Numbers Chapter 22
Balak Summons Balaam
1 Israel traveled and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho. 2 Balak Ben-Zippor saw what Israel did to the Amorites. 3 The people of Moab were afraid of them because there were so many of them. 4 The king of Moab told the elders in Midian, “This horde will eat up everything around us like an ox eats up grass in a pasture.” Balak, king of Moab at the time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam Ben-Beor at Pethor, near the River Euphrates in the land of his people. He called him and said,
“A people has come out of Egypt. They cover the ground; they’re living across from me. 6 Come and put a curse on them; there are too many of them for me to fight. Maybe I can defeat them and drive them out. I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
Num 22:1-6
7 The elders in Moab and Midian left with a fee for fortunetelling in hand and went to Balaam with Balak’s message.
8 He said, “Spend the night here, and I’ll bring word back to you as Yahveh tells me.” So they stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam, “Who are these men?”
10 “Balak Ben-Zippor sent me a message, 11 ‘A people has come out of Egypt and covered the land. Come put a curse on them for me. Maybe I can fight them and drive them out.’”
12 “Don’t go with them. Don’t curse the people because they’re blessed.”
13 Balaam got up in the morning and told Balak’s leaders, “Go back. Yahveh has refused to let me go with you.”
Num 22:7-13
14 They went back to Balak, “Balaam wouldn’t come with us.”
15 Balak sent a bigger group of more distinguished officials,
16 “Balak says, ‘Please don’t let anything keep you from coming to me. 17 I’ll honor you richly and do whatever you tell me. Come put a curse on this nation for me.’”
18 Balaam said,
“Though Balak gives me his house full of silver and gold, I couldn’t do anything great or small that’s contrary to what Yahveh my God may say. 19 Stay here tonight, and I’ll find out what else Yahveh may say.”
20 God came to him at night, “If the men have come to call you, go ahead with them; but only do what I tell you.”
Num 22:14-20
Balaam and His Donkey
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with them. 22 But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of Yahveh stood in the road to hinder him. He was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel standing there with his sword drawn, she went off the road into a field, but Balaam hit her to get her back on the road. 24 Then the angel stood in a narrow path between vineyards with a wall on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel, she pressed herself to the wall and mashed Balaam’s foot; so he hit her again. 26 The angel went on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn either way. 27 When the donkey saw the angel, she lay down under Balaam. He was mad and hit her with his stick.
Num 22:21-27
28Yahveh opened her mouth, and she asked, “What have I done to you to hit me three times?”
29Balaam said, “You’ve mocked me! If I’d had a sword, I would’ve killed you!”
30 The donkey said, “Am I not the donkey you’ve ridden all your life? Have I ever acted like this before?”
31 Then Yahveh opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel standing on the road with his sword drawn, and he bowed to the ground.
32 The angel said,
“Why did you hit your donkey three times? I’ve come to restrain you, because you’re opposing me. 33 But the donkey saw me and turned aside three times. If she hadn’t, I would’ve killed you and let her live.”
34Balaam said, “I’ve sinned. I didn’t know you were standing on the road. If you want me to, I’ll turn around.”
35 But the angel said, “Go on with the men, but only say what I tell you.”
So Balaam went along with them.
Num 22:28-35
36 When Balak heard Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab on the Arnon border. 37 He said, “Didn’t I urgently call you? Why didn’t you come? Am I really not able to honor you?” 38 Balaam said, “I’m here! Can I say just anything? I’ll say what God tells me.” 39 He went with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders that were with him. 41 In the morning he took Balaam to the high places of Baal to see part of the people from there.
Num 22:36-41