Numbers 22
1WHEN the Israelites had removed, and pitched their tents on the west of Moab, along the Jordan, over against Jericho;
2and Balak, son of Sepphor, had seen all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3though Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were numerous, yet Moab was incensed at the sight of the Israelites,
4and said to the Senate of Madiam, Now will this congregation lick up all around us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. Now Balak, son of Sepphor, was at that time king of Moab,
5he therefore had sent messengers to Balaam, son of Beor, at Pathoura, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to invite him to come to him, saying, Behold there is a people come out of Egypt; and lo! they have covered the face of this land, and are settled down near me.
6Now therefore come, curse for me this people; for they are stronger than I. Perhaps I may be able to smite some of them, and drive them out of this land: for I know that they whom thou blessest are blessed, and they whom thou cursest are cursed.
7So the ambassadors of Moab, and the ambassadors of Madiam, went with the rewards of divination in their hands, and when they came to Balaam, and rehearsed to him the words of Balak,
8he said to them, Tarry here this night, and I will give you an answer according to what the Lord shall say to me. So the chiefs of Moab tarried with Balaam.
9And God came to Balaam, and said to him, What would these men with thee?
10And Balaam said to God, Balak son of Sepphor, king of Moab, hath sent them to me, saying,
11Behold there is a people come out of Egypt, who have covered the face of this land, and they are settled down near me; now therefore come and curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to smite them, and drive them out of this land.
12Thereupon God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them, nor curse that people, for they are blessed.
13So when Balaam arose in the morning, he said to the chiefs of Balak, Return speedily to your Lord, for God doth not permit me to go with you.
14And the chiefs of Moab arose, and went to Balak, and said to him, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15Then Balak sent again other princes, more in number, and of greater dignity than them,
16and they went to Balaam and said to him, Thus saith Balak, the son of Sepphor, I entreat thee delay not to come to me,
17for I will promote thee to great honour, and do for thee whatever thou sayest; therefore come, curse this people for me.
18In reply to which Balaam said to the princes of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of the Lord God, to do anything, small or great, of my own mere will.
19Now therefore tarry you also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will further say to me.
20And God came to Balaam by night, and said to him, If these men come to call thee, arise and go with them: but what I say to thee, that thou shalt do.
21Whereupon Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22And God was angry, because he went of himself to him; and the angel of God arose to stop him on the way. Now he was mounted on his ass, and had two servants with him.
23And when the ass saw the angel of God standing opposite, in the way, with a drawn sword in his hand, the ass turned aside out of the way into the field; at which he struck the ass with his staff, to turn her into the road.
24Then the angel of God took a station between the rows of the vines, there being a hedge on this side, and a hedge on that.
25And when the ass saw the angel of God, she threw herself against the wall, and bruised Balaam’s foot against the wall. Whereupon he struck her again.
26Then the angel of God again retired, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no turning, to the right, or to the left.
27And when the ass saw the angel of God, she lay down under Balaam; at which Balaam was inflamed with wrath, and gave the ass a severe blow with the staff.
28Thereupon God opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to thee that thou hast corrected me this third time?
29And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, and had I a sword in my hand I should now have run it through thee.
30And the ass said to Balaam, Am I not the ass on which thou hast ridden from thy youth even to this day? Did I ever through stubbornness, do such a thing as this to thee. And he said, No.
31Then God opened the eyes of Balaam; and when he saw the angel of the Lord standing opposite, in the way, with a drawn sword in his hand, he bowed down, and fell flat on his face.
32And the angel of God said to him, Why didst thou strike thy ass three times? Behold I came out to stop thee, because thy journey is not seemly in my sight,
33and the ass, seeing me, turned aside from me these three times. And had she not turned aside from me I should now have killed thee; but I would have preserved her alive.
34Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned inadvertently; for I did not know that thou stoodest in the way against me. Now therefore, if it is not agreeable to thee, I will turn back.
35And the angel of God said to Balaam, Go with these men; but whatever word I speak to thee be careful to deliver that.
36So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
37And when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him, to a city of Moab, which is on Arnon, which is a part of the boundary. And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send for thee? Why then didst thou not come to me? Am not I able to promote thee to honour?
38And Balaam said to Balak, Behold now I am come to thee, shall I be able to say anything? Whatever word God shall put in my mouth, that I will speak.
39So Balaam went with Balak, and when they came to the cities of farms,
40Balak sacrificed sheep, and young bulls, and sent them to Balaam, and the princes with him.
41And early next morning Balak took Balaam, and led him up to the top of the pillar of Baal, and from it shewed him some part of the people.