Requesting Balaam to go see Balak, King of Moab |
Numbers 22:1-41 The Fourth Book of Moses Called Numbers |
The children [people] of Israel set forward & [pitched their tents] in the plains of Moab, on this side [of the] Jordan [River] by Jericho. Balak, [Zippor’s] son, saw all the [Israelites] had done to the Amorites. |
Moab was [very] afraid & distressed because of the children [people] of Israel, because [there] were many [of them.] Moab said to [Midian’s] elders, Now this company of [Israelites] lick up all [who] are [around] us, [like] a [oxen] licks up the grass of the field. |
Balak, [Zippor’s] son, was the [Moabites’s] king, at that time. [Balak] sent messengers to Balaam, [Beor’s] son, [at] Pethor, which is by the river in the land of his people, to call [Balaam.] |
[They said, Look,] there is a people [who] have come out from Egypt & [see,] they cover the face of the earth & they [remain next] to me. Therefore, I pray [that] you come now & curse [these] people for me; for they are too mighty for me. |
[Perhaps,] I might prevail & [defeat] them & drive them out of the land. I [know] that those you bless are blessed & [those] you curse are cursed. Moab’s & Midian’s elders left with the [payment for the diviner's curse] in their [hands.] |
They came to Balaam & [told] him the words Balak [said.] [Balaam] said to them, Lodge here [tonight] & I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall [say] to me. [Moab’s] princes [stayed] with Balaam. |
The [Lord] God came to Balaam & said, [Who] are these men with you? Balaam said to God, Balak, [Zippor’s] son, [Moab’s] king, has sent to me saying, [Look,] there is a people [who] have come out of Egypt, which covers the face of the earth. Come now [&] curse them [for me.] |
[Perhaps,] I will be able to overcome them & drive them out. And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. Balaam rose up in the morning & said to [Balak’s] princes, [Go] into your land, for the Lord refuses to give me [permission] to go with you. |
[Moab’s] princes rose up & went back to Balak & said, Balaam refuses to come with us. Balak sent back [even] more honorable princes & they came to Balaam. [They] said to him, Balak, [Zippor’s] son, [said,] I pray [that] you [don’t let anything interfere with] you from coming to me. |
For I will promote you [with] great honor & I will do [whatever] you say to me. Therefore, I pray [that] you come [here] & curse [these] people [for] me. Balaam answered & said to [Balak’s] servants, If Balak would give me his house full of silver & gold, I can’t go beyond [doing] more or less [than] the Word of the Lord, my God. |
Therefore, I now pray [that] you [stay] here [tonight, so] I may know what more the Lord will say to me. And God came to Balaam in the night & said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up & go with them; but you shall [only] do the word I shall say to you. |
Balaam rose up in the morning & saddled his [mule] & went up with [Moab’s] princes. God’s anger [grew] because [Balaam] went. |
And the Angel of the Lord stood in the [road as] an adversary against [Balaam.] [Balaam] was riding on his [mule] & his 2 servants were with him. The [mule] saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the [road] & his sword drawn in his hand. |
The [mule] turned [away] & went into the field & Balaam [struck the mule] to turn her [back] into the [road.] But the Angel of the Lord stood in the path of the vineyards [with a] wall on [either] side. |
When the [mule] saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself into the wall & crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall & he [struck his mule] again. The Angel of the Lord went further & stood in a narrow place, where there was no [place] to turn either to the right or to the left. |
When the [mule] saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down [with Balaam on top of her.] Balaam’s anger [grew] & he [struck his mule] with a staff. The Lord opened the mouth of the [mule.] She said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you have [struck] me these 3 times? |
Balaam said to the [mule,] Because you have mocked me. I [wish] I had a sword in [my] hand, for I would kill you now. The [mule] said to Balaam, [Aren’t] I the [same mule you’ve] ridden ever since I [became] yours until this day? [Did] I ever do [this] to you? [Balaam] said, No. |
Then the Lord opened [Balaam’s] eyes & he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the [road] there, with a sword drawn in his hand. [Balaam] bowed down his head & fell flat on his face. The Angel of the Lord said to [Balaam,] [Why] have you [struck] your [mule] these 3 times? |
[Look] I went to [oppose] you, because [what you are doing is wicked, in front of] me.The [mule] saw me & turned from me these 3 times. Surely, [if] she hadn’t turned from me, I would have [killed] you & saved her alive. |
Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned, [because] I [didn’t know] that you stood in the [road] against me. Therefore, if it displeases you, I will now [return] back again. The Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men, but you shall speak only the [words] that I say to you. |
So, Balaam went with [Balak’s] princes. When Balak heard that Balaam was [there,] he went out to the city of Moab, on the border of Arnon in the [outter] coast, to meet him. Balak said to Balaam, Didn’t I earnestly send to call you? |
[Why] haven’t you come to me? [Aren’t] I able to promote you to honor? And Balaam said to Balak, [Look,] I [have] come to you, [do] I have any power at all to say anything? I shall [only] speak the [words] that God puts in my mouth. And Balaam went with Balak & they came to Kirjath Huzoth. |
Balak offered oxen & sheep & sent [some] to Balaam & the princes [who] were with him. It [happened the next day,] that Balak took Balaam & brought him up to the high places of Baal [so, Balaam] might see the [uttermost] part of the people [of Israel.] [Deuteronomy 12:2 You shall totally destroy all the places, [where] the nations you shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, upon high hills & under every green tree.] |