³ and Moab was very terrified in the presence of the people because they^[a] were numerous; and Moab dreaded the presence of the Israelites.^{[b] 4} And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now the crowd will lick up all around us, like a bull devours the grass of the field.” And Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. ⁵ He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the river,^[c] in the land of the children of his people, to summon him, saying, “Look! A people went out from Egypt. Look! They cover the surface of the land;^[d] they are about to dwell opposite me.