Numbers 2222NumbersToward the promised landJPS Tanakh 1917

JPS Tanakh 1917Berean Standard Bible

1. Balak Summons Balaam

2. 1JPSAnd the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.BSBBSB: Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.
3. 2JPSAnd Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.BSBBSB: Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
4. 3JPSAnd Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many; and Moab was overcome with dread because of the children of Israel.BSBBSB: and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
5. 4JPSAnd Moab said unto the elders of Midian: 'Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.' — And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. —BSBBSB: 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. 5JPSAnd he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to 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.BSBBSB: 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.
7. 6JPSCome now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me; peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.'BSBBSB: 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.”
8. 7JPSAnd the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.BSBBSB: 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.
9. 8JPSAnd he said unto them: 'Lodge here this night, and I will bring you back word, as the LORD may speak unto me'; and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.BSBBSB: “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.
10. 9JPSAnd God came unto Balaam, and said: 'What men are these with thee?'BSBBSB: Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
11. 10JPSAnd Balaam said unto God: 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me saying:BSBBSB: And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
12. 11JPSBehold the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth; now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'BSBBSB: ‘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.’”
13. 12JPSAnd God said unto Balaam: 'Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.'BSBBSB: But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
14. 13JPSAnd Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak: 'Get you into your land; for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.'BSBBSB: 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.”
15. 14JPSAnd the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said: 'Balaam refuseth to come with us.'BSBBSB: And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
16. 15JPSAnd Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.BSBBSB: Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.
17. 16JPSAnd they came to Balaam, and said to him: 'Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me;BSBBSB: They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
18. 17JPSfor I will promote thee unto very great honour, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do; come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.'BSBBSB: for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”
19. 18JPSAnd Balaam answered and said unto 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 any thing, small or great.BSBBSB: 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.
20. 19JPSNow therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will speak unto me more.'BSBBSB: So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”
21. 20JPSAnd God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him: 'If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.'BSBBSB: 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.”
22. 21JPSAnd Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.BSBBSB: So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

23. The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey

24. 22JPSAnd God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. — Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. —BSBBSB: 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.
25. 23JPSAnd the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with 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.BSBBSB: 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.
26. 24JPSThen the angel of the LORD stood in a hollow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side.BSBBSB: Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side.
27. 25JPSAnd the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.BSBBSB: 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.
28. 26JPSAnd 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.BSBBSB: 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.
29. 27JPSAnd the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.BSBBSB: When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.
30. 28JPSAnd the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam: 'What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?'BSBBSB: 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?”
31. 29JPSAnd Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'BSBBSB: 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!”
32. 30JPSAnd the ass said unto Balaam: 'Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?' And he said: 'Nay.'BSBBSB: 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.
33. 31JPSThen the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.BSBBSB: 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.
34. 32JPSAnd the angel of the LORD said unto him: 'Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is contrary unto me;BSBBSB: 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.
35. 33JPSand the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times; unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.'BSBBSB: 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.”
36. 34JPSAnd Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD: 'I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back.'BSBBSB: “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.”
37. 35JPSAnd the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam: 'Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak.' So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.BSBBSB: 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.
38. 36JPSAnd when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto Ir-moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.BSBBSB: 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.
39. 37JPSAnd Balak said unto Balaam: 'Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?'BSBBSB: 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?”
40. 38JPSAnd Balaam said unto Balak: 'Lo, I am come unto thee; have I now any power at all to speak any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.'BSBBSB: “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.”
41. 39JPSAnd Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth.BSBBSB: So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
42. 40JPSAnd Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.BSBBSB: Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.
43. 41JPSAnd it came to pass in the morning that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into Bamoth-baal, and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.BSBBSB: 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.