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Numbers 22 :: Bible in Basic English (BBE)

Num 22:1

Num 22:1Then the children of Israel, journeying on, put up their tents in the lowlands of Moab, on the other side of Jordan at Jericho.

Num 22:2

Num 22:2Now Balak, the son of Zippor, saw what Israel had done to the Amorites.

Num 22:3

Num 22:3And in Moab there was great fear of the people, because their numbers were so great: and the feeling of Moab was bitter against the children of Israel.

Num 22:4

Num 22:4Then Moab said to the responsible men of Midian, It is clear that this great people will be the destruction of everything round us, making a meal of us as the ox does of the grass of the field. At that time Balak, the son of Zippor, was king of Moab.

Num 22:5

Num 22:5So he sent men to Balaam, son of Beor, at Pethor by the River in the land of the children of his people, saying to him, See, a people has come out of Egypt, covering all the face of the earth, and they have put up their tents opposite to me:

Num 22:6

Num 22:6Come now, in answer to my prayer, and put a curse on this people, for they are greater than I: and then I may be strong enough to overcome them and send them out of the land: for it is clear that good comes to him who has your blessing, but he on whom you put your curse is cursed.

Num 22:7

Num 22:7So the responsible men of Moab and Midian went away, taking in their hands rewards for the prophet; and they came to Balaam and said to him what Balak had given them orders to say.

Num 22:8

Num 22:8And he said to them, Take your rest here tonight, and I will give you an answer after hearing what the Lord says; so the chiefs of Moab kept there with Balaam that night.

Num 22:9

Num 22:9And God came to Balaam and said, Who are these men with you?

Num 22:10

Num 22:10And Balaam said to God, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me, saying,

Num 22:11

Num 22:11See, the people who have come out of Egypt are covering all the earth: now, put a curse on this people for me, so that I may be able to make war on them, driving them out of the land.

Num 22:12

Num 22:12And God said to Balaam, You are not to go with them, or put a curse on this people, for they have my blessing.

Num 22:13

Num 22:13In the morning Balaam got up and said to the chiefs of Balak, Go back to your land, for the Lord will not let me go with you.

Num 22:14

Num 22:14So the chiefs of Moab went back to Balak and said, Balaam will not come with us.

Num 22:15

Num 22:15So Balak sent more chiefs, greater in number and of higher position than the others.

Num 22:16

Num 22:16And they came to Balaam and said, Balak, son of Zippor, says, Let nothing keep you from coming to me:

Num 22:17

Num 22:17For I will give you a place of very great honour, and whatever you say to me I will do; so come, in answer to my prayer, and put a curse on this people.

Num 22:18

Num 22:18But Balaam, in answer; said to the servants of Balak, Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, it would not be possible for me to do anything more or less than the orders of the Lord my God.

Num 22:19

Num 22:19So take your rest here this night, till I have knowledge what more the Lord has to say to me.

Num 22:20

Num 22:20And that night God came to Balaam and said to him, If these men have come for you, go with them: but do only what I say to you.

Num 22:21

Num 22:21So in the morning Balaam got up and, making his ass ready, went with the chiefs of Moab.

The Angel and Balaam

Num 22:22

Num 22:22But God was moved to wrath because he went: and the angel of the Lord took up a position in the road to keep him from his purpose. Now he was seated on his ass, and his two servants were with him.

Num 22:23

Num 22:23And the ass saw the angel of the Lord waiting in the road with his sword in his hand; and turning from the road, the ass went into the field; and Balaam gave the ass blows, to get her back on to the road.

Num 22:24

Num 22:24Then the angel of the Lord took up his position in a narrow road through the vine-gardens, with a wall on this side and on that.

Num 22:25

Num 22:25And the ass saw the angel of the Lord, and went near the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against the wall; and he gave her more blows.

Num 22:26

Num 22:26Then the angel of the Lord went further, stopping in a narrow place where there was no room for turning to the right or to the left.

Num 22:27

Num 22:27And the ass saw the angel of the Lord and went down on the earth under Balaam; and full of wrath, Balaam gave her hard blows with his stick.

Num 22:28

Num 22:28Then the Lord gave the ass the power of talking, and opening her mouth she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you have given me blows these three times?

Num 22:29

Num 22:29And Balaam said to the ass, You have made me seem foolish: if only I had a sword in my hand I would put you to death.

Num 22:30

Num 22:30And the ass said to Balaam, Am I not your ass upon which you have gone all your life till this day? and have I ever done this to you before? And he said, No.

Num 22:31

Num 22:31Then the Lord made Balaam's eyes open, and he saw the angel of the Lord in the way with his sword in his hand: and he went down on his face to the earth.

Num 22:32

Num 22:32And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you given your ass blows these three times? See, I have come out against you to keep you back, because your purpose is not pleasing to me.

Num 22:33

Num 22:33And the ass saw me, turning to one side from me three times: if she had not gone to one side, I would certainly have put you to death and kept her safe.

Num 22:34

Num 22:34And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have done wrong, for I did not see that you were in the way against me: but now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will go back again.

Num 22:35

Num 22:35And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men; but say only what I give you to say. Then Balaam went on with the chiefs of Balak.

Num 22:36

Num 22:36Now Balak, hearing that Balaam had come, went to the chief town of Moab, on the edge of the Arnon, in the farthest part of the land, for the purpose of meeting him.

Num 22:37

Num 22:37And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you, requesting you with all my heart to come to me? why did you not come? am I not able to give you a place of honour?

Num 22:38

Num 22:38Then Balaam said to Balak, Now I have come to you; but have I power to say anything? Only what God puts into my mouth may I say.

Num 22:39

Num 22:39And Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath-huzoth.

Num 22:40

Num 22:40And Balak made offerings of oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and the chiefs who were with him.

Num 22:41

Num 22:41And in the morning Balak took Balaam up to the high places of Baal, and from there he was able to see the outer limits of the people.
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The Bible in Basic English was translated by Professor Samuel Henry Hooke (1874-1968)
This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.

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Pericope taken from the NASB95 and has been graciously provided by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.

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