New American Standard Bible 1995

Numbers 22:1-20

1Then the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478journeyedוַיִּסְע֖וּvai.yis.'UH5265,and campedוַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙vai.ya.cha.NuH2583in the plainsבְּעַֽרְב֣וֹתbe.'ar.VotH6160of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124beyondמֵעֵ֖בֶרme.'E.verH4480 H5676the Jordanלְיַרְדֵּ֥ןle.yar.DenH3383oppositeJerichoיְרֵחֽוֹ׃ סye.re.ChoH3405.

2NowBalakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zipporצִפּ֑וֹרtzi.PorH6834sawוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200allכָּל־kol-H3605that Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478had doneעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213to the Amoritesלָֽאֱמֹרִֽי׃La.'e.mo.RiH567.

3So Moabמוֹאָ֜בmo.'AvH4124was in greatמְאֹ֖דme.'OdH3966fearוַיָּ֨גָרvai.Ya.gorH1481becauseH4480 H6440of the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971,for they were numerousרַב־rav-H7227;and Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124was in dreadוַיָּ֣קָץvai.Ya.kotzH6973of the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

4Moabמוֹאָ֜בmo.'AvH4124saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205ofMidianמִדְיָ֗ןmid.YanH4080, “Nowעַתָּ֞ה'a.TahH6258thishordeהַקָּהָל֙ha.ka.HalH6951will lickיְלַחֲכ֤וּye.la.cha.KhuH3897up allכָּל־kol-H3605that is aroundסְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔ינוּse.Vi.vo.Tei.nuH5439us, as the oxהַשּׁ֔וֹרha.ShorH7794licksכִּלְחֹ֣ךְkil.ChokhH3897up the grassיֶ֣רֶקYe.rekH3418of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֑הha.sa.DehH7704.”And Balakוּבָלָ֧קu.va.LakH1111the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zipporצִפּ֛וֹרtzi.PorH6834was kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabלְמוֹאָ֖בle.mo.'AvH4124at that timeבָּעֵ֥תba.'EtH6256.

5So he sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֜יםmal.'a.KhimH4397toBalaamבִּלְעָ֣םbil.'AmH1109the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Beorבְּע֗וֹרbe.'orH1160, atPethorפְּ֠תוֹרָהPe.to.rahH6604,whichאֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.SherH834is nearעַל־'al-H5921theRiverהַנָּהָ֛רha.na.HarH5104, inthe landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of the sonsבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of his peopleעַמּ֖וֹa.MoH5971,to callלִקְרֹא־lik.ro'-H7121him, sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559, “Beholdהִ֠נֵּהHi.nehH2009,a peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971cameיָצָ֤אya.Tza'H3318out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714;beholdהִנֵּ֤הhi.NehH2009,they coverכִסָּה֙khi.SahH3680the surfaceעֵ֣ין'einH5869of the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and they are livingיֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevH3427oppositeמִמֻּלִֽי׃mi.mu.LiH4480 H4136me.

6Nowוְעַתָּה֩ve.'a.TahH6258,therefore, pleaseנָּ֨אna'H4994comeלְכָה־le.khah-H1980,curseאָֽרָה־'a.rah-H779thisהַזֶּ֗הha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971for me sinceH3588they are tooH4480mightyעָצ֥וּם'a.TzumH6099for me; perhapsאוּלַ֤י'u.LaiH194I may be ableאוּכַל֙'u.KhalH3201todefeatנַכֶּה־na.keh-H5221them and driveוַאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּva.'a.ga.re.She.nuH1644them out of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776.For I knowיָדַ֗עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045that he whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834you blessתְּבָרֵךְ֙te.va.reKhH1288is blessedמְבֹרָ֔ךְme.vo.RakhH1288,and he whomוַאֲשֶׁ֥רva.'a.SherH834you curseתָּאֹ֖רta.'OrH779is cursedיוּאָֽר׃yu.'ArH779.”

7So the eldersזִקְנֵ֤יzik.NeiH2205of Moabמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124and the eldersוְזִקְנֵ֣יve.zik.NeiH2205of Midianמִדְיָ֔ןmid.YanH4080departedוַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּvai.Ye.le.KhuH1980with the fees fordivinationוּקְסָמִ֖יםu.ke.sa.MimH7081in their handבְּיָדָ֑םbe.ya.DamH3027;and they cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935to Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109andrepeatedוַיְדַבְּר֥וּvay.da.be.RuH1696Balak’sבָלָֽק׃va.LakH1111wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697to him.

8He saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Spendלִ֤ינוּLi.nuH3885the nightהַלַּ֔יְלָהha.Lay.lahH3915hereפֹה֙fohH6311,and I will bringוַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֤יva.ha.shi.vo.TiH7725wordדָּבָ֔רda.VarH1697backH7725to you as the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068may speakיְדַבֵּ֥רye.da.BerH1696to me.” And the leadersשָׂרֵֽי־sa.rei-H8269of Moabמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124stayedוַיֵּשְׁב֥וּvai.ye.she.VuH3427with Balaamבִּלְעָֽם׃bil.'AmH1109.

9ThenGodאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430cameוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whoמִ֛יmiH4310are theseהָאֵ֖לֶּהha.'E.lehH428menH376with you?”

