Numbers 22

1Then the Israelites set out and camped in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan across from Jericho.

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

3Moab was terrified of the people because there were so many of them. Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.

4So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

5He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of his own people, to summon him. He said, “A people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the land, and they have settled across from me.

6Now please come and curse this people for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat 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 set out, taking with them the fee for divination. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.

8He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring you back whatever answer Yahweh gives me.” So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.

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

10Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

11‘A people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

13So Balaam got up in the morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for Yahweh has refused to let me go with you.”

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

15Then Balak sent officials again, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.

16They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please do not let anything keep you from coming to me,

17for I will reward you very richly, and I will do whatever you tell me. So please come and curse this people for me.”

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

19Now please stay here tonight as well, and I will find out what else Yahweh will tell me.”

20That night God came to Balaam and said to him, “If these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you.”

21So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.

22But God’s anger burned because he was going, and the angel of Yahweh stationed himself in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road and went into a field. Balaam beat the donkey to turn her back onto the road.

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

25When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she pressed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again.

26Then the angel of Yahweh went 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 Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he beat the donkey with his staff.

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

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

30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life up to this day? Have I ever been in the habit of treating you this way?” “No,” he said.

31Then Yahweh opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. He bowed low and fell facedown.

32The angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come out to oppose you, because your way is reckless before me.

33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have let her live.”

34Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, “I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to meet me. Now if it is displeasing to you, I will go back.”

35The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you must say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials.

36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the town of Moab on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.

37Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send an urgent summons to you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”

38Balaam said to Balak, “Well, I have come to you now. But do I have any power to say just anything? I must speak only the word God puts in my mouth.”

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

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

41In the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he could see part of the people.