22 5 King Balak sendeth for Balaam to curse the Israelites. 12 The Lord forbiddeth him to go. 22 The Angel of the Lord meeteth him, and his ass speaketh. 38 Balaam protesteth that he will speak nothing, but that which the Lord putteth in his mouth.
1 After, the children of Israel departed and pitched in the plain of Moab on the [a]other side of Jordan from Jericho.
2 ¶ Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 And the Moabites were sore afraid of the people, because they were many, and Moab [b]fretted against the children of Israel.
4 Therefore Moab said unto the [c]Elders of Midian, Now shall this multitude lick up all that are round about us, as an ox licketh up the grass of the field: and Balak the son of Zippor was King of the Moabites at that time.
5 (A)He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor (which is by the [d]river of the land of the children of his folk) to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which cover the face of the earth, and lie over against me.
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, and curse me this people (for they are stronger than I) so it may be that I shall be able to smite them, and to drive them out of the land: for I know that he, whom thou blessest, is blessed, and he whom thou cursest, shall be cursed.
7 And the Elders of Moab, and the Elders of Midian departed, having [e]the reward of the soothsaying in their hand, and they came unto Balaam, and told him the words of Balak.
8 Who answered them, Tarry here this night, and I will give you an answer, as the Lord shall say unto me. So [f]the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9 Then God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 And Baalam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab hath sent unto me, saying,
11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, and covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse them for my sake: so it may be that I shall be able to overcome them in battle, and to drive them out.
12 And God [g]said unto Balaam, Go not thou with them, neither curse the people, for they are blessed.
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Return unto your land: for the Lord hath refused to give [h]me leave to go with you.
14 So the princes of Moab rose up, and went unto Balak, and said, Balaam hath refused to come with us.
15 Balak yet sent again more princes, and more honorable than they,
16 Who came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, [i]Be not thou stayed, I pray thee, from coming unto me.
17 For I will promote thee unto great honor, and will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18 And Balaam answered, and said unto the servants of Balak, (B)If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
19 But now, I pray you, tarry here this night, that I may wit, what the Lord will say unto me [j]more.
20 And God came unto Balaam by night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them: but only what thing I say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21 So Balaam rose up early, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 And the wrath of God was kindled, because he [k]went: and the Angel of the Lord stood in the way to be against him, as he rode upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And (C)when the ass saw the Angel of the Lord stand in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, the ass turned out of the way, and went into the field, but Balaam smote the ass to turn her into the way.
24 [l]Again the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, having a wall on the one side, and a wall on the other.
25 And when the ass saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and dashed Balaam’s foot against the wall: wherefore he smote her again.
26 Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn, either to the right hand, or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the Angel of the Lord, she [m]lay down under Balaam: therefore Balaam was very wroth, and smote the ass with a staff.
28 Then the Lord [n]opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me now three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, which thou hast ridden upon [o]since thy first time unto this day? have I used at any time, to do thus unto thee? Who said, Nay.
31 And the Lord [p]opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand: then he bowed himself, and fell flat on his face.
32 And the Angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou now smitten thine ass three times? behold, I came out to withstand thee, because thy [q]way is not straight before me.
33 But the ass saw me, and turned from me now three times: for else, if she had not turned from me, surely I had even now slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 Then Balaam said unto the Angel of the Lord, I have sinned: for I wist not that thou stoodest in the way [r]against me: now therefore if it displease thee, I will turn [s]home again.
35 But the Angel said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but [t]what I say unto thee, that shalt thou speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 And when Balak heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the [u]border of Arnon, even in the utmost coast.
37 Then Balak said unto Balaam, Did not I send for thee to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee unto honor?
38 And Balaam made answer unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee, and can I now say [v]anything at all? the word that God putteth in my mouth that shall I speak.
39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto the city of [w]Huzoth.
40 Then Balak offered bullocks, and sheep, and sent thereof to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41 And on the morrow Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high places of [x]Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:1 Being at Jericho, it was beyond Jordan: but where the Israelites were, it was on this side.
- Numbers 22:3 Or, was vexed.
- Numbers 22:4 Which were the heads and governors.
- Numbers 22:5 To wit, Euphrates, upon the which stood this city Pethor.
- Numbers 22:7 Thinking to bribe him with gifts to curse the Israelites.
- Numbers 22:8 Whom before he called Elders: meaning the governors, and after calleth them servants: that is, subjects to their king.
- Numbers 22:12 He warned him by a dream, that he should not consent to the king’s wicked request.
- Numbers 22:13 Else he showed himself willing, covetousness had so blinded his heart.
- Numbers 22:16 The wicked seek by all means to further their naughty enterprises, though they know that God is against them.
- Numbers 22:19 Because he tempted God to require him contrary to his commandment, his petition was granted, but it turned to his own condemnation.
- Numbers 22:22 Moved rather with covetousness than to obey God.
- Numbers 22:24 The second time.
- Numbers 22:27 Or, fell.
- Numbers 22:28 Gave her power to speak.
- Numbers 22:30 Since thou hast been my master.
- Numbers 22:31 For whose eyes the Lord doth not open, they can neither see his anger, nor his love.
- Numbers 22:32 Both thy heart is corrupt, and thine enterprise wicked.
- Numbers 22:34 Or, before me, or to meet me.
- Numbers 22:34 Hebrew, I will return to me.
- Numbers 22:35 Because his heart was evil, his charge was renewed, that he should not pretend ignorance.
- Numbers 22:36 Near the place where the Israelites camped.
- Numbers 22:38 Of myself I can speak nothing: only what God revealeth, that will I utter, seem it good or bad.
- Numbers 22:39 Or, of streets: or, a populous city.
- Numbers 22:41 Where the idol Baal was worshipped.