Balak Summons Balaam
1 The Israelites traveled and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was distressed and terrified of the people because the Israelites were so numerous. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will devour all that is around us, like the ox devours the grass of the field.”
Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the descendants of his people, to call him, saying, “There is a people who came out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling across from me. 6 Please come now therefore and curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them and that I may drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s compensation in their hand. They came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.
8 He said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring word back, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam answered God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab has said to me, 11 ‘There is a people that has come out of Egypt which covers the face of the earth. Come now and curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.’ ”
12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
13 Balaam rose up in the morning and said to the leaders of Balak, “Go to your land, for the Lord refuses to give me permission to go with you.”
14 The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Balak again sent leaders, more and more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will promote you to very great honor and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’ ”
18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the Lord will say to me.”
20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them, but you shall do only the word which I speak to you.”
21 Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey
22 God’s anger burned because he went, and the Angel of the Lord placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand, and the donkey turned from the path and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her onto the path.
24 Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
26 The Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 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?”
29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for I would kill you now.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden ever since I was yours, until this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing this to you?”
He said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand, and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
32 The Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have slain you and let her live.”
34 Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood against me on the road. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will turn back.”
35 The Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the words I speak to you.”
So Balaam went with the leaders of Balak. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, on the border of the Arnon river, which is at the extreme end of the coast. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send an urgent summons to you? Why did you not come to me? Am I indeed not able to honor you?”
38 Balaam said to Balak, “I have come to you now. Have I any power to speak anything but the word that God puts in my mouth? That, I shall I speak.”
39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent for Balaam and the leaders who were with him. 41 In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of Baal, and from there he could see the extent of the people.