# Numbers 22

> Lumin Translation

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/numbers/22

Lumin’s own translation, drafted with AI from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, checked verse by verse against them, and approved by Lumin. Brackets mark verses not found in the earliest manuscripts.

How it was made: https://www.lumin.faith/lumin-translation.md

1. Then the Israelites set out and camped in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan across from Jericho.
2. Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3. Moab was terrified of the people because there were so many of them. Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4. So 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.
5. He 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.
6. Now 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.”
7. So 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.
8. He 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.
9. God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10. Balaam 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.’”
12. But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13. So 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.”
14. So the officials of Moab got up, went back to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15. Then Balak sent officials again, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.
16. They 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,
17. for I will reward you very richly, and I will do whatever you tell me. So please come and curse this people for me.”
18. But 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.
19. Now please stay here tonight as well, and I will find out what else Yahweh will tell me.”
20. That 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.”
21. So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.
22. But 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.
23. When 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.
24. Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on each side.
25. When 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.
26. Then 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.
27. When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he beat the donkey with his staff.
28. Then 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?”
29. Balaam 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.”
30. The 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.
31. Then 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.
32. The 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.
33. The 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.”
34. Balaam 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.”
35. The 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.
36. When 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.
37. Balak 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?”
38. Balaam 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.”
39. Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40. Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent some to Balaam and the officials who were with him.
41. In the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he could see part of the people.

## Nearby chapters

[Numbers 21](https://www.lumin.faith/read/numbers/21.md)
[Numbers 23](https://www.lumin.faith/read/numbers/23.md)

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