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Numbers 22:35-37
New English Translation
Numbers 22:35-37
New English Translation
35 But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you may only speak[a] the word that I will speak to you.”[b] So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Balaam Meets Balak
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at a city of Moab that was on the border of the Arnon at the boundary of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send again and again[c] to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”[d]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 22:35 tn The imperfect tense here can be given the nuance of permission.
- Numbers 22:35 tn The Hebrew word order is a little more emphatic than this: “but only the word which I speak to you, it you shall speak.”
- Numbers 22:37 tn The emphatic construction is made of the infinitive absolute and the perfect tense from the verb שָׁלַח (shalakh, “to send”). The idea must be more intense than something like, “Did I not certainly send.” Balak is showing frustration with Balaam for refusing him.
- Numbers 22:37 sn Balak again refers to his ability to “honor” the seer. This certainly meant payment for his service, usually gold ornaments, rings and jewelry, as well as some animals.
New English Translation (NET)
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