Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of
Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw
all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was in great
dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with
fear of the people of Israel. And Moab said to the elders of
Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the
ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor,
who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to Balaam the
son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the
people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out
of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling
opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too
mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive
them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed,
and he whom you curse is cursed.”
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the
fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave
him Balak's message. And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and
I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the
princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. And God came to Balaam and
said, “Who are these men with you?” And Balaam said to God, “Balak
the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, ‘Behold, a
people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth.
Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight
against them and drive them out.’” God said to Balaam, “You shall
not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are
blessed.” So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of
Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go
with you.” So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said,
“Balaam refuses to come with us.”
Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable
than these. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says
Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I
will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” But Balaam answered and
said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his
house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of
the LORD my God to do less or more. So you, too, please stay here
tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.” And
God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come
to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” So
Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the
princes of Moab.
But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the
LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding
on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. And the donkey
saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword
in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went
into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the
road. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the
vineyards, with a wall on either side. And when the donkey saw the
angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's
foot against the wall. So he struck her again. Then the angel of
the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no
way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw
the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's
anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then
the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam,
“What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three
times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a
fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill
you.” And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on
which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my
habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of
the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And
he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the LORD said
to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold,
I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before
me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times.
If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have
killed you and let her live.” Then Balaam said to the angel of the
LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road
against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn
back.” And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men,
but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with
the princes of Balak.
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at
the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the
extremity of the border. And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send
to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to
honor you?” Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have
I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts
in my mouth, that must I speak.” Then Balaam went with Balak, and
they came to Kiriath-huzoth. And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep,
and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.
And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to
Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.
