Balak Summons Balaam

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.

The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey

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.