Balak Summons Balaam

1Then the Israelites (God prevails) traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab (of his father) near the Jordan (flowing down), across from Jericho (city of palms).

2Now Balak (devastator) son of Zippor (sparrow) saw all that Israel (he wrestles with God) had done to the Amorites (sayers), 3and Moab (of his father) was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites (God prevails). 4So the Moabites (of his father) said to the elders of Midian (strife), “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”

Since Balak (devastator) son of Zippor (sparrow) was king of Moab at that time, 5he sent messengers to summon Balaam (not of the people) son of Beor (burning) at Pethor (soothsayer), which is by the Euphrates \the River/a in the land of his people.

“Behold, a people has come out of Egypt (land of bondage),” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”

7The elders of Moab (of his father) and Midian (strife) departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam (not of the people) and relayed to him the words of Balak (devastator).

8“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you⁺ the answer that the LORD {YHWH} speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab (of his father) stayed with Balaam (not of the people).

9Then God {Elohim} came to Balaam (not of the people) and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

10And Balaam (not of the people) said to God {Elohim}, “Balak (devastator) son of Zippor (sparrow), king of Moab (of his father), sent me this message: 11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt (land of bondage), and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”

12But God {Elohim} said to Balaam (not of the people), “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

13So Balaam (not of the people) got up the next morning and said to Balak’s (devastator) princes, “Go back to your⁺ homeland, because the LORD {YHWH} has refused to let me go with you⁺.”

14And the princes of Moab (of his father) arose, returned to Balak (devastator), and said, “Balaam (not of the people) refused to come with us.”

15Then Balak (devastator) sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. 16They came to Balaam (not of the people) and said, “This is what Balak (devastator) son of Zippor (sparrow) says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”

18But Balaam (not of the people) replied to the servants of Balak (devastator), “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God {YHWH Elohay}. 19So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD {YHWH} has to tell me.”

20That night God {Elohim} came to Balaam (not of the people) and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” 21So in the morning Balaam (not of the people) got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab (of his father).

The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey

22Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel (Angel)b of the LORD {YHWH} stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD {YHWH} standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam (not of the people) beat her to return her to the path.

24Then the angel of the LORD {YHWH} stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. 25And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD {YHWH} and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s (not of the people) foot against it. So he beat her once again.

26And the angel of the LORD {YHWH} moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD {YHWH}, she lay down under Balaam, and he (not of the people) became furious and beat her with his staff.

28Then the LORD {YHWH} opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam (not of the people), “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

29Balaam (not of the people) answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”

30But the donkey said to Balaam (not of the people), “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?”

“No,” he replied.

31Then the LORD {YHWH} opened Balaam’s (not of the people) eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

32The angel of the LORD {YHWH} asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse (reckless)c before me. 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

34“I have sinned,” Balaam (not of the people) said to the angel of the LORD {YHWH}, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”

35But the angel of the LORD {YHWH} said to Balaam (not of the people), “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak (devastator).

36When Balak (devastator) heard that Balaam (not of the people) was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite (of his father) city on the Arnon (rushing stream) border, at the edge of his territory. 37And he (devastator) said to Balaam (not of the people), “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to reward you richly?”

38“See, I have come to you,” Balaam (not of the people) replied (devastator), “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God {Elohim} puts in my mouth.”

39So Balaam (not of the people) accompanied Balak (devastator), and they came to Kiriath-huzoth (city of streets). 40Balak (devastator) sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam (not of the people) and the princes who were with him.

41The next morning, Balak (devastator) took Balaam (not of the people) and brought him up to (great high place) Bamoth-baal (lord). From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.