Numbers 22 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Balak Summons Balaam

Num 22:1Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

Num 22:2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Num 22:3And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.

Num 22:4

Num 22:4And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,

Num 22:5

Num 22:5sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River[fn] in the land of the people of Amaw,[fn] to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.

Num 22:6

Num 22:6Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Num 22:7

Num 22:7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message.

Num 22:8

Num 22:8And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

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 to me, saying,

Num 22:11

Num 22:11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

Num 22:12

Num 22:12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

Num 22:13

Num 22:13So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

Num 22:14

Num 22:14So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

Num 22:15

Num 22:15Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.

Num 22:16

Num 22:16And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

Num 22:17

Num 22:17for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’”

Num 22:18

Num 22:18But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.

Num 22:19

Num 22:19So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”

Num 22:20

Num 22:20And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”

Num 22:21

Num 22:21So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel

Num 22:22

Num 22:22But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Num 22:23

Num 22:23And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.

Num 22:24

Num 22:24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

Num 22:25

Num 22:25And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.

Num 22:26

Num 22:26Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.

Num 22:27

Num 22:27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

Num 22:28

Num 22:28Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

Num 22:29

Num 22:29And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”

Num 22:30

Num 22:30And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

Num 22:31

Num 22:31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

Num 22:32

Num 22:32And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse[fn] before me.

Num 22:33

Num 22:33The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”

Num 22:34

Num 22:34Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

Num 22:35

Num 22:35And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

Num 22:36

Num 22:36When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border.

Num 22:37

Num 22:37And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”

Num 22:38

Num 22:38Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.”

Num 22:39

Num 22:39Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

Num 22:40

Num 22:40And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.

Num 22:41

Num 22:41And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(22:5)

That is, the Euphrates

(22:5)

Or the people of his kindred

(22:32)

Or reckless

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.