Numbers 22 :: New International Version (NIV)

Balak Summons Balaam

Num 22:1Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.

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

Num 22:3and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.

Num 22:4

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

Num 22:5

Num 22:5sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: “A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.

Num 22:6

Num 22:6Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

Num 22:7

Num 22:7The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

Num 22:8

Num 22:8“Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the LORD gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.

Num 22:9

Num 22:9God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

Num 22:10

Num 22:10Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

Num 22:11

Num 22:11‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’ ”

Num 22:12

Num 22:12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”

Num 22:13

Num 22:13The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

Num 22:14

Num 22:14So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

Num 22:15

Num 22:15Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.

Num 22:16

Num 22:16They came to Balaam and said: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me,

Num 22:17

Num 22:17because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”

Num 22:18

Num 22:18But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

Num 22:19

Num 22:19Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the LORD will tell me.”

Num 22:20

Num 22:20That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”

Balaam’s Donkey

Num 22:21

Num 22:21Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials.

Num 22:22

Num 22:22But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Num 22:23

Num 22:23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

Num 22:24

Num 22:24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides.

Num 22:25

Num 22:25When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

Num 22:26

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

Num 22:27

Num 22:27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.

Num 22:28

Num 22:28Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”

Num 22:29

Num 22:29Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”

Num 22:30

Num 22:30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said.

Num 22:31

Num 22:31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

Num 22:32

Num 22:32The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.[fn]

Num 22:33

Num 22:33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”

Num 22:34

Num 22:34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

Num 22:35

Num 22:35The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

Num 22:36

Num 22:36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.

Num 22:37

Num 22:37Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”

Num 22:38

Num 22:38“Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”

Num 22:39

Num 22:39Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.

Num 22:40

Num 22:40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him.

Num 22:41

Num 22:41The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.

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

NIV Footnotes

(22:32)

The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.

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Numbers Chapter 22 — Additional Translations:

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Numbers 22 :: New International Version (NIV)

Balak Summons Balaam

Balaam’s Donkey

NIV Footnotes

Numbers Chapter 22 — Additional Translations:

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