Revised Literal Translation

Numbers 22:22-41

22And God’sאֱלֹהִים֮'E.lo.HimH430angerאַ֣ף'afH639was kindledוַיִּֽחַר־vai.yi.char-H2734because he wentהוֹלֵ֣ךְho.LekhH1980:and the angelמַלְאַ֧ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068stoodוַיִּתְיַצֵּ֞בvai.yit.ya.TzevH3320in the wayבַּדֶּ֖רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870for an adversaryלְשָׂטָ֣ןle.sa.TanH7854against him. Now he was ridingרֹכֵ֣בro.KhevH7392upon his donkeyאֲתֹנ֔וֹ'a.to.NoH860,and his twoוּשְׁנֵ֥יu.she.NeiH8147servantsנְעָרָ֖יוne.'a.RavH5288were with him.

23And the donkeyהָאָתוֹן֩ha.'a.tOnH860sawוַתֵּ֣רֶאva.Te.re'H7200the angelמַלְאַ֨ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068standingנִצָּ֣בni.TzavH5324in the wayבַּדֶּ֗רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870,and his swordוְחַרְבּ֤וֹve.char.BoH2719drawnשְׁלוּפָה֙she.lu.FahH8025in his handבְּיָד֔וֹbe.ya.DoH3027:and the donkeyהָֽאָתוֹן֙ha.'a.tOnH860turned asideוַתֵּ֤טva.TetH5186out of the wayהַדֶּ֔רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870,and wentH3212into the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הba.sa.DehH7704:and Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109smoteוַיַּ֤ךְvai.YakhH5221the donkeyהָ֣אָת֔וֹןha.'a.TonH860,to turnלְהַטֹּתָ֖הּle.ha.to.TahH5186her into the wayהַדָּֽרֶךְ׃ha.Da.rekhH1870.

24But the angelמַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068stoodוַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙vai.ya.'a.ModH5975in a pathבְּמִשְׁע֖וֹלbe.mish.'olH4934of the vineyardsהַכְּרָמִ֑יםha.ke.ra.MimH3754,a wallגָּדֵ֥רga.DerH1447beingon this side, and a wallוְגָדֵ֥רve.ga.DerH1447on that side.

25And when the donkeyהָאָת֜וֹןha.'a.TonH860sawוַתֵּ֨רֶאva.Te.re'H7200the angelמַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,she thrustוַתִּלָּחֵץ֙va.ti.la.ChetzH3905herself unto the wallהַקִּ֔ירha.KirH7023,and crushedוַתִּלְחַ֛ץva.til.ChatzH3905Balaam’sבִּלְעָ֖םbil.'AmH1109footרֶ֥גֶלRe.gelH7272against the wallהַקִּ֑ירha.KirH7023:and he smoteלְהַכֹּתָֽהּ׃le.ha.ko.TahH5221her againוַיֹּ֖סֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254.

26And the angelמַלְאַךְ־mal.'akh-H4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068wentעֲב֑וֹרa.VorH5674furtherוַיּ֥וֹסֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254,and stoodוַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙vai.ya.'a.ModH5975in a narrowצָ֔רTzarH6862placeבְּמָק֣וֹםbe.ma.KomH4725, where wasno wayדֶּ֥רֶךְDe.rekhH1870to turnלִנְט֖וֹתlin.TotH5186either to the right handיָמִ֥יןya.MinH3225or to the leftוּשְׂמֹֽאול׃u.se.MolH8040.

27And when the donkeyהָֽאָתוֹן֙ha.'a.tOnH860sawוַתֵּ֤רֶאva.Te.re'H7200the angelמַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,she fell downוַתִּרְבַּ֖ץva.tir.BatzH7257under Balaamבִּלְעָ֑םbil.'AmH1109:and Balaam’sבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109angerאַ֣ף'afH639was kindledוַיִּֽחַר־vai.yi.char-H2734,and he smoteוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221the donkeyהָאָת֖וֹןha.'a.TonH860with a staffבַּמַּקֵּֽל׃ba.ma.KelH4731.

