Numbers 22:21-35 ▼

21 And Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

22 And 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.

23 And 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.

24 And the angel of YHWH stood in a narrow passage of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.

25 And 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.

26 And 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.

27 And 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.

28 And 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?”

29 And 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!”

30 And 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.”

31 And 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.

32 And 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.

33 And 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.”

34 And 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.”

35 And 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.