Numbers 22
NIV
Commentaries

Show in the text

Up to 5 commentaries at a time. Each excerpt opens in full.

New International Version

Numbers 22:23-30

23When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

24Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides.

25When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

26Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.

27When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.

28Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

29Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said.

Read all of Numbers 22

Commentaries on Numbers 22

New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica