Numbers 22
Christian Standard Bible
Balak Hires Balaam
22Â The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho. 2Â Now Balak(A) son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.(B) 3Â Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous,(C) and Moab dreaded the Israelites. 4Â So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, âThis horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field.â
Since Balak son of Zippor was Moabâs king at that time, 5Â he sent messengers to Balaam(D) son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people.[a][b] Balak said to him, âLook, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land(E) and are living right across from me. 6Â Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. 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.â(F)
7Â The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination(G) in hand.(H) They came to Balaam and reported Balakâs words to him. 8Â He said to them, âSpend the night here, and I will give you the answer the Lord tells me.â So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9Â Then God came to Balaam and asked, âWho are these men with you?â
10Â Balaam replied to God, âBalak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me: 11Â âLook, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.ââ
12Â Then God said to Balaam, âYou are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.â
13Â So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balakâs officials, âGo back to your land, because the Lord has refused to let me go with you.â
14Â The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, âBalaam refused to come with us.â
15Â Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others. 16Â They came to Balaam and said to him, âThis is what Balak son of Zippor says: âLet nothing keep you from coming to me, 17Â for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!ââ
18Â But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, âIf Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great. 19Â Please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the Lord has to tell me.â
20Â God came to Balaam at night and said to him, âSince these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.â 21Â When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab.
Balaamâs Donkey and the Angel
22Â But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the angel of the Lord(I) took his stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23Â When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing on the path with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into the field. So Balaam hit her to return her to the path. 24Â Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow passage between the vineyards, with a stone wall on either side. 25Â The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and pressed herself against the wall, squeezing Balaamâs foot against it. So he hit her once again. 26Â The angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or the left. 27Â When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she crouched down under Balaam. So he became furious and beat the donkey with his stick.
28Â Then the Lord opened the donkeyâs mouth, and she asked Balaam, âWhat have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?â (J)
29Â Balaam answered the donkey, âYou made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, Iâd kill you now!â
30Â But the donkey said, âAm I not the donkey youâve ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?â
âNo,â he replied.
31Â Then the Lord opened Balaamâs eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the path with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam knelt low and bowed in worship on his face. 32Â The angel of the Lord asked him, âWhy have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because I consider what you are doing to be evil.[c] 33Â The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.â
34Â Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, âI have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back.â
35Â Then the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, âGo with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.â So Balaam went with Balakâs officials.
36Â When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city[d] on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. 37Â Balak asked Balaam, âDid I not send you an urgent summons? Why didnât you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?â
38Â Balaam said to him, âLook, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.â 39Â So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.[e] 40Â Balak sacrificed cattle, sheep, and goats and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him.
41Â In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal.[f] From there he saw the outskirts of the peopleâs camp.
Numbers 22
New International Version
Balak Summons Balaam
22Â Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab(A) and camped along the Jordan(B) across from Jericho.(C)
2Â Now Balak son of Zippor(D) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3Â and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread(E) because of the Israelites.
4Â The Moabites(F) said to the elders of Midian,(G) âThis horde is going to lick up everything(H) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.(I)â
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5Â sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,(J) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,(K) in his native land. Balak said:
âA people has come out of Egypt;(L) they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6Â Now come and put a curse(M) on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.(N) For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.â
7Â The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.(O) When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8Â âSpend the night here,â Balaam said to them, âand I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.(P)â So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9Â God came to Balaam(Q) and asked,(R) âWho are these men with you?â
10Â Balaam said to God, âBalak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11Â âA people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.ââ
12Â But God said to Balaam, âDo not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.(S)â
13Â The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balakâs officials, âGo back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.â
14Â So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, âBalaam refused to come with us.â
15Â Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16Â They came to Balaam and said:
âThis is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17Â because I will reward you handsomely(T) and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse(U) on these people for me.â
18Â But Balaam answered them, âEven if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.(V) 19Â Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.(W)â
20Â That night God came to Balaam(X) and said, âSince these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.â(Y)
Balaamâs Donkey
21Â Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22Â But God was very angry(Z) when he went, and the angel of the Lord(AA) stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23Â When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword(AB) in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it(AC) to get it back on the road.
24Â Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25Â When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaamâs foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
26Â Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27Â When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry(AD) and beat it with his staff. 28Â Then the Lord opened the donkeyâs mouth,(AE) and it said to Balaam, âWhat have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?(AF)â
29Â Balaam answered the donkey, âYou have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.(AG)â
30Â The donkey said to Balaam, âAm I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?â
âNo,â he said.
31Â Then the Lord opened Balaamâs eyes,(AH) and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32Â The angel of the Lord asked him, âWhy have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.[a] 33Â The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now,(AI) but I would have spared it.â
34Â Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, âI have sinned.(AJ) I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.â
35Â The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, âGo with the men, but speak only what I tell you.â So Balaam went with Balakâs officials.
36Â When Balak(AK) heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon(AL) border, at the edge of his territory. 37Â Balak said to Balaam, âDid I not send you an urgent summons? Why didnât you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?â
38Â âWell, I have come to you now,â Balaam replied. âBut I canât say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.â(AM)
39Â Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40Â Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep,(AN) and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41Â The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal,(AO) and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.(AP)
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:32 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
Numbers 22
King James Version
22Â And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2Â And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3Â And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4Â And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5Â He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
6Â Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7Â And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8Â And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9Â And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10Â And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11Â Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12Â And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13Â 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.
14Â And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15Â And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16Â And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17Â For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18Â And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
19Â Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.
20Â And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21Â And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22Â And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23Â And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24Â But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25Â And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26Â And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27Â And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28Â And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29Â And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30Â And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
31Â Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32Â And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33Â And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34Â And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
35Â And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36Â And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37Â And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
38Â And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39Â And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
40Â And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41Â And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
Numbers 22
New King James Version
Balak Sends for Balaam
22Â Then (A)the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho.
2Â Now (B)Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3Â And (C)Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. 4Â So Moab said to (D)the elders of Midian, âNow this company will [a]lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.â And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5Â Then (E)he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at (F)Pethor, which is near [b]the River in the land of [c]the sons of his people, to call him, saying: âLook, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! 6Â (G)Therefore please come at once, (H)curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.â
7Â So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with (I)the divinerâs fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8Â And he said to them, (J)âLodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.â So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9Â (K)Then God came to Balaam and said, âWho are these men with you?â
10Â So Balaam said to God, âBalak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11Â âLook, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.â â
12Â And God said to Balaam, âYou shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for (L)they are blessed.â
13Â So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, âGo back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.â
14Â And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, âBalaam refuses to come with us.â
15Â Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more [d]honorable than they. 16Â And they came to Balaam and said to him, âThus says Balak the son of Zippor: âPlease let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17Â for I will certainly (M)honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. (N)Therefore please come, curse this people for me.â â
18Â Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, (O)âThough Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, (P)I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19Â Now therefore, please, you also (Q)stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.â
20Â (R)And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, âIf the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but (S)only the word which I speak to youâthat you shall do.â 21Â So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel
22Â Then Godâs anger was aroused because he went, (T)and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23Â Now (U)the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 24Â Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25Â And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaamâs foot against the wall; so he struck her again. 26Â Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27Â And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaamâs anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28Â Then the Lord (V)opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, âWhat have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?â
29Â And Balaam said to the donkey, âBecause you have [e]abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, (W)for now I would kill you!â
30Â (X)So the donkey said to Balaam, âAm I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever [f]disposed to do this to you?â
And he said, âNo.â
31Â Then the Lord (Y)opened Balaamâs eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32Â And the Angel of the Lord said to him, âWhy have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out [g]to stand against you, because your way is (Z)perverse[h] before Me. 33Â The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.â
34Â And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, (AA)âI have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it [i]displeases You, I will turn back.â
35Â Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, âGo with the men, (AB)but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.â So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36Â Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, (AC)he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, (AD)which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory. 37Â Then Balak said to Balaam, âDid I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able (AE)to honor you?â
38Â And Balaam said to Balak, âLook, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? (AF)The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.â 39Â So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth. 40Â Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.
Balaamâs First Prophecy
41Â So it was, the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the (AG)high places of Baal, that from there he might observe [j]the extent of the people.
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:4 consume
- Numbers 22:5 The Euphrates
- Numbers 22:5 Or the people of Amau
- Numbers 22:15 distinguished
- Numbers 22:29 mocked
- Numbers 22:30 accustomed
- Numbers 22:32 as an adversary
- Numbers 22:32 contrary
- Numbers 22:34 Lit. is evil in your eyes
- Numbers 22:41 the farthest extent
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