Berean Standard Bible

Numbers 23

1Then Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111, “Buildבְּנֵה־be.neh-H1129for mesevenשִׁבְעָ֣הshiv.'AhH7651altarsמִזְבְּחֹ֑תmiz.be.ChotH4196hereבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088,and prepareוְהָכֵ֥ןve.ha.KhenH3559for meבָּזֶ֔הba.ZehH2088sevenשִׁבְעָ֥הshiv.'AhH7651bullsפָרִ֖יםfa.RimH6499and sevenוְשִׁבְעָ֥הve.shiv.'AhH7651ramsאֵילִֽים׃'ei.LimH352.”

2So Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111didוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213asכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka.'a.SherH834Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109had instructedדִּבֶּ֣רdi.BerH1696,and Balakבָּלָ֧קba.LakH1111and Balaamוּבִלְעָ֛םu.vil.'AmH1109offeredוַיַּ֨עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927a bullפָּ֥רparH6499and a ramוָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yilH352on each altarבַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ba.miz.Be.achH4196.

3“Stayהִתְיַצֵּב֮hit.ya.TzevH3320here byעַל־'al-H5921your burnt offeringעֹלָתֶךָ֒'o.la.te.KhaH5930while I am goneוְאֵֽלְכָ֗הve.'e.le.KhahH1980,”Balaamבִּלְעָ֜םbil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Balakלְבָלָ֗קle.va.LakH1111. “Perhapsאוּלַ֞י יִקָּרֵ֤ה'u.Lai yi.ka.RehH194 H7136the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068will meet with meלִקְרָאתִ֔י וּדְבַ֥רlik.ra.Ti u.de.VarH7122 H1697.And whateverמַה־mah-H4100He reveals to meיַּרְאֵ֖נִיyar.'E.niH7200,I will tellוְהִגַּ֣דְתִּיve.hi.Gad.tiH5046you.”So Balaam went offוַיֵּ֖לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980to a barren heightשֶֽׁפִי׃She.fiH8205,

4and Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430metוַיִּקָּ֥רvai.yi.KarH7136withאֶל־'el-H413himבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109. “I have set upעָרַ֔כְתִּי'a.Rakh.tiH6186sevenשִׁבְעַ֤תshiv.'AtH7651altarsהַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ha.miz.be.ChotH4196,”Balaam saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559אֵלָ֗יו'e.LavH413אֶת־'et-H853, “and on each altarבַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ba.miz.Be.achH4196I have offeredוָאַ֛עַלva.'A.'alH5927a bullפָּ֥רparH6499and a ramוָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yilH352.”

5Then the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068putוַיָּ֧שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760a messageדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697in Balaam’sבִלְעָ֑םvil.'AmH1109mouthבְּפִ֣יbe.FiH6310,sayingוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Returnשׁ֥וּבshuvH7725toאֶל־'el-H413Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111andוְכֹ֥הve.KhohH3541give him this messageתְדַבֵּֽר׃te.da.BerH1696.”

6So he returnedוַיָּ֣שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725to Balakאֵלָ֔יו'e.LavH413,whoה֖וּאhu'H1931was standingנִצָּ֖בni.TzavH5324thereוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009besideעַל־'al-H5921his burnt offeringעֹלָת֑וֹo.la.ToH5930,with allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the princesשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of Moabמוֹאָֽב׃mo.'AvH4124.

7And Balaam lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375an oracleמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,sayingוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559: “Balakבָלָ֤קva.LakH1111brought meיַנְחֵ֨נִיyan.Che.niH5148fromמִן־min-H4480Aramאֲ֠רָם'A.romH758,the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Moabמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124from the mountainsמֵֽהַרְרֵי־me.ha.rei-H2042of the eastקֶ֔דֶםKe.demH6924. ‘Come,’ he saidלְכָה֙le.KhahH1980, ‘put a curseאָֽרָה־'a.rah-H779on Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290for me;comeוּלְכָ֖הu.le.KhahH1980anddenounceזֹעֲמָ֥הzo.'a.MahH2194Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478!’

