Numbers 22

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

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

³And Moab was in great dread of the people , because they were many . Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel .

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

⁵sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor , which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw , to call him, saying , Behold , a people has come out of Egypt . They cover the face of the earth , and they are dwelling opposite me.

⁶Come now , curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land , for I know that he whom you bless is blessed , and he whom you curse is cursed .

⁷So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand . And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message .

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

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

¹⁰And Balaam said to God , Balak the son of Zippor , king of Moab , has sent to me, saying,

¹¹Behold , a people has come out of Egypt , and it covers the face of the earth . Now come , curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.

¹²God said to Balaam , You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people , for they are blessed .

¹³So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak , Go to your own land , for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.

¹⁴So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said , Balaam refuses to come with us.

¹⁵Once again Balak sent princes , more in number and more honorable than these .

¹⁶And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor : Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

¹⁷for I will surely do you great honor , and whatever you say to me I will do. Come , curse this people for me.

¹⁸But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak , Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold , I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more .

¹⁹So you, too , please stay here tonight , that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.

²⁰And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, If the men have come to call you, rise , go with them; but only do what I tell you.

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

²²But God’s anger was kindled because he went , and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary . Now he was riding on the donkey , and his two servants were with him.

²³And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road , with a drawn sword in his hand . And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field . And Balaam struck the donkey , to turn her into the road .

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

²⁵And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall . So he struck her again .

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

²⁷When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam . And Balaam’s anger was kindled , and he struck the donkey with his staff .

²⁸Then the Lord 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 fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand , for then I would kill you.

³⁰And the donkey said to Balaam , Am I not your donkey , on which you have ridden all your life long to this day ? Is it my habit to treat you this way ? And he said , No .

³¹Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam , and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way , with his drawn sword in his hand . And he bowed down and fell on his face .

³²And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times ? Behold , I have come out to oppose you 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 me , surely just now I would have killed you and let her live .

³⁴Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned , for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight , I will turn back .

³⁵And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam , Go with the men , but speak only the word that I tell you. So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak .

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

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

³⁸Balaam said to Balak , Behold , I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything ? The word that God puts in my mouth , that must I speak .

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

⁴⁰And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep , and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.

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