Numbers 22:1-21 ▼

1 And the sons of Israel journey and encamp in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan, [by] Jericho.

2 And Balak son of Zippor sees all that Israel has done to the Amorite,

3 and Moab is exceedingly afraid of the presence of the people, for it [is] numerous; and Moab is distressed by the presence of the sons of Israel,

4 and Moab says to [the] elderly of Midian, “Now the assembly licks up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the green thing of the field.” And Balak son of Zippor [is] king of Moab at that time,

5 and he sends messengers to Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which [is] by the River of the land of the sons of his people, to call for him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt; behold, it has covered the eye of the land, and it is abiding in front of me;

6 and now, come, please curse this people for me, for it [is] mightier than I. It may be I prevail, [and] we strike it, and I cast it out from the land; for I have known that which you bless is blessed, and that which you curse is cursed.”

7 And [the] elderly of Moab and [the] elderly of Midian go with divinations in their hand, and they come to Balaam and speak the words of Balak to him,

8 and he says to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I have brought you back word, as YHWH speaks to me”; and the princes of Moab abide with Balaam.

9 And God comes to Balaam and says, “Who [are] these men with you?”

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

11 Behold, the people that is coming out from Egypt and covers the eye of the land—now come, pierce it for me; it may be I am able to fight against it and have cast it out”;

12 and God says to Balaam, “You do not go with them; you do not curse the people, for it [is] blessed.”

13 And Balaam rises in the morning and says to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land, for YHWH is refusing to permit me to go with you”;

14 and the princes of Moab rise, and come to Balak, and say, “Balaam is refusing to come with us.”

15 And Balak adds yet to send princes, more numerous and honored than these,

16 and they come to Balaam and say to him, “Thus said Balak son of Zippor: Please do not be withheld from coming to me,

17 for I honor you very greatly, and all that you say to me I do; and come, please pierce this people for me.”

18 And Balaam answers and says to the servants of Balak, “If Balak gives to me the fullness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of my God YHWH, to do a little or a great thing;

19 and now, please abide in this [place], you also, tonight, then I know what YHWH is adding to speak with me.”

20 And God comes to Balaam by night and says to him, “If the men have come to call for you, rise, go with them, and only the thing which I speak to you—do it.”

21 And Balaam rises in the morning, and saddles his donkey, and goes with the princes of Moab,