8Howמָ֣הmahH4100can I curseאֶקֹּ֔ב'e.KoH6895those whomGodאֵ֑ל'ElH410has notלֹ֥אlo'H3808cursedקַבֹּ֖הka.BohH6895?Howוּמָ֣הu.MahH4100can I denounceאֶזְעֹ֔ם'ez.'OmH2194those whomthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068has notלֹ֥אlo'H3808denouncedזָעַ֖םza.'AmH2194?

9Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588I see themאֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ'er.'E.nuH7200from atopמֵרֹ֤אשׁme.RoshH7218the rocky cliffsצֻרִים֙tzu.RimH6697,and I watch themאֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ'a.shu.Re.nuH7789from the hillsוּמִגְּבָע֖וֹתu.mi.ge.va.'otH1389.Beholdהֶן־hen-H2005,a peopleעָם֙'amH5971dwellingיִשְׁכֹּ֔ןyish.KonH7931apartלְבָדָ֣דle.va.DadH910,notלֹ֥אlo'H3808reckoning themselvesיִתְחַשָּֽׁב׃yit.cha.ShavH2803among the nationsוּבַגּוֹיִ֖םu.va.go.YimH1471.

10Whoמִ֤יmiH4310can countמָנָה֙ma.NahH4487the dustעֲפַ֣ר'a.FarH6083of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290or numberוּמִסְפָּ֖רu.mis.ParH4557אֶת־'et-H853evena fourthרֹ֣בַעRoa'H7255of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478?Let meנַפְשִׁי֙naf.ShiH5315dieתָּמֹ֤תta.MotH4191the deathמ֣וֹתMotH4194of the righteousיְשָׁרִ֔יםye.sha.RimH3477;let my endאַחֲרִיתִ֖י'a.cha.ri.TiH319beוּתְהִ֥יu.te.HiH1961like theirsכָּמֹֽהוּ׃ka.Mo.huH3644!”

11Then Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109, “Whatמֶ֥הmehH4100have you doneעָשִׂ֖יתָ'a.Si.taH6213to me?I brought youלְקַחְתִּ֔יךָle.kach.Ti.khaH3947hereto curseלָקֹ֤בla.KoH6895my enemiesאֹיְבַי֙'o.ye.VaiH341,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֖הve.hi.NehH2009,you have only blessed themH1288!”

12But Balaam repliedוַיַּ֖עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.Ya.'an vai.yo.MarH6030 H559, “Should I notהֲלֹ֗אha.Lo'H3808אֵת֩'etH853speakלְדַבֵּֽר׃le.da.BerH1696exactly whatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068putsיָשִׂ֤יםya.SimH7760in my mouthבְּפִ֔יbe.FiH6310אֹת֥וֹ'o.ToH853אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר'esh.MorH8104?”

Balaam’s Second Oracle

13Then Balakבָּלָ֗קba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to himאֵלָ֜יו'e.LavH413, “Please comeלְכָה נָּ֨אle.khah na'H1980 H4994with meאִתִּ֜י'i.TiH854toאֶל־'el-H413anotherאַחֵר֙'a.CherH312placeמָק֤וֹםma.KomH4725whereאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834מִשָּׁ֔םmi.ShamH8033you can see themתִּרְאֶ֣נּוּtir.'E.nuH7200.You will onlyאֶ֚פֶס'E.fesH657seeתִרְאֶ֔הtir.'EhH7200the outskirts of their campקָצֵ֣הוּka.Tze.huH7097—notלֹ֣אlo'H3808תִרְאֶ֑הtir.'EhH7200all of themוְכֻלּ֖וֹve.khu.LoH3605.And from thereמִשָּֽׁם׃mi.ShamH8033,curse themוְקָבְנוֹ־ve.ka.ve.nov-H6895for me.”

14So Balak took himוַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yi.ka.Che.huH3947to the fieldשְׂדֵ֣הse.DehH7704of Zophimצֹפִ֔יםtzo.FimH6839,to theאֶל־'el-H413topרֹ֖אשׁroshH7218of Pisgahהַפִּסְגָּ֑הha.pis.GahH6449,where he builtוַיִּ֙בֶן֙vai.Yi.venH1129sevenשִׁבְעָ֣הshiv.'AhH7651altarsמִזְבְּחֹ֔תmiz.be.ChotH4196and offeredוַיַּ֛עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927a bullפָּ֥רparH6499and a ramוָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yilH352on each altarבַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ba.miz.Be.achH4196.

