Num 22
1
And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the
Jordan at Jericho.
2
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed
because of the children of Israel.
4
And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is
round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor
was king of Moab at that time.
5
And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River,
to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a
people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide
over against me.
6
Come now therefore, I pray you, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for
me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them
out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse
is cursed.
7
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination
in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8
And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as YHWH
shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9
And God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?
10
And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, [saying],
11
Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covers the face of the earth: now,
come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall
drive them out.
12
And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people;
for they are blessed.
13
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into
your land; for YHWH refuses to give me leave to go with you.
14
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses
to come with us.
15
And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.
16
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing,
I pray you, hinder you from coming to me:
17
for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do:
come therefore, I pray you, curse me this people.
18
And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his
house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of YHWH my God, to do less
or more.
19
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry you also here this night, that I may know what YHWH
will speak to me more.
20
And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men are come to call you,
rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that shall you do.
21
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes
of Moab.
22
And God`s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of YHWH placed himself
in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two
servants were with him.
23
And the ass saw the angel of YHWH standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his
hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam
smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24
Then the angel of YHWH stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being
on this side, and a wall on that side.
25
And the ass saw the angel of YHWH, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed
Balaam`s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26
And the angel of YHWH went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way
to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27
And the ass saw the angel of YHWH, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam`s anger
was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.
28
And YHWH opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to
you, that you have smitten me these three times?
29
And Balaam said to the ass, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword
in my hand, for now I had killed you.
30
And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I your ass, upon which you have ridden all your
life long to this day? was I ever wont to do so to you? and he said, Nay.
31
Then YHWH opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of YHWH standing in the
way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32
And the angel of YHWH said to him, Wherefore have you smitten your ass these three
times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because your way is perverse before
me:
33
and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned
aside from me, surely now I had even slain you, and saved her alive.
34
And Balaam said to the angel of YHWH, I have sinned; for I knew not that you stood
in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again.
35
And the angel of YHWH said to Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall
speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36
And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him to the City of
Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
37
And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? wherefore came
you not to me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?
38
And Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I am come to you: have I now any power at all to
speak anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40
And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were
with him.
41
And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into
the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.