Balak Summons Balaam 1 DBY And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho. BSB BSB: Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2 DBY And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. BSB BSB: Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3 DBY And Moab was much afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. BSB BSB: and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 DBY And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this company lick up all that is round about us, as an ox licks up the green herb of the field. Now Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. BSB BSB: So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,
5 DBY And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is on the river in the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the land, and they abide over against me. BSB BSB: he sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 DBY And now come, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are mightier than I: perhaps I may be able to smite them, and drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. BSB BSB: So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”
7 DBY And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed, having the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak. BSB BSB: The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.
8 DBY And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, according as Jehovah shall speak unto me. And the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. BSB BSB: “Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 DBY And God came to Balaam, and said, Who are these men with thee? BSB BSB: Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 DBY And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, BSB BSB: And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 DBY Behold, a people is come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the land. Now come, curse me them: perhaps I may be able to fight against them, and drive them out. BSB BSB: ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”
12 DBY And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed. BSB BSB: But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 DBY And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go into your land; for Jehovah refuses to give me leave to go with you. BSB BSB: So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
14 DBY And the princes of Moab rose up; and they went to Balak, and said, Balaam has refused to come with us. BSB BSB: And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 DBY Then sent Balak yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. BSB BSB: Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16 DBY And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Suffer not thyself, I pray thee, to be restrained from coming to me; BSB BSB: They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
17 DBY for very highly will I honour thee, and whatever thou shalt say to me will I do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. BSB BSB: for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
18 DBY And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, If Balak give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the commandment of Jehovah my God, to do less or more. BSB BSB: But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
19 DBY And now, I pray you, abide ye also here this night, and I shall know what Jehovah will say to me further. BSB BSB: So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
20 DBY Then God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men have come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but only what I shall say unto thee shalt thou do. BSB BSB: That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
21 DBY And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. BSB BSB: So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey 22 DBY And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the Angel of Jehovah set himself in the way to withstand him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two young men were with him. BSB BSB: Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 DBY And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah 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 smote the ass to turn her into the way. BSB BSB: When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.
24 DBY And the Angel of Jehovah stood in a hollow of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. BSB BSB: Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25 DBY And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and she pressed herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again. BSB BSB: And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.
26 DBY Then the Angel of Jehovah went still further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. BSB BSB: And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left.
27 DBY And the ass saw the Angel of Jehovah, and lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff. BSB BSB: When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.
28 DBY And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? BSB BSB: Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
29 DBY And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee! BSB BSB: Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
30 DBY And the ass said to Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine to this day? was I ever wont to do so to thee? And he said, No. BSB BSB: But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” “No,” he replied.
31 DBY Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed and prostrated himself on his face. BSB BSB: Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.
32 DBY And the Angel of Jehovah said to him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, it was I who came forth to withstand thee, for the way thou walkest in is for ruin before me. BSB BSB: The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me.
33 DBY And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times; had she not turned from me, I had now certainly slain thee, and saved her alive. BSB BSB: The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”
34 DBY And Balaam said to the Angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; and now, if it be evil in thine eyes, I will get me back again. BSB BSB: “I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”
35 DBY And the Angel of Jehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that shalt thou speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Balak. BSB BSB: But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 DBY And when Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him, to the city of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is at the extremity of the border. BSB BSB: When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.
37 DBY And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to thee to call thee? why didst thou not come to me? am I not surely able to honour thee? BSB BSB: And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to reward you richly?”
38 DBY And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak. BSB BSB: “See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”
39 DBY And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath-huzoth. BSB BSB: So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 DBY And Balak offered oxen and small cattle, and sent to Balaam and to the princes that were with him. BSB BSB: Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41 DBY And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from thence the extremity of the people. BSB BSB: The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.