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Numbers 22:16-18
New English Translation
Numbers 22:16-18
New English Translation
16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming[a] to me. 17 For I will honor you greatly,[b] and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”
18 Balaam replied[c] to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment[d] of the Lord my God[e] to do less or more.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 22:16 tn The infinitive construct is the object of the preposition.
- Numbers 22:17 tn The construction uses the Piel infinitive כַּבֵּד (kabbed) to intensify the verb, which is the Piel imperfect/cohortative אֲכַבֶּדְךָ (ʾakhabbedekha). The great honor could have been wealth, prestige, or position.
- Numbers 22:18 tn Heb “answered and said.”
- Numbers 22:18 tn Heb “mouth.”
- Numbers 22:18 sn In the light of subsequent events one should not take too seriously that Balaam referred to Yahweh as his God. He is referring properly to the deity for which he is acting as the agent.
New English Translation (NET)
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