Numbers 22 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Balak Sends for Balaam

Then the sons^H1121 of Israel^H3478 set^H5265 out^H5265 and camped^H2583 in the plains^H6160 of Moab^H4124 beyond^H4480^H5676 the Jordan^H3383 opposite Jericho^H3405.

Num 22:2

And Balak^H1111 the son^H1121 of Zippor^H6834 saw^H7200 all^H3605 that Israel^H3478 had done^H6213 to the Amorites^H567.

Num 22:3

Num 22:3So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel.

Num 22:4

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

Num 22:5

Num 22:5So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the [fn]River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are settled opposite me.

Num 22:6

Num 22:6“So now, please come, curse this people for me since they are too [fn]mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to strike them down and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Num 22:7

So the elders^H2205 of Moab^H4124 and the elders^H2205 of Midian^H4080 went^H1980 away with the fees for divination^H7081 in their hand^H3027; and they came^H935 to Balaam^H1109 and spoke^H1696 Balak’s^H1111 words^H1697 to him.

Num 22:8

Num 22:8And he said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as Yahweh may speak to me.” And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Num 22:9

Num 22:9Then 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 word to me,

Num 22:11

Num 22:11‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

Num 22:12

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

Num 22:13

Num 22:13So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your land, for Yahweh has refused to allow me to go with you.”

Num 22:14

Num 22:14And the leaders of Moab arose and came to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to go with us.”

Num 22:15

Then Balak^H1111 again^H5750^H3254 sent^H7971 leaders^H8269, more^H4480 numerous^H7227 and more^H4480 [fn]honorable^H3513 than^H4480 [fn]the former^H428.

Num 22:16

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

Num 22:17

Num 22:17for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.’”

Num 22:18

Num 22:18And Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, to trespass the [fn]command of Yahweh my God.

Num 22:19

Num 22:19“So now, please, you also stay here tonight, and I will know what else Yahweh will speak 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 up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.”

Num 22:21

So Balaam^H1109 arose^H6965 in the morning^H1242 and saddled^H2280 his donkey^H860 and went^H1980 with the leaders^H8269 of Moab^H4124.

Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel

Num 22:22

Num 22:22But God was angry because he was going, so the angel of Yahweh took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two young men were with him.

Num 22:23

Num 22:23Then the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, and the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; so Balaam struck the donkey to turn it back into the way.

Num 22:24

Num 22:24Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.

Num 22:25

Num 22:25And the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and it pressed itself to the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck it again.

Num 22:26

Num 22:26And the angel of Yahweh passed on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left.

Num 22:27

Num 22:27Then the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh and lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick.

Num 22:28

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

Num 22:29

Num 22:29Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.”

Num 22:30

Num 22:30And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.”

Num 22:31

Then Yahweh^H3068 opened^H1540 the eyes^H5869 of Balaam^H1109, and he saw^H7200 the angel^H4397 of Yahweh^H3068 standing^H5324 in the way^H1870 with his drawn^H8025 sword^H2719 in his hand^H3027; and he bowed^H6915 his head^H6915 down^H6915 [fn]and prostrated^H2331 himself^H2331 to the ground^H639.

Num 22:32

Num 22:32And the angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary because your way was [fn]contrary to me.

Num 22:33

Num 22:33“And the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If it had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let it live.”

Num 22:34

Num 22:34And Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. So now, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

Num 22:35

Num 22:35But the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I [fn]tell you.” So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.

Num 22:36

Then Balak^H1111 heard^H8085 that Balaam^H1109 was coming^H935 and went^H3318 out^H3318 to meet^H7122 him at the city^H5892 of Moab^H4124, which^H834 is on the Arnon^H769 border^H1366, [fn]at the end^H7097 of the border^H1366.

Num 22:37

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

Num 22:38

Num 22:38So Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.”

Num 22:39

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

Num 22:40

Num 22:40And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.

Num 22:41

Then it happened^H1961 in the morning^H1242 that Balak^H1111 took^H3947 Balaam^H1109 and brought^H5927 him up^H5927 to [fn]the high^H1116 places^H1116 of Baal^H1168, and he saw^H7200 from there^H8033 the end^H7097 of the camp of the people^H5971.