Numbers Chapter 22

Balak and Balaam

22:1 AND the children of Israel set forward, and camped in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan [by] Jericho.
22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they [were] many and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
22:4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all [that are] round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time.
22:5 He sent messengers therefore to 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
22:6 Come now therefore, I pray ya’ll , curse me this people ; 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 wot that he whom you blesses [is] blessed, and he whom you curses is cursed.
22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand ; and they came to Balaam, and spake to him the words of Balak.
22:8 And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
22:9 And God came to Balaam, and said, What men [are] these with ya’ll ?
22:10 And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, [saying],
22:11 Behold, [there is] a people come out of Egypt, which covers the face of the earth come now, curse me them; perhaps I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
22:12 And God said to Balaam, You will not go with them; you will not curse the people for they [are] blessed.
22:13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Get you into your land for the LORD refuses to give me leave to go with you.
22:14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.
22:15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
22:16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, This says Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray ya’ll , hinder ya’ll from coming to me
22:17 For I will promote ya’ll to very great honour, and I will do what ever you say to me come therefore, I pray ya’ll , curse me this people.
22:18 And Balaam answered and said to 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.
22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ya’ll also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say to me more.

The opposing angel

22:20 And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men come to call you, rise up, [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say to you, that will you do.
22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22:22 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.
22:23 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 struck the ass, to turn her into the way.
22:24 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.
22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall and he struck her again.
22:26 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.
22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with a staff.
22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have struck down me these three times?
22:29 And Balaam said to the ass, Because you have mocked me I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill you.
22:30 And the ass said to Balaam, [Am] not I your ass, upon which you have ridden ever since [I was] your to this day ? was I ever wont to do so to you? And he said, Nay.
22:31 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.
22:32 And the angel of the LORD said to him, Wherefore have you struck down your ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand you, because [your] way is perverse before me
22:33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain you, and saved her alive.
22:34 And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, I have sinned ; for I knew not that you stood in the way against me now therefore, if it displease you, I will get me back again.
22:35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, Go with the men but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you will speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Balak entertains Balaam

22:36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him to a city of Moab, which [is] in the border of Arnon, which [is] in the utmost coast.
22:37 And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to you to call you? wherefore came you not to me? am I not able indeed to promote you to honour ?
22:38 And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to you have I now any power at all to say any thing ? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjathhuzoth.
22:40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that [were] with him.
22:41 And it came to pass the next day, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that there he might see the utmost [part] of the people.