Revised Literal Translation

Numbers 22:1-20

1And the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478set forwardוַיִּסְע֖וּvai.yis.'UH5265,and pitchedוַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙vai.ya.cha.NuH2583in the plainsבְּעַֽרְב֣וֹתbe.'ar.VotH6160of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124on this sideמֵעֵ֖בֶרme.'E.verH5676Jordanלְיַרְדֵּ֥ןle.yar.DenH3383byJerichoיְרֵחֽוֹ׃ סye.re.ChoH3405.

2And Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zipporצִפּ֑וֹרtzi.PorH6834sawוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200all that Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478had doneעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213to the Amoritesלָֽאֱמֹרִֽי׃La.'e.mo.RiH567.

3And Moabמוֹאָ֜בmo.'AvH4124was soreמְאֹ֖דme.'OdH3966afraidוַיָּ֨גָרvai.Ya.gorH1481ofמִפְּנֵ֥יmi.pe.NeiH6440the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971, because they weremanyרַב־rav-H7227:and Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124was distressedוַיָּ֣קָץvai.Ya.kotzH6973because ofמִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.NeiH6440the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

4And Moabמוֹאָ֜בmo.'AvH4124saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the eldersזִקְנֵ֣יzik.NeiH2205of Midianמִדְיָ֗ןmid.YanH4080,Now shall this companyהַקָּהָל֙ha.ka.HalH6951lick upיְלַחֲכ֤וּye.la.cha.KhuH3897all that areround aboutסְבִ֣יבֹתֵ֔ינוּse.Vi.vo.Tei.nuH5439us, as the oxהַשּׁ֔וֹרha.ShorH7794licketh upכִּלְחֹ֣ךְkil.ChokhH3897the grassיֶ֣רֶקYe.rekH3418of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֑הha.sa.DehH7704.And Balakוּבָלָ֧קu.va.LakH1111the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zipporצִפּ֛וֹרtzi.PorH6834waskingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of the Moabitesלְמוֹאָ֖בle.mo.'AvH4124at that timeבָּעֵ֥תba.'EtH6256.

5He sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֜יםmal.'a.KhimH4397therefore unto Balaamבִּלְעָ֣םbil.'AmH1109the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Beorבְּע֗וֹרbe.'orH1160to Pethorפְּ֠תוֹרָהPe.to.rahH6604, which isby the riverהַנָּהָ֛רha.na.HarH5104of the landאֶ֥רֶץ'E.retzH776of the childrenבְּנֵי־be.nei-H1121of his peopleעַמּ֖וֹa.MoH5971,to callלִקְרֹא־lik.ro'-H7121him, sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,Behold, there is a peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971come outיָצָ֤אya.Tza'H3318from Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714:behold, they coverכִסָּה֙khi.SahH3680the faceעֵ֣ין'einH5869of the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and they abideיֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevH3427over againstמִמֻּלִֽי׃mi.mu.LiH4136me:

6ComeH3212now therefore, I pray thee, curseאָֽרָה־'a.rah-H779me this peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971; for they aretoo mightyעָצ֥וּם'a.TzumH6099for me: peradventure I shall prevailאוּכַל֙'u.KhalH3201, thatwe may smiteנַכֶּה־na.keh-H5221them, and thatI may drive them outוַאֲגָרְשֶׁ֖נּוּva.'a.ga.re.She.nuH1644of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776:for I wotיָדַ֗עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045that he whom thou blessestתְּבָרֵךְ֙te.va.reKhH1288isblessedמְבֹרָ֔ךְme.vo.RakhH1288,and he whom thou cursestתָּאֹ֖רta.'OrH779is cursedיוּאָֽר׃yu.'ArH779.

7And the eldersזִקְנֵ֤יzik.NeiH2205of Moabמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124and the eldersוְזִקְנֵ֣יve.zik.NeiH2205of Midianמִדְיָ֔ןmid.YanH4080departedH3212with the rewards of divinationוּקְסָמִ֖יםu.ke.sa.MimH7081in their handבְּיָדָ֑םbe.ya.DamH3027;and they cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935unto Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109,and spakeוַיְדַבְּר֥וּvay.da.be.RuH1696unto him the wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of Balakבָלָֽק׃va.LakH1111.

8And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Lodgeלִ֤ינוּLi.nuH3885here this nightהַלַּ֔יְלָהha.Lay.lahH3915,and I will bringוַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֤יva.ha.shi.vo.TiH7725you wordדָּבָ֔רda.VarH1697againH7725,as Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068shall speakיְדַבֵּ֥רye.da.BerH1696unto me: and the princesשָׂרֵֽי־sa.rei-H8269of Moabמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124abodeוַיֵּשְׁב֥וּvai.ye.she.VuH3427with Balaamבִּלְעָֽם׃bil.'AmH1109.

