Numbers 22

1 Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.

2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,

3 and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.

4 So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,

5 he sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.

6 So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”

7 The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.

8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”

12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

13 So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

14 And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15 Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.

16 They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

17 for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”

18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

19 So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”

20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”

21 So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.

25 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.

26 And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left.

27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

29 Balaam 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, “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 opened Balaam’s 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 asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse 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 said to the angel of the LORD, “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 said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.

37 And he said to Balaam, “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 replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

39 So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

41 The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.

1 ¶ And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan [by] Jericho.

2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they [were] many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all [that are] round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time.

5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which [is] by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they [are] too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, [that] we may smite them, and [that] I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest [is] blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men [are] these with thee?

10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying],

11 Behold, [there is] a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they [are] blessed.

13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

15 ¶ And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

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

22 ¶ And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him.

23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side.

25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where [was] no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

30 And the ass said unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since [I was] thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me:

33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 ¶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which [is] in the border of Arnon, which [is] in the utmost coast.

37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?

38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.

40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that [were] with him.

41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost [part] of the people.

2 And Balak the son of Zipor saw all that Israel had done unto the Amorites,

3 And the Moabites feared greatly because of the greatness of the people: and the Moabites were afraid of the children of Israel,

4 And they said unto the elders of the Midianites, Now shall this company break up that which is round about us, as an ox breaketh up herbage in the field. And Balak the son of Zipor was king of Moab at that time.

5 And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor unto Pethor, which dwelt by the river in the land of the children of his people, to demand of him, saying, Behold, a nation is come up out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth, and lieth against me.

6 Come now therefore, and curse me the people: for they are too mighty for me, if I smite them, and drive them out of the land: for I know that whom thou blessest is blessed, and whom thou cursest is cursed.

7 And the elders of Moab went with the elders of Midian, and had the reward of divination in their hands: and they came in unto Balaam, and told him the words of Balak.

8 And he said unto them: Stay here overnight, and I will tell you again what the LORD will tell me. So the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

9 And God came to Balaam, and said, Who are the people that are with thee?

10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zipor king of Moab hath sent unto me:

11 Behold, a nation is come out of Egypt, and covereth the face of the earth: now therefore come and curse them, that I may fight with them, and drive them out.

12 And God said unto Balaam, Go not with them; neither curse the people: for they are blessed.

13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Go to your own land: for the LORD will not suffer me to go with you.

14 And the princes of Moab arose, and came to Balak, and said: Balaam refuseth to go with us.

15 Then Balak sent greater and more glorious princes than these.

16 And they came to Balaam, and said unto him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zipor unto thee, My son, forbear not to come unto me;

17 For I will highly honour thee, and what thou sayest unto me I will do. Dear one, come and curse me to this people!

18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, yet could I not pass over the word of the LORD my God, to do small things or great.

19 Now therefore tarry ye here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me next.

20 And God came to Balaam by night, and said unto him, If the men be come to call thee, arise, and go with them: but whatsoever I shall say unto thee, that thou shalt do.

21 And Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

22 But the wrath of God was kindled, and he went. And the angel of the LORD stood in the way to oppose him. And he rode upon his ass, and two lads were with him.

23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and a mere sword in his hand. And the ass turned out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote her, that she should go into the way.

24 And the angel of the LORD stood in the way of the vineyards, where were walls on either side.

25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed against the wall, and fastened Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her yet more.

26 And the angel of the LORD went on, and stood in a strait place, where there was no turning to the right hand or to the left.

27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell upon her knees under Balaam. And the wrath of Balaam was kindled, and he smote the ass with the staff.

28 And the LORD opened the ass's mouth, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Thou mockest me. Oh that I had a sword in my hand, I would slay thee!

30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am I not thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden in thy days unto this day? And have I ever cared to do so unto thee? And he said, No.

31 And the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and a mere sword in his hand; and he bowed down and stooped with his face.

32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass thrice? Behold, I am gone out to resist thee: for the way is turned back before me.

33 And the ass saw me, and departed from me three times: otherwise, if she had not departed from me, even now would I have slain thee, and kept the ass alive.

34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned: for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: and now, if it please thee not, I will return.

35 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Go with the men; but speak no other thing than that which I shall speak unto thee. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the uttermost border.

37 And said unto him, Did not I send unto thee, and require thee? Why then didst thou not come unto me? Thinkest thou that I cannot honour thee?

38 And Balaam said unto him, Behold, I am come unto thee; but how can I speak otherwise? For that which God puts in my mouth I must speak.

39 So Balaam went with Balak, and came into the city of the streets.

40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam, and for the princes that were with him.