Balak Summons Balaam 1 UEB The people of Israel traveled on until they camped in the plains of Moab near Jericho, on the other side of the Jordan River from the city. BSB BSB: Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
2 UEB Balak 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 UEB Moab was very afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was in terror of the people of Israel. BSB BSB: and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 UEB The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This multitude will eat up all that is around us as an ox eats up the grass in a field." Now Balak 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,
6 UEB So please come now and curse this nation for me, because they are too strong for me. Perhaps then I can manage to attack them and drive them out of the land. I know that whomever you bless will be blessed, and whomever you curse will be 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 UEB So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left, taking payment for divination. They came to Balaam and spoke to him Balak's words. 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 UEB Balaam said to them, "Stay here tonight. I will bring you what Yahweh says to me." So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam that night. 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 UEB God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men who came to you?" BSB BSB: Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 UEB Balaam answered God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me. He said, BSB BSB: And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11 UEB 'Look, the people who have come from Egypt cover the surface of my land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I will manage to fight 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 UEB God replied to Balaam, "You must not go with those men. You must not curse the people of Israel because they have been 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 UEB Balaam rose up in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land because Yahweh refuses to allow me 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 UEB So the leaders of Moab left and went back to Balak. They said, "Balaam 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 UEB Balak sent again more leaders who were even more honored than the first group. BSB BSB: Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
16 UEB They came to Balaam and said to him, "Balak son of Zippor says this, 'Please let nothing stop you 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 UEB because I will pay you extremely well and give you great honor, and I will do whatever you tell me to do. So please come and curse this people for me.'" 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 UEB Balaam answered and said to Balak's men, "Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Yahweh, my God, and do less or more than what he tells me. 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 UEB Now then, please wait here tonight too, so that I may learn anything further that Yahweh says to me." 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 UEB God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them. But only do what I tell you to 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 UEB Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders 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 UEB But because he went, God's anger was kindled. The angel of Yahweh placed himself in the road as someone hostile to Balaam, who was riding on his donkey. Balaam's two servants were also 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 UEB The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. The donkey turned off the road and went into a field. Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the road. 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 UEB Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow part of the road between some vineyards, with a wall on his right side and another wall on his left side. BSB BSB: Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
25 UEB The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh again. She went against the wall and pinned Balaam's foot against it. Balaam struck 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 UEB The angel of Yahweh went further and stood in another narrow place where there was no way to turn to either side. 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 UEB The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey 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 UEB Then Yahweh opened the donkey's mouth so she could talk. She said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that induced you to strike 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 UEB Balaam replied to the donkey, "It was because you acted so stupidly with me. I wish there were a sword in my hand. If there were, by now I would have killed you." 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 UEB The donkey said to Balaam, "Am not I your donkey on which you have ridden all your life long to this present day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing such things to you before?" Balaam 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 UEB Then Yahweh opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. Balaam lowered his head and lay facedown. 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 UEB The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come as someone hostile to you because your actions before me have been wicked. 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 UEB The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you and spared her life." 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 UEB Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned. I did not know that you stood against me in the road. So now, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." 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 UEB But the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, "Go on ahead with the men. But you must only speak the words that I tell you." So Balaam went with the leaders 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 UEB When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at a city in Moab at the Arnon, which is on 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 UEB Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send men to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?" 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 UEB Then Balaam replied to Balak, "See, I have come to you. Do I now have any power to say anything? I can only say the words that God puts into my mouth." 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 UEB Balaam went with Balak, and they arrived at Kiriath Huzoth. BSB BSB: So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 UEB Then Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep and gave some meat to Balaam and the leaders who were with him. BSB BSB: Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
41 UEB In the morning, Balak took Balaam up to the high place of Baal. From there Balaam could see only a part of the Israelites in their camp. 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.