22
1 The
children of Israel
traveled, and
encamped in the
plains of Moab
beyond the Jordan
at Jericho.
2 Balak
the son of
Zippor saw all
that Israel had
done to
the Amorites.
3 Moab
was very afraid
of the people,
because they were
many. Moab was
distressed because
of the children
of Israel.
4 Moab said
to the elders
of Midian, “Now
this multitude
will lick up
all that is
around us, as
the ox licks
up the grass
of the field.”
Balak the son
of Zippor was
king of Moab
at that time.
5 He
sent messengers to
Balaam the son
of Beor, to
Pethor, which is
by the River,
to the land of
the children of
his people, to
call him, saying, “Behold, there is a
people who came
out of Egypt.
Behold, they cover
the surface of
the earth, and
they are staying
opposite me.
6 Please
come now therefore,
and curse this
people for me;
for they are
too mighty for
me. Perhaps I
shall prevail,
that we may
strike them, and
that I may
drive them out
of the land; for
I know that
he whom you
bless is blessed,
and he whom
you curse is
cursed.”
7 The
elders of Moab
and the elders
of Midian departed
with the rewards
of divination in
their hand. They
came to Balaam,
and spoke to
him the words
of Balak.
8 He
said to them, “Lodge
here this night,
and I will
bring you word
again, as the
LORD shall speak
to me.” The
princes of Moab
stayed with Balaam.
9 God came
to Balaam,
and said, “Who
are these men with
you?”
10 Balaam said
to God, “Balak
the son of
Zippor, king of
Moab, has said to
me,
11 ‘Behold,
the people that
has come out
of Egypt covers
the surface of
the earth. Now,
come curse them
for me. Perhaps I
shall be able
to fight against
them, and shall
drive them out.’ ”
12 God said
to Balaam, “You
shall not go
with them. You
shall not curse
the people, for
they are blessed.”
13 Balaam
rose up in
the morning,
and said to the
princes of Balak,
“Go to your land;
for the LORD
refuses to permit
me to go
with you.”
14 The
princes of Moab
rose up, and they
went to Balak,
and said, “Balaam
refuses to come
with us.”
15 Balak
again sent princes,
more, and more
honorable than they.
16 They
came to Balaam,
and said to him,
“Balak the son
of Zippor says, ‘Please
let nothing hinder
you from coming
to me,
17 for
I will promote
you to very
great honor, and
whatever you say
to me I
will do. Please
come therefore,
and curse this
people for me.’ ”
18 Balaam
answered the
servants of Balak,
“If Balak would
give me his
house full of
silver and gold,
I can’t go
beyond the word
of the LORD
my God, to
do less or
more.
19 Now
therefore please
stay here tonight
as well, that
I may know
what else the
LORD will speak
to me.”
20 God came
to Balaam at
night, and said
to him, “If the
men have come
to call you,
rise up, go
with them; but only
the word which
I speak to
you, that you
shall do.”
21 Balaam
rose up in
the morning, and
saddled his donkey,
and went with
the princes of
Moab.
22 God’s anger
burned because he
went; and the
LORD’s angel
placed himself in
the way as
an adversary
against him. Now
he was riding
on his donkey, and
his two servants
were with him.
23 The donkey
saw the LORD’s
angel standing in
the way, with
his sword drawn
in his hand;
and the donkey
turned out of
the path, and
went into the
field. Balaam
struck the donkey,
to turn her
into the path.
24 Then
the LORD’s angel
stood in a
narrow path between
the vineyards, a
wall being on
this side, and
a wall on
that side.
25 The donkey
saw the LORD’s
angel, and she
thrust herself to
the wall, and
crushed Balaam’s
foot against the
wall. He struck
her again.
26 The
LORD’s angel went
further, and stood
in a narrow
place, where there
was no way
to turn either to
the right hand
or to the
left.
27 The donkey
saw the LORD’s
angel, and she lay
down under Balaam.
Balaam’s anger burned,
and he struck
the donkey with
his staff.
28 The
LORD 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 Balaam said
to the donkey, “Because
you have mocked
me, I wish there
were a sword
in my hand,
for now I
would have killed
you.”
30 The donkey
said to Balaam, “Am
I not your donkey,
on which you
have ridden all
your life long
until today? Was
I ever in
the habit of doing
so to you?”
He said, “No.”
31 Then
the LORD opened
the eyes of
Balaam, and he
saw the LORD’s
angel standing in
the way, with
his sword drawn
in his hand;
and he bowed
his head, and fell
on his face.
32 The
LORD’s angel said
to him, “Why
have you struck
your donkey these
three times?
Behold, I have
come out as
an adversary,
because your way
is perverse before
me.
33 The donkey
saw me, and
turned away before
me these three
times. Unless she
had turned away
from me, surely
now I would
have killed you,
and saved her
alive.”
34 Balaam said
to the LORD’s
angel, “I have
sinned; for
I didn’t know that
you stood in
the way against
me. Now therefore,
if it displeases
you, I will
go back again.”
35 The
LORD’s angel said
to Balaam, “Go
with the men;
but you shall only
speak the word
that I shall
speak to you.”
So Balaam went
with the princes
of Balak.
36 When
Balak heard that
Balaam had come,
he went out
to meet him
to the City
of Moab, which
is on the
border of
the Arnon, which
is in the
utmost part of
the border.
37 Balak
said to Balaam,
“Didn’t I earnestly
send for you
to summon you?
Why didn’t you
come to me?
Am I not
able indeed to
promote you to
honor?”
38 Balaam
said to Balak, “Behold, I have come
to you. Have
I now any
power at all
to speak anything?
I will speak
the word that God
puts in my
mouth.”
39 Balaam
went with Balak,
and they came
to Kiriath Huzoth.
40 Balak
sacrificed cattle
and sheep, and
sent to Balaam,
and to the
princes who were
with him.
41 In
the morning, Balak
took Balaam, and
brought him up
into the high places
of Baal; and
he saw from
there part of
the people.