak to you it you will speak and he went Balaam with [the] leaders of Balak.
But the angel replied, “I will allow you to go with these men, but you must say only what I tell you to say!” So Balaam went on with the leaders whom Balak [had sent].
36 And he heard Balak that he had come Balaam and he went out to meet him to [the] city of Moab which [is] on [the] border of Arnon which [is] at [the] end of the territory.
When King Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went to meet him at a Moab town alongside the Arnon [River] that was at the border of his own land.
37 And he said Balak to Balaam ¿ not certainly did I send to you to summon you why? not did you come to me ¿ really not am I able to honor you.
[When he arrived where] Balaam was, he said to him, “I sent you [RHQ] a message saying that you should come immediately [RHQ]! Why did you not come immediately? [Did you think that] I was not able to pay you a lot of money for coming?”
38 And he said Balaam to Balak here! I have come to you now ¿ certainly am I able to speak anything the word which he will put God in mouth my it I will speak.
Balaam replied, “I have come here now, but I am not able to say anything [that I want to]. I will say only the words that God tells me to say [MTY].”
39 And he went Balaam with Balak and they came Kiriath-huzoth.
Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-Huzoth [town].
40 And he sacrificed Balak cattle and sheep and he sent to Balaam and to the leaders who [were] with him.
There Balak killed some cattle and sheep as sacrifices, and offered [parts of the meat] to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
41 And it was in the morning and he took Balak Balaam and he brought up him Bamoth Baal and he saw from there [the] outskirt[s] of the people.
[They slept there], and the next morning Balak took Balaam part way up [the mountain] to Bamoth-Baal [village]. From there, they could see some of the Israeli people who were down below.
