Numbers 22

1Then the IsraelitesH1121H3478 traveled onH5265 and campedH2583 in the plainsH6160 of MoabH4124 near the JordanH3383, across fromH5676 JerichoH3405.

2Now BalakH1111 sonH1121 of ZipporH6834 sawH7200 allH3605 thatH834 IsraelH3478 had doneH6213 to the AmoritesH567, 3and MoabH4124 was terrifiedH1481 ofH6440 the peopleH5971H3966 becauseH3588 theyH1931 were numerousH7227. Indeed, MoabH4124H6440 dreadedH6973 the IsraelitesH1121H3478. 4So the MoabitesH4124 saidH559 toH413 the eldersH2205 of MidianH4080H6258, “This hordeH6951 will devourH3897 everythingH3605 around usH5439, as an oxH7794 licks upH3897 the grassH3418 of the fieldH7704.”

Since BalakH1111 sonH1121 of ZipporH6834 was kingH4428 of MoabH4124 at thatH1931 timeH6256, 5he sentH7971 messengersH4397 to summonH413 BalaamH1109 sonH1121 of BeorH1160 at PethorH6604, whichH834 is byH5921 the EuphratesH51041 in the landH776 of his peopleH1121H5971.

“BeholdH2009, a peopleH5971 has come outH3318 of EgyptH4714,” said BalakH7121. “They coverH3680 the faceH5869 of the landH776H1931 and have settledH3427 next to meH4136. 6So pleaseH4994 comeH1980 nowH6258 and put a curseH779 on thisH2088 peopleH5971, becauseH3588 theyH1931 are too mightyH6099 for meH4480. Perhaps I mayH194 be ableH3201 to defeatH5221 them and drive them outH1644 ofH4480 the landH776; forH3588 I knowH3045 that thoseH834 you blessH1288 are blessedH1288, and thoseH834 you curseH779 are cursedH779.”

7The eldersH2205 of MoabH4124H2205 and MidianH4080 departedH1980 with the fees for divinationH7081 in handH3027. They cameH935 toH413 BalaamH1109 and relayedH1696 to himH413 the wordsH1697 of BalakH1111.

8“SpendH3885 the nightH3915 hereH6311,” Balaam repliedH559H413, “and I will giveH7725 you the answerH1697 thatH834 the LORDH3068 speaksH1696 to meH413.” So the princesH8269 of MoabH4124 stayedH3427 withH5973 BalaamH1109.

9Then GodH430 cameH935 toH413 BalaamH1109 and askedH559, “WhoH4310 are theseH428 menH582 with youH5973?”

10And BalaamH1109 saidH559 toH413 GodH430, “BalakH1111 sonH1121 of ZipporH6834, kingH4428 of MoabH4124, sent meH7971 this messageH413: 11‘BeholdH2009, a peopleH5971 has come outH3318 of EgyptH4714, and they coverH3680 the faceH5869 of the landH776. NowH6258 comeH1980 and put a curseH6895 on themH853 for me. Perhaps I mayH194 be ableH3201 to fightH3898 against them and drive them awayH1644.’”

12But GodH430 saidH559 toH413 BalaamH1109, “Do notH3808 goH1980 with themH5973. You are notH3808 to curseH779 this peopleH5971, forH3588 theyH1931 are blessedH1288.”

13So BalaamH1109 got upH6965 the next morningH1242 and saidH559 toH413 Balak’sH1111 princesH8269, “Go backH1980 toH413 your homelandH776, becauseH3588 the LORDH3068 has refusedH3985 to let meH5414 goH1980 with youH5973.”

14And the princesH8269 of MoabH4124 aroseH6965, returnedH935 toH413 BalakH1111, and saidH559, “BalaamH1109 refusedH3985 to comeH1980 with usH5973.”

15Then BalakH1111 sentH7971 otherH3254 princesH8269H5750, more numerousH7227 and more distinguishedH3513 than theH428 first messengers. 16They cameH935 toH413 BalaamH1109 and saidH559, “This is whatH3541 BalakH1111 sonH1121 of ZipporH6834 saysH559: ‘PleaseH4994 let nothingH408 hinderH4513 you from comingH1980 to meH413, 17forH3588 I will honor youH3513 richlyH3966H3513 and doH6213 whateverH3605 you sayH559H413. So pleaseH4994 comeH1980 and put a curseH6895 on thisH2088 people for meH5971!’”

18But BalaamH1109H559 repliedH6030 toH413 the servantsH5650 of BalakH1111, “IfH518 BalakH1111 were to giveH5414 me his houseH1004 fullH4393 of silverH3701 and goldH2091, I couldH3201 notH3808 doH6213 anything smallH6996 orH176 greatH1419 to go beyondH5674 the commandH6310 of the LORDH3068 my GodH430. 19So nowH6258, pleaseH4994 stayH3427 hereH2088 overnightH3915 as the others didH1571H859, that I may find outH3045 whatH4100 elseH3254 the LORDH3068 has to tell meH1696H5973.”

