Balaam’s First Sacrifice

1Balaam told Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare here for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

2So Balak did just as Balaam instructed. Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3Then Balaam instructed Balak, “Stand by your offering and leave me alone by myself. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me. I’ll tell you whatever he reveals to me.”

And so he went to a high place, 4where the LORD met with Balaam, who told him, “I’ve prepared seven altars and offered bulls and rams on an altar.”

5Then the LORD gave Balaam this message. “Return to Balak and speak to him.”

6So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by all the Moabite officials.

Balaam’s First Prophecy

7Then Balaam uttered this prophetic statement:

“King Balak of Moab brought me from Aram,

from the eastern mountains,

and told me,

‘Come and curse Jacob for me.

Come and curse Israel.’

8But how can I curse those whom God hasn’t cursed?

How can I denounce

those whom the LORD hasn’t denounced?

9I saw them from the top of the rocks.

I watched them from the hills.

Truly this is a people that lives by itself

and doesn’t mattera among the nations.

10Who can count the dust of Jacob?

Who can number the dust of Israel?

Let me die the death of the righteous,

and may I end up like him.”

11“What are you doing to me?” Balak asked Balaam. “I brought you to curse my enemies, not pronounce a blessing!”

12But in response, Balaam asked, “Shouldn’t I be careful to communicate only what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

Balaam’s Second Sacrifice

13“Come with me to another place where you can see them,” Balak replied. “You’ll only see a portion of them, because you won’t be able to see them completely. Come and curse them from there for me.”

14So Balakb took him to the field of Zophim, and from there to the top of Mountc Pisgah, where he built seven altars and then offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15Then he told Balak, “Stand by your offering while I go alone to meet the LORD.”d

16Then the LORD met with Balaam and gave a message to him. “Now go back to Balak and speak to him.” 17So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by the Moabite officials.

“What did the LORD say?” Balak asked him.

Balaam’s Second Prophecy

18In response, Balaam uttered this prophetic statement:

“Stand up, Balak, and pay attention!

Listen to me, you son of Zippor!

19God is not a human male—

he doesn’t lie,

nor is he a human being—

he never vacillates.

Once he speaks up,

he’s going to act, isn’t he?

Once he makes a promise,

he’ll fulfill it, won’t he?

20Look! I’ve received a blessing,

and so I will bless.

I won’t withdraw it.

21He has not responded to iniquity in Jacob

or gazed at mischief in Israel.

The LORD his God is with them,

and the triumphant cry of a king is among them.

22From Egypt God brought them—

his strength was like a wild ox!

23No Satanic plan against Jacob

nor divination against Israel

can ever prevail.

When the time is right,

it is to be asked about Jacob and Israel,

‘What has God accomplished?’

24Look! The people are like lions.

Like the lion, he rises up!

He does not lie down again

until he has consumed his prey

and drunk the blood of the slain.”

25Then Balak told Balaam, “Don’t curse them or bless them!”

26“Didn’t I tell you,” Balaam responded to Balak, “that I’ll say whatever the LORD tells me to say?”

Balaam’s Third Sacrifice

27So Balak exhorted Balaam, “Let’s go right now! I’ll take you to another place. Maybe God will agree to have you curse them for me from there.” 28So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mounte Peor, which overlooks the open wilderness.f

29Balaam told Balak, “Build seven altars for me right here. Then prepare seven bulls and seven rams.” 30Balak did just what Balaam had instructed—he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.