15Balaam saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111, “Stayהִתְיַצֵּ֥בhit.ya.TzevH3320hereכֹּ֖הkohH3541besideעַל־'al-H5921your burnt offeringעֹלָתֶ֑ךָ'o.la.Te.khaH5930while Iוְאָנֹכִ֖יve.'a.no.KhiH595meetאִקָּ֥רֶה'i.Ka.rehH7136the LORDover thereכֹּֽה׃KohH3541.”

16And the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068metוַיִּקָּ֤רvai.yi.KarH7136withאֶל־'el-H413Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109and putוַיָּ֥שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760a messageדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697in his mouthבְּפִ֑יוbe.FivH6310,sayingוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Returnשׁ֥וּבshuvH7725toאֶל־'el-H413Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111and speakתְדַבֵּֽר׃te.da.BerH1696what I tell youוְכֹ֥הve.KhohH3541.”

17So he returnedוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Balakאֵלָ֗יו'e.LavH413,who was standingנִצָּב֙ni.TzavH5324thereוְהִנּ֤וֹve.hi.NoH2009byעַל־'al-H5921his burnt offeringעֹ֣לָת֔וֹo.la.ToH5930withאִתּ֑וֹ'i.ToH854the princesוְשָׂרֵ֥יve.sa.ReiH8269of Moabמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124. “Whatמַה־mah-H4100did the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068sayדִּבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696?”Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111askedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559.

18Then Balaam lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375an oracleמְשָׁל֖וֹme.sha.LoH4912,sayingוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559: “Ariseק֤וּםkumH6965,O Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111,and listenוּֽשֲׁמָ֔עu.sha.Ma'H8085;giveהַאֲזִ֥ינָהha.'a.Zi.nahH238ear to meעָדַ֖י'a.DaiH5704,O sonבְּנ֥וֹbe.NoH1121of Zipporצִפֹּֽר׃tzi.PorH6834.

19Godאֵל֙'elH410is notלֹ֣אlo'H3808a manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376,that He should lieוִֽיכַזֵּ֔בvi.kha.ZevH3576,or a sonוּבֶן־u.ven-H1121of manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120,that He should change His mindוְיִתְנֶחָ֑םve.yit.ne.ChamH5162.Does Heהַה֤וּאha.Hu'H1931speakאָמַר֙'a.MarH559and notוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808actיַעֲשֶׂ֔הya.'a.SehH6213?Does He promiseוְדִבֶּ֖רve.di.BerH1696and notוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808fulfillיְקִימֶֽנָּה׃ye.ki.Me.nahH6965?

20I have indeedהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009receivedלָקָ֑חְתִּיla.Ka.che.tiH3947a command to blessבָרֵ֖ךְva.RekhH1288;He has blessedוּבֵרֵ֖ךְu.ve.RekhH1288,and I cannotוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808change itאֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃'a.shi.Ve.nahH7725.

21He considersהִבִּ֥יטhi.BitH5027noלֹֽא־lo'-H3808disasterאָ֙וֶן֙'a.venH205for Jacobבְּיַעֲקֹ֔בbe.ya.'a.KoH3290;He seesרָאָ֥הra.'AhH7200noוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808troubleעָמָ֖ל'a.MalH5999for Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.The LORDיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068their Godאֱלֹהָיו֙'e.lo.HavH430is with themעִמּ֔וֹi.MoH5973,and the shoutוּתְרוּעַ֥תu.te.ru.'AtH8643of the Kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428is among them.

22Godאֵ֖ל'elH410brought them outמוֹצִיאָ֣םmo.tzi.'AmH3318of Egyptמִמִּצְרָ֑יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714with strengthכְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥תke.to.'a.FotH8443like a wild oxרְאֵ֖םre.'EmH7214.