28And Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068openedוַיִּפְתַּ֥חvai.yif.TachH6605the mouthפִּ֣יpiH6310of the donkeyהָאָת֑וֹןha.'a.TonH860,and she saidוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559unto Balaamלְבִלְעָם֙le.vil.'AmH1109,What have I doneעָשִׂ֣יתִֽי'a.Si.tiH6213unto thee, that thou hast smittenהִכִּיתַ֔נִיhi.ki.Ta.niH5221me these threeשָׁלֹ֥שׁsha.LoshH7969timesרְגָלִֽים׃re.ga.LimH7272?

29And Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the donkeyלָֽאָת֔וֹןla.'a.TonH860,Because thou hast mockedהִתְעַלַּ֖לְתְּhit.'a.LaltH5953me: I wouldל֤וּluH3863there wereיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426a swordחֶ֙רֶב֙che.revH2719in mine handבְּיָדִ֔יbe.ya.DiH3027,for now would I killהֲרַגְתִּֽיךְ׃ha.rag.TikhH2026thee.

30And the donkeyהָאָת֜וֹןha.'a.TonH860saidוַתֹּ֨אמֶרva.To.merH559unto Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109, Amnot I thine donkeyאֲתֹֽנְךָ֜'a.to.ne.KhaH860,upon which thou hast riddenרָכַ֣בְתָּra.Khav.taH7392ever since I wasthine unto this dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117?was I everהַֽהַסְכֵּ֣ןha.has.KenH5532wontהִסְכַּ֔נְתִּיhis.Kan.tiH5532to do soלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213unto thee? And he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, Nay.

31Then Yhwhיְהוָה֮Yah.wehH3068openedוַיְגַ֣לvay.GalH1540the eyesעֵינֵ֣י'ei.NeiH5869of Balaamבִלְעָם֒vil.'AmH1109,and he sawוַיַּ֞רְאvai.Yar'H7200the angelמַלְאַ֤ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068standingנִצָּ֣בni.TzavH5324in the wayבַּדֶּ֔רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870,and his swordוְחַרְבּ֥וֹve.char.BoH2719drawnשְׁלֻפָ֖הshe.lu.FahH8025in his handבְּיָד֑וֹbe.ya.DoH3027:and he bowed downוַיִּקֹּ֥דvai.yi.KodH6915his head, and fell flatוַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812on his faceלְאַפָּֽיו׃le.'a.PavH639.

32And the angelמַלְאַ֣ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Wherefore hast thou smittenהִכִּ֙יתָ֙hi.Ki.taH5221thine donkeyאֲתֹ֣נְךָ֔'a.To.ne.khaH860these threeשָׁל֣וֹשׁsha.Lo.oshH7969timesרְגָלִ֑יםre.ga.LimH7272?behold, I went outיָצָ֣אתִיya.Tza.tiH3318to withstandלְשָׂטָ֔ןle.sa.TanH7854thee, because thywayהַדֶּ֖רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870is perverseיָרַ֥טya.RatH3399before me:

33And the donkeyהָֽאָת֔וֹןha.'a.TonH860sawוַתִּרְאַ֙נִי֙va.tir.'A.niH7200me, and turnedוַתֵּ֣טva.TetH5186from meלְפָנַ֔יle.fa.NaiH6440these threeשָׁלֹ֣שׁsha.LoshH7969timesרְגָלִ֑יםre.ga.LimH7272:unlessאוּלַי֙'u.LaiH194she had turnedנָטְתָ֣הna.te.TahH5186from meמִפָּנַ֔יmi.pa.NaiH6440,surely now also I had slainהָרַ֖גְתִּיha.Rag.tiH2026thee, and saved her aliveהֶחֱיֵֽיתִי׃he.che.Yei.tiH2421.