10Balaamבִּלְעָ֖םbil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430, “Balakבָּלָ֧קba.LakH1111the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zipporצִפֹּ֛רtzi.PorH6834,kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124,has sentשָׁלַ֥חsha.LachH7971word to me,

11‘Beholdהִנֵּ֤הhi.NehH2009,there is a peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971who cameהַיֹּצֵ֣אhai.yo.Tze'H3318out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714and they coverוַיְכַ֖סvay.KhasH3680the surfaceעֵ֣ין'einH5869of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776;nowעַתָּ֗ה'a.TahH6258comeלְכָ֤הle.KhahH1980,curseקָֽבָה־ka.vah-H6895them for me; perhapsאוּלַ֥י'u.LaiH194I may be ableאוּכַ֛ל'u.KhalH3201to fightלְהִלָּ֥חֶםle.hi.La.chemH3898against them and driveוְגֵרַשְׁתִּֽיו׃ve.ge.rash.TivH1644them out.’”

12Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109, “Do not goתֵלֵ֖ךְte.LekhH1980with them;you shall not curseתָאֹר֙ta.'OrH779the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971, for theyare blessedבָר֖וּךְva.RukhH1288.”

13So Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109aroseוַיָּ֤קָםvai.Ya.komH6965in the morningבַּבֹּ֔קֶרba.Bo.kerH1242and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559to Balak’sבָלָ֔קva.LakH1111leadersשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269, “Goלְכ֖וּle.KhuH1980backH1980to your landאַרְצְכֶ֑ם'ar.tze.KhemH776,for the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068has refusedמֵאֵ֣ןme.'EnH3985to letלְתִתִּ֖יle.ti.TiH5414me goלַהֲלֹ֥ךְla.ha.LokhH1980with you.”

14The leadersשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124aroseוַיָּק֙וּמוּ֙vai.ya.Ku.muH6965and wentH1980to Balakבָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “Balaamבִּלְעָ֖םbil.'AmH1109refusedמֵאֵ֥ןme.'EnH3985to comeהֲלֹ֥ךְha.LokhH1980with us.”

15Then Balakבָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111againוַיֹּ֥סֶף ע֖וֹדvai.Yo.sef odH5750 H3254sentשְׁלֹ֣חַshe.Lo.achH7971leadersשָׂרִ֔יםsa.RimH8269,moreH4480numerousרַבִּ֥יםra.BimH7227and moreH4480distinguishedוְנִכְבָּדִ֖יםve.nikh.ba.DimH3513thanH4480the formerמֵאֵֽלֶּה׃me.'E.lehH428.

16They cameוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, “Thusכֹּ֤הkohH3541saysאָמַר֙'a.MarH559Balakבָּלָ֣קba.LakH1111the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zipporצִפּ֔וֹרtzi.PorH6834, ‘Let nothingאַל־'al-H408,I begנָ֥אna'H4994you, hinderתִמָּנַ֖עti.ma.Na'H4513you from comingמֵהֲלֹ֥ךְme.ha.LokhH1980to me;

17for I will indeedכַבֵּ֤דkha.BedH3513honorאֲכַבֶּדְךָ֙'a.kha.bed.KhaH3513you richlyמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966,and I will doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֑ה'e.'e.SehH6213whateverוְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ve.Khol 'a.Sher-H3605 H834you sayתֹּאמַ֥רto.MarH559to me.Pleaseנָּא֙na'H4994comeוּלְכָה־u.le.khah-H1980then, curseקָֽבָה־ka.vah-H6895thisהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971for me.’”

18Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109repliedוַיַּ֣עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030to the servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650of Balakבָלָ֔קva.LakH1111, “Thoughאִם־'im-H518Balakבָלָ֛קva.LakH1111were to giveיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414me his houseבֵית֖וֹvei.ToH1004fullמְלֹ֥אme.Lo'H4393of silverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701and goldוְזָהָ֑בve.za.HavH2091,I couldאוּכַ֗ל'u.KhalH3201not doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213anything, either smallקְטַנָּ֖הke.ta.NahH6996orא֥וֹ'oH176greatגְדוֹלָֽה׃ge.do.LahH1419,contraryלַעֲבֹר֙la.'a.VorH5674to thecommandפִּי֙piH6310of the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068my Godאֱלֹהָ֔י'e.lo.HaiH430.

19Nowוְעַתָּ֗הve.'a.TahH6258pleaseנָ֥אna'H4994,you alsoגַּם־gam-H1571stayשְׁב֨וּshe.VuH3427hereבָזֶ֛הva.ZehH2088tonightהַלָּ֑יְלָהha.La.ye.lahH3915,and I will findוְאֵ֣דְעָ֔הve.'E.de.'AhH3045out whatמַה־mah-H4100elseיֹּסֵ֥ףyo.SefH3254the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068will speakדַּבֵּ֥רda.BerH1696to me.”

20Godאֱלֹהִ֥ים׀'E.lo.HimH430cameוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Balaamבִּלְעָם֮bil.'AmH1109at nightלַיְלָה֒lay.LahH3915and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, “Ifאִם־'im-H518the menH376have comeבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935to callלִקְרֹ֤אlik.Ro'H7121you, riseק֖וּםkumH6965up andgoלֵ֣ךְlekhH1980with them; butonlyוְאַ֗ךְve.'AkhH389the wordהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697whichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834I speakאֲדַבֵּ֥ר'a.da.BerH1696to you shall you doתַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ta.'a.SehH6213.”

Read all of Numbers 22

Commentaries on Numbers 22