23Forכִּ֤יkiH3588there is noלֹא־lo'-H3808spellנַ֙חַשׁ֙na.chashH5173against Jacobבְּיַעֲקֹ֔בbe.ya.'a.KoH3290and noוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808divinationקֶ֖סֶםKe.semH7081against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.It will nowכָּעֵ֗תka.'EtH6256be saidיֵאָמֵ֤רye.'a.MerH559of Jacobלְיַעֲקֹב֙le.ya.'a.KoH3290and Israelוּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לu.le.Yis.ra.'ElH3478, ‘Whatמַה־mah-H4100great things Godאֵֽל׃'ElH410has doneפָּ֖עַלPa.'alH6466!’

24Beholdהֶן־hen-H2005,the peopleעָם֙'amH5971riseיָק֔וּםya.KumH6965like a lionessכְּלָבִ֣יאke.la.Vi'H3833;they rouse themselvesיִתְנַשָּׂ֑אyit.na.Sa'H5375like a lionוְכַאֲרִ֖יve.kha.'a.RiH738,notלֹ֤אlo'H3808restingיִשְׁכַּב֙yish.KavH7901untilעַד־'ad-H5704they devourיֹ֣אכַלYo.khalH398their preyטֶ֔רֶףTe.refH2964and drinkיִשְׁתֶּֽה׃yish.TehH8354the bloodוְדַם־ve.dam-H1818of the slainחֲלָלִ֖יםcha.la.LimH2491.”

25Now Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109, “Thenגַּם־gam-H1571neitherלֹ֣אlo'H3808curse themקֹ֖בkoH6895at allתִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ גַּם־ti.ko.Ve.nu gam-H6895 H1571norלֹ֥אlo'H3808bless themבָּרֵ֖ךְba.RekhH1288at allתְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ׃te.va.ra.Khe.nuH1288!”

26But Balaamבִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־bil.'Am vai.Yo.mer 'el-H1109 H559 H413repliedוַיַּ֣עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030בָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111, “Did I notהֲלֹ֗אha.Lo'H3808tell you thatדִּבַּ֤רְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔רdi.Bar.ti 'e.Lei.kha le.MorH1696 H413 H559whateverכֹּ֛לkolH3605אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068אֹת֥וֹ'o.ToH853saysיְדַבֵּ֥רye.da.BerH1696,I must doאֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃'E.'e.SehH6213?”

27“Pleaseנָּא֙na'H4994comeלְכָה־le.khah-H1980,”saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111אֶל־'el-H413בִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109, “I will takeאֶקָּ֣חֲךָ֔'e.Ka.cha.khaH3947you toאֶל־'el-H413anotherאַחֵ֑ר'a.CherH312placeמָק֖וֹםma.KomH4725.Perhapsאוּלַ֤י'u.LaiH194it will pleaseיִישַׁר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣יyi.Shar be.'ei.NeiH3474 H5869Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430that you curse themוְקַבֹּ֥תוֹve.ka.Bo.tovH6895for mefrom thereמִשָּֽׁם׃mi.ShamH8033.”

28And Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111אֶת־'et-H853tookוַיִּקַּ֥חvai.yi.KachH3947Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109to the topרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218of Peorהַפְּע֔וֹרha.pe.'orH6465,which overlooksהַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף עַל־ פְּנֵ֥יha.nish.Kaf 'al- pe.NeiH8259 H5921 H6440the wastelandהַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃hay.shi.MonH3452.

29Then Balaamבִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־bil.'Am 'el-H1109 H413saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559בָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111, “Buildבְּנֵה־be.neh-H1129for mesevenשִׁבְעָ֣הshiv.'AhH7651altarsמִזְבְּחֹ֑תmiz.be.ChotH4196hereבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088,and prepareוְהָכֵ֥ןve.ha.KhenH3559for meבָּזֶ֔הba.ZehH2088sevenשִׁבְעָ֥הshiv.'AhH7651bullsפָרִ֖יםfa.RimH6499and sevenוְשִׁבְעָ֥הve.shiv.'AhH7651ramsאֵילִֽים׃'ei.LimH352.”

30So Balakבָּלָ֔קba.LakH1111didוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213asכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka.'a.SherH834Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109had instructedאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559,and he offeredוַיַּ֛עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927a bullפָּ֥רparH6499and a ramוָאַ֖יִלva.'A.yilH352on each altarבַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ba.miz.Be.achH4196.

Balaam’s Second Oracle

Commentaries on Numbers 23