34And Balaamבִּלְעָ֜םbil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the angelמַלְאַ֤ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,I have sinnedחָטָ֔אתִיcha.Ta.tiH2398;for I knewיָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045not that thou stoodestנִצָּ֥בni.TzavH5324in the wayבַּדָּ֑רֶךְba.Da.rekhH1870againstH7125me: now therefore, if it displease theeרַ֥ע בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָra' be.'ei.Nei.khaH5869 H7489,I will get me back againאָשׁ֥וּבָה'a.Shu.vahH7725.

35And the angelמַלְאַ֨ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559unto Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109,GoH3212with the menהָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582:but onlyוְאֶ֗פֶסve.'E.fesH657the wordהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697that I shall speakאֲדַבֵּ֥ר'a.da.BerH1696unto thee, that thou shalt speakתְדַבֵּ֑רte.da.BerH1696.So Balaamבִּלְעָ֖םbil.'AmH1109wentH3212with the princesשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of Balakבָלָֽק׃va.LakH1111.

36And when Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֥עvai.yish.Ma'H8085that Balaamבִלְעָ֑םvil.'AmH1109was comeבָ֣אva'H935,he went outוַיֵּצֵ֨אvai.ye.Tze'H3318to meetH7125him unto a cityעִ֣יר'irH5892of Moabמוֹאָ֗בmo.'AvH4124, which isin the borderגְּב֣וּלge.VulH1366of Arnonאַרְנֹ֔ן'ar.NonH769, which isin the utmostבִּקְצֵ֥הbik.TzehH7097coastהַגְּבֽוּל׃ha.ge.VulH1366.

37And Balakבָּלָ֜קba.LakH1111saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Balaamבִּלְעָ֗םbil.'AmH1109,Did I not earnestlyשָׁלֹ֨חַsha.Lo.achH7971sendשָׁלַ֤חְתִּיsha.Lach.tiH7971unto thee to callלִקְרֹא־lik.ro'-H7121thee? wherefore camestהָלַ֖כְתָּha.Lakh.taH1980thou not unto me? am I not ableאוּכַ֖ל'u.KhalH3201indeedהַֽאֻמְנָ֔םha.'um.NamH552to promote thee to honourכַּבְּדֶֽךָ׃ka.be.De.khaH3513?

38And Balaamבִּלְעָ֜םbil.'AmH1109saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Balakבָּלָ֗קba.LakH1111,Lo, I am comeבָ֙אתִי֙va.tiH935unto thee: have I now any powerהֲיָכ֥וֹלha.ya.KholH3201at allאוּכַ֖ל'u.KhalH3201to sayדַּבֵּ֣רda.BerH1696any thingמְא֑וּמָהme.'U.mahH3972?the wordהַדָּבָ֗רha.da.VarH1697that Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430puttethיָשִׂ֧יםya.SimH7760in my mouthבְּפִ֖יbe.FiH6310,that shall I speakאֲדַבֵּֽר׃'a.da.BerH1696.

39And Balaamבִּלְעָ֖םbil.'AmH1109wentH3212with Balakבָּלָ֑קba.LakH1111,and they cameוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935unto Kirjath–huzothH7155 H2351.

40And Balakבָּלָ֖קba.LakH1111offeredוַיִּזְבַּ֥חvai.yiz.BachH2076oxenבָּקָ֣רba.KarH1241and sheepוָצֹ֑אןva.TzonH6629,and sentוַיְשַׁלַּ֣חvay.sha.LachH7971to Balaamלְבִלְעָ֔םle.vil.'AmH1109,and to the princesוְלַשָּׂרִ֖יםve.la.sa.RimH8269that were with him.

41And it came to pass on the morrowבַבֹּ֔קֶרva.Bo.kerH1242,that Balakבָּלָק֙ba.LakH1111tookוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947Balaamבִּלְעָ֔םbil.'AmH1109,and brought him upוַֽיַּעֲלֵ֖הוּvai.ya.'a.Le.huH5927into the high placesH1116of Baalבָּמ֣וֹתba.MotH1120,that thence he might seeוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200the utmostקְצֵ֥הke.TzehH7097partof the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

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Commentaries on Numbers 22