Numbers 22:14
New International Version
So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

New Living Translation
So the Moabite officials returned to King Balak and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

English Standard Version
So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

Berean Standard Bible
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

King James Bible
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

New King James Version
And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

New American Standard Bible
And the representatives from Moab got up and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

NASB 1995
The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

NASB 1977
And the leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the leaders of Moab arose and came to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to go with us.”

Amplified Bible
The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

Christian Standard Bible
The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

American Standard Version
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

Contemporary English Version
The officials left and told Balak that Balaam refused to come.

English Revised Version
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So the Moabite princes went back to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

Good News Translation
So they returned to Balak and told him that Balaam had refused to come with them.

International Standard Version
So Balak's officials got up, returned to Balak and reported, "Balaam refused to come with us."

Majority Standard Bible
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, ?Balaam refused to come with us.?

NET Bible
So the princes of Moab departed and went back to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

New Heart English Bible
The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

World English Bible
The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the princes of Moab rise, and come to Balak, and say, “Balaam is refusing to come with us.”

Young's Literal Translation
and the princes of Moab rise, and come in unto Balak, and say, 'Balaam is refusing to come with us.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the leaders will rise and go to Balak, and say, Balaam refused to come with us,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The princes returning, said to Balac: Balaam would not come with us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Returning, the leaders said to Balak, “Balaam was not willing to come with us.”

New American Bible
So the princes of Moab went back to Balak with the report, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

New Revised Standard Version
So the officials of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So the princes of Moab rose up and went to Balak, and said to him, Balaam refused to come with us.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Princes of Moab arose and they came to Balaq, and they were saying to him: “Balaam did not want to come with us.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said: 'Balaam refuseth to come with us.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the princes of Moab rose, and came to Balac, and said, Balaam will not come with us.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Balak Summons Balaam
13So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” 14And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” 15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 23:4-5
For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. / Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Joshua 24:9-10
Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, / but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

Nehemiah 13:2
because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

Micah 6:5
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”

2 Peter 2:15-16
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. / But he was rebuked for his transgression by a donkey, otherwise without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

Numbers 24:10-11
Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times. / Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

Numbers 31:16
“Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.

2 Kings 17:17
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Psalm 106:28-29
They yoked themselves to Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods. / So they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them.

1 Corinthians 10:10-11
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. / Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

Romans 11:9-10
And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them. / May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.


Treasury of Scripture

And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.

Balaam refuseth

Numbers 22:13,37
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you…

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Balaam Balak Chiefs Leaders Moab Moabite Refused Refuses Refuseth Refusing Rise Rose
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Numbers 22
1. Balak's first message for Balaam is refused
15. His second message obtains him
22. An angel would have slain him, if he had not been saved by his donkey
36. Balak entertains him














So the princes of Moab arose
The phrase "princes of Moab" refers to the leaders or officials of the Moabite nation. In the Hebrew text, the word for "princes" is "שָׂרֵי" (sarim), which denotes individuals of authority and leadership. Historically, Moab was a kingdom located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, which adds a layer of complexity to their interactions with Israel. The act of arising signifies their readiness and determination to fulfill their mission, highlighting the urgency and importance of their task as perceived by Balak, the king of Moab.

returned to Balak
The action of returning to Balak, the king of Moab, indicates the completion of their initial mission to seek Balaam's assistance. Balak, whose name means "devastator" or "waster," was deeply concerned about the Israelites' presence near his territory. Historically, Balak's fear was rooted in the Israelites' recent victories over neighboring nations, which threatened Moab's security. The return journey of the princes underscores the diplomatic efforts and the political maneuvering involved in ancient Near Eastern alliances and conflicts.

and said, 'Balaam refuses to come with us.'
The report given by the princes is straightforward and reflects Balaam's initial response to their request. Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet, was known for his ability to bless or curse, and his reputation extended beyond his own people. The Hebrew word for "refuses" is "מֵאֵן" (me'en), which conveys a firm and deliberate decision. This refusal is significant in the narrative, as it sets the stage for the unfolding drama between divine will and human ambition. Balaam's refusal, at this point, aligns with God's initial instruction not to go with the Moabite envoys, highlighting the tension between divine command and human desire. This moment serves as a reminder of the sovereignty of God over human plans and the importance of obedience to His will.

(14) Balaam refuseth to come with us.--It does not appear that Balaam had told the messengers of Balak the ground of the Divine prohibition; viz., "for they are blessed." Balak accordingly entertained the hope that stronger inducements would prevail with Balaam.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the princes
שָׂרֵ֣י (śā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of Moab
מוֹאָ֔ב (mō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4124: Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled

arose,
וַיָּק֙וּמוּ֙ (way·yā·qū·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

returned
וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Balak,
בָּלָ֑ק (bā·lāq)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1111: Balak -- 'devastator', a Moabite king

and said,
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Balaam
בִּלְעָ֖ם (bil·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1109: Balaam -- a prophet

refused
מֵאֵ֥ן (mê·’ên)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3985: To refuse

to come
הֲלֹ֥ךְ (hă·lōḵ)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with us.”
עִמָּֽנוּ׃ (‘im·mā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with


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OT Law: Numbers 22:14 The princes of Moab rose up (Nu Num.)
Numbers 22:13
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