Numbers 22

1Then the sons of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

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

3And Moab was very afraid because of the people, because they were numerous; and Moab was filled with dread because of the sons of Israel.

4And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this assembly will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the green growth of the field.” Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

5So he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Look, a people has come out of Egypt. Look, it has covered the face of the land, and it is dwelling opposite me.”

6So now, please come and curse this people for me, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I will be able to strike 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 went, with divination fees in their hands, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.

8And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you according to what Yahweh speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

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

10And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me:”

11Look, the people who came out of Egypt have covered the face of the land. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.

12And God said to Balaam, “You must not go with them. You must not curse the people, because it is blessed.”

13So Balaam rose in the morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go to your land, because Yahweh has refused to let me go with you.”

14So the officials of Moab got up and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to go with us.”

15Then Balak again sent officials, more numerous and more honored than these.

16They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: Please do not refrain from coming to me.”

17For I will greatly honor you, and I will do whatever you say to me. So please come, curse this people for me.

18Balaam answered and said to Balak’s servants, “Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do anything small or great.”

19Now please stay here tonight, you also, so that I may know what more Yahweh will say to me.

20God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall do.”

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

22But God’s anger burned because he was going, and the angel of Yahweh took his stand in the road as an adversary to him. He was riding on his donkey, and his two young men were with him.

23When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, the donkey turned aside from the road and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the road.

24Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.

25When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she pressed herself against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck her again.

26Then the angel of Yahweh went farther and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn to the right or to the left.

27When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam. Then Balaam became angry and struck the donkey with his staff.

28Then Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

29And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If only there were a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

30Then the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do thus to you?” And he said, “No.”

31Then Yahweh uncovered Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

32And the angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.”

33The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from before me, surely by now I would have killed you and let her live.

34Then Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing to confront me on the road. And now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will turn back.”

35Then the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the officials of Balak.

36When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, at the edge of the border.

37And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not indeed send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to honor you?”

38And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you now. Am I really able to speak anything at all? I will speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

39So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

40And Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and to the officials who were with him.

41And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw the edge of the people.