Numbers 22:2-21

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

3And the Moabites were greatly afraid of the people, because they were so numerous. The Moabites were sick with fear because of the Israelites.

4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “Now this mass of people will lick up everything around us, as the bull devours the grass of the field. Now Balak son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at this time.

5And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates River in the land of Amaw, to summon him, saying, “Look, a nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are settling next to me.

6So now, please come and curse this nation for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported to him the words of Balak.

8He replied to them, “Stay here tonight, and I will bring back to you whatever word the Lord may speak to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

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

10Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent a message to me, saying,

11“Look, a nation has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Come now and put a curse on them for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out.”

12But God said to Balaam, “You must not go with them; you must not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

13So Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land, for the Lord has refused to permit me to go with you.”

14So the princes of Moab departed and went back to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.

16And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming to me.

17For I will honor you greatly, and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”

18Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment of the Lord my God to do less or more.

19Now therefore, please stay the night here also, that I may know what more the Lord might say to me.”

20God came to Balaam that night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them; but the word that I will say to you, that you must do.”

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