Numbers 22:29-41 ▼

29 Balaam (not of the people) answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”

30 But the donkey said to Balaam (not of the people), “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.

31 Then the LORD {YHWH} opened Balaam’s (not of the people) eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

32 The angel of the LORD {YHWH} asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse (reckless) before me.

33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

34 “I have sinned,” Balaam (not of the people) said to the angel of the LORD {YHWH}, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”

35 But the angel of the LORD {YHWH} said to Balaam (not of the people), “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak (devastator).

36 When Balak (devastator) heard that Balaam (not of the people) was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite (of his father) city on the Arnon (rushing stream) border, at the edge of his territory.

37 And he (devastator) said to Balaam (not of the people), “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to reward you richly?”

38 “See, I have come to you,” Balaam (not of the people) replied (devastator), “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God {Elohim} puts in my mouth.”

39 So Balaam (not of the people) accompanied Balak (devastator), and they came to Kiriath-huzoth (city of streets).

40 Balak (devastator) sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam (not of the people) and the princes who were with him.

41 The next morning, Balak (devastator) took Balaam (not of the people) and brought him up to (great high place) Bamoth-baal (lord). From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.