20That nightH3915 GodH430 cameH935 toH413 BalaamH1109 and saidH559, “SinceH518 these menH582 have comeH935 to summonH7121 you, get upH6965 and goH1980 with themH854, but you must onlyH389 doH6213 whatH834 I tell youH1696H413.” 21So in the morningH1242 BalaamH1109 got upH6965, saddledH2280 his donkeyH860, and wentH1980 withH5973 the princesH8269 of MoabH4124.

The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey

22Then God’sH430 angerH639 was kindledH2734 becauseH3588 BalaamH1931 was going alongH1980, and the angelH43972 of the LORDH3068 stoodH3320 in the roadH1870 to opposeH7854 him. BalaamH1931 was ridingH7392H5921 his donkeyH860, and his twoH8147 servantsH5288 were with himH5973.

23When the donkeyH860 sawH7200 the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 standingH5324 in the roadH1870 with a drawnH8025 swordH2719 in his handH3027, sheH860 turnedH5186 offH4480 the pathH1870 and wentH1980 into a fieldH7704. So BalaamH1109 beatH5221 herH860 to return herH5186 to the pathH1870.

24Then the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 stoodH5975 in a narrow passageH4934 between two vineyardsH3754, with wallsH1447 on either sideH2088H1447. 25And the donkeyH860 sawH7200 the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 and pressed herselfH3905 againstH413 the wallH7023, crushingH3905 Balaam’sH1109 footH7272 againstH413 itH7023. So he beat herH5221 once againH3254.

26And the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 movedH5674 on aheadH3254 and stoodH5975 in a narrowH6862 placeH4725 whereH834 there was noH369 roomH1870 to turnH5186 to the rightH3225 or leftH8040. 27When the donkeyH860 sawH7200 the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068, she lay downH7257 underH8478 BalaamH1109, andH1109 he became furiousH2734H639 and beatH5221 her with his staffH4731.

28Then the LORDH3068 openedH6605 the donkey’sH860 mouthH6310, and she saidH559 to BalaamH1109, “WhatH4100 have I doneH6213 to you thatH3588 you have beaten meH5221 theseH2088 threeH7969 timesH7272?”

29BalaamH1109 answeredH559 the donkeyH860H3588, “You have made a foolH5953 of me! IfH3863 I hadH3426 a swordH2719 in my handH3027H3588, I would kill youH2026 right nowH6258!”

30But the donkeyH860H413 saidH559 to BalaamH1109, “Am IH595 notH3808 the donkeyH860 you have riddenH7392H5921 all your lifeH5750 until todayH5704H3117H2088? Have I ever treatedH6213 you this wayH3541 beforeH5532?”

“NoH3808,” he repliedH559.

31Then the LORDH3068 openedH1540 Balaam’sH1109 eyesH5869, and he sawH7200 the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 standingH5324 in the roadH1870 with a drawnH8025 swordH2719 in his handH3027. And Balaam bowed lowH7812H6915 and fell facedownH639.

32The angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 asked himH559H413, “WhyH5921H4100 have you beatenH5221 your donkeyH860 theseH2088 threeH7969 timesH7272? BeholdH2009, IH595 have come outH3318 to oppose youH7854, becauseH3588 your wayH1870 is perverseH33993 before meH5048. 33The donkeyH860 saw meH7200 and turned awayH5186 from meH6440 theseH2088 threeH7969 timesH7272. If she had notH194 turned awayH5186, then by nowH6258H1571 I would surely have killedH3588H2026 youH853 and let herH853 liveH2421.”

34“I have sinnedH2398,” BalaamH1109 saidH559 toH413 the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068, “forH3588 I did notH3808 realizeH3045 thatH3588 youH859 were standingH5324 in the roadH1870 to confront meH7122. And nowH6258, ifH518 this is displeasingH7489 in your sightH5869, I will go backH7725 home.”

35But the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 BalaamH1109, “GoH1980 withH5973 the menH582, but you are to speakH1696H413 onlyH657 whatH834 I tell youH1696.” So BalaamH1109 wentH1980 withH5973 the princesH8269 of BalakH1111.

36When BalakH1111 heardH8085 thatH3588 BalaamH1109 was comingH935, he went outH3318 to meet himH7122 atH413 the MoabiteH4124 cityH5892 onH5921 the ArnonH769 borderH1366, at the edgeH7097 of his territoryH1366. 37AndH1111 he saidH559 toH413 BalaamH1109, “Did I notH3808 send you an urgent summonsH7971H413H7121? WhyH4100 did you not comeH3808H1980 to meH413? Am I reallyH552 notH3808 ableH3201 to reward you richlyH3513?”

38“SeeH2009, I have comeH935 to youH413,” BalaamH1109 repliedH559, “but canH3201 I sayH1696 just anythingH3972? I must speakH1696 only the wordH1697 thatH834 GodH430 putsH7760 in my mouthH6310.”

39So BalaamH1109 accompaniedH1980H5973 BalakH1111, and they cameH935 to Kiriath-huzothH7155. 40BalakH1111 sacrificedH2076 cattleH1241 and sheepH6629, and he gaveH7971 portions to BalaamH1109 and the princesH8269 whoH834 were with himH854.

41The next morningH1961H1242, BalakH1111 tookH3947 BalaamH1109 and brought himH5927 up toH1120 Bamoth-baalH1168. From thereH8033 he could seeH7200 the outskirts of the campH7097 of the peopleH5971.