9And Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430cameוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935unto Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,What menהָאֲנָשִׁ֥יםha.'a.na.ShimH582are these with thee?

10And Balaamבִּלְעָ֖םbil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,Balakבָּלָ֧קba.LakH1111the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zipporצִפֹּ֛רtzi.PorH6834,kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124,hath sentשָׁלַ֥חsha.LachH7971unto me, saying,

11Behold, there isa peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971come outהַיֹּצֵ֣אhai.yo.Tze'H3318of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,which coverethוַיְכַ֖סvay.KhasH3680the faceעֵ֣ין'einH5869of the earthהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776:comeH3212now, curseקָֽבָה־ka.vah-H6895me them; peradventure I shall be ableאוּכַ֛ל'u.KhalH3201to overcomeלְהִלָּ֥חֶםle.hi.La.chemH3898them, and drive them outוְגֵרַשְׁתִּֽיו׃ve.ge.rash.TivH1644.

12And Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109,Thou shalt not goH3212with them; thou shalt not curseתָאֹר֙ta.'OrH779the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971: for they areblessedבָר֖וּךְva.RukhH1288.

13And Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109rose upוַיָּ֤קָםvai.Ya.komH6965in the morningבַּבֹּ֔קֶרba.Bo.kerH1242,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559unto the princesשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269of Balakבָלָ֔קva.LakH1111,GetH3212you into your landאַרְצְכֶ֑ם'ar.tze.KhemH776:for Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068refusethמֵאֵ֣ןme.'EnH3985to give me leaveלְתִתִּ֖יle.ti.TiH5414to goH1980with you.

14And the princesשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124rose upוַיָּק֙וּמוּ֙vai.ya.Ku.muH6965,and they wentוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935unto Balakבָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,Balaamבִּלְעָ֖םbil.'AmH1109refusethמֵאֵ֥ןme.'EnH3985to comeהֲלֹ֥ךְha.LokhH1980with us.

15And Balakבָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111sentשְׁלֹ֣חַshe.Lo.achH7971yet againוַיֹּ֥סֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254princesשָׂרִ֔יםsa.RimH8269,moreרַבִּ֥יםra.BimH7227,and more honourableוְנִכְבָּדִ֖יםve.nikh.ba.DimH3513than they.

16And they cameוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, Thus saithאָמַר֙'a.MarH559Balakבָּלָ֣קba.LakH1111the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zipporצִפּ֔וֹרtzi.PorH6834,Let nothing, I pray thee, hinderתִמָּנַ֖עti.ma.Na'H4513thee from comingמֵהֲלֹ֥ךְme.ha.LokhH1980unto me:

17For I will promoteכַבֵּ֤דkha.BedH3513thee unto very greatמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966honourאֲכַבֶּדְךָ֙'a.kha.bed.KhaH3513,and I will doאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֑ה'e.'e.SehH6213whatsoever thou sayestתֹּאמַ֥רto.MarH559unto me: comeH3212therefore, I pray thee, curseקָֽבָה־ka.vah-H6895me this peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971.

18And Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109answeredוַיַּ֣עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559unto the servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650of Balakבָלָ֔קva.LakH1111,If Balakבָלָ֛קva.LakH1111would giveיִתֶּן־yi.ten-H5414me his houseבֵית֖וֹvei.ToH1004fullמְלֹ֥אme.Lo'H4393of silverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701and goldוְזָהָ֑בve.za.HavH2091,I cannotאוּכַ֗ל'u.KhalH3201go beyondלַעֲבֹר֙la.'a.VorH5674the wordפִּי֙piH6310of Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068my Godאֱלֹהָ֔י'e.lo.HaiH430,to doלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213lessקְטַנָּ֖הke.ta.NahH6996or moreגְדוֹלָֽה׃ge.do.LahH1419.

19Now therefore, I pray you, tarryשְׁב֨וּshe.VuH3427ye also here this nightהַלָּ֑יְלָהha.La.ye.lahH3915,that I may knowוְאֵ֣דְעָ֔הve.'E.de.'AhH3045what Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068will sayדַּבֵּ֥רda.BerH1696unto me moreיֹּסֵ֥ףyo.SefH3254.

20And Godאֱלֹהִ֥ים׀'E.lo.HimH430cameוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935unto Balaamבִּלְעָם֮bil.'AmH1109at nightלַיְלָה֒lay.LahH3915,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, If the menהָאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582comeבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935to callלִקְרֹ֤אlik.Ro'H7121thee, rise upק֖וּםkumH6965, andgoH3212with them; but yetוְאַ֗ךְve.'AkhH389the wordהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697which I shall sayאֲדַבֵּ֥ר'a.da.BerH1696unto thee, that shalt thou doתַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ta.'a.SehH6213.

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Commentaries on Numbers 22