Numbers 22

¹ Then the sons of Israel set out and pitched their camp in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho.[*a]

² Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,

³ and Moab was seized with panic before this people because of their immense number. Moab was afraid of the sons of Israel;

⁴ he said to the elders of Midian, ‘Here is a horde now cropping everything round us as an ox crops the grass of the fields’. Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at the time.

⁵ He sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, at Pethor on the river,[*c] in the land of the sons of Amaw, saying, ‘Look how this people coming from Egypt has overrun the whole countryside; they have settled at my door.

⁶ Come, please, and curse this people for me, for they are stronger than I am. We may then be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For this I know: the man you bless is blessed, the man you curse is accursed.’

⁷ The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian set out, taking the fee for the divination with them. They found Balaam and gave him Balak’s message.

⁸ He said to them, ‘Stay the night here, and I will answer as Yahweh directs me.’ So the chiefs of Moab stayed with Balaam.

⁹ God came to Balaam and said, ‘Who are these men staying with you?’

¹⁰ Balaam gave God this answer, ‘Balak son of Zippor has sent me this message,

¹¹ “Look how this people coming from Egypt has overrun the whole countryside. Come and curse them for me; I may then be able to defeat them and drive them out.”‘

¹² God said to Balaam, ‘You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.’ In the morning Balaam rose and said to the chiefs sent by Balak,

¹³ ‘Go back to your country, for Yahweh will not let me go with you’.

¹⁴ So the chiefs of Moab rose and returned to Balak and said, ‘Balaam would not come with us’.

¹⁵ And again Balak sent chiefs, more numerous and more renowned than the first.

¹⁶ They came to Balaam and said, ‘A message from Balak son of Zippor, “Do not refuse, I beg you, to come to me.

¹⁷ I will load you with honours and do whatever you say. Come, I beg you, and curse this people for me.”‘

¹⁸ Balaam answered the envoys of Balak, Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the order of Yahweh my God in anything, great or small.

¹⁹ Now please stay the night here yourselves, and I will learn what else Yahweh has to tell me.’

²⁰ God came to Balaam during the night and said to him, ‘Have not these men come to summon you? Get up, go with them. But you must do nothing except what I tell you.’

²¹ In the morning Balaam rose and saddled his she-donkey and set out with the chiefs of Moab.

²² His going kindled the wrath of Yahweh, and the angel of Yahweh took his stand on the road to bar his way. He was riding his donkey and his two servants were with him.

²³ Now the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing on the road, a drawn sword in his hand, and she turned off the road and made off across country. But Balaam beat her to turn her back on to the road.

²⁴ The angel of Yahweh then took his stand on a narrow path among the vineyards, with a wall to the right and a wall to the left.

²⁵ The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh and brushed against the wall, grazing Balaam’s foot. Balaam beat her again.

²⁶ The angel of Yahweh moved and took up his stand in a place so narrow that there was no room to pass, right or left.

²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam. Balaam flew into a rage and beat her with his stick.

²⁸ Then Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, who said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you? Why beat me three times like this?’

²⁹ Balaam answered the donkey, ‘Because you are playing the fool with me! If I had had a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.’

³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey, and have I not been your mount from your youth? In all this time, have I ever failed to serve you?’ He answered, ‘No’.

³¹ Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam. He saw the angel of Yahweh standing on the road, a drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down and fell prostrate on his face.

³² And the angel of Yahweh said to him, ‘Why did you beat your donkey three times like that? I myself had come to bar your way; while I am here your road is blocked.

³³ The donkey saw me and turned aside from me three times. You are lucky she did turn aside, or I should have killed you by now, though I would have spared her.’

³⁴ Balaam answered the angel of Yahweh, ‘I have sinned. I did not know you were standing in my path. However, if you are angry with me, I will go back.’

³⁵ The angel of Yahweh answered Balaam, ‘Go with these men, but only say what I tell you to say.’ So Balaam went with the chiefs sent by Balak.

³⁶ Balak learned that Balaam was coming and went out to meet him, in the direction of Ar of Moab, at the Arnon frontier on the country’s furthest boundary.

³⁷ Balak said to Balaam, ‘Did I not send messengers to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Did you think, perhaps, I could confer no honours on you?’

³⁸ Balaam answered Balak, ‘Here I am at your side. May I make myself clear to you now? The word that God puts into my mouth, this I shall speak.’

³⁹ Balaam set out with Balak. They came to Kiriath-huzoth.

⁴⁰ Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and offered portions to Balaam and the chiefs who were with him.

⁴¹ Next morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, from where he could see the end of the camp.