Num 22 | EngLXX | STEP | And the children of Israel departed, and encamped on the west of Moab by Jordan toward Jericho.

Numbers 22

1 And the children of Israel departed, and encamped on the west of Moab by Jordan toward Jericho. 2 And when Balac son of Sepphor saw all that Israel did to the Amorite, 3 then Moab feared the people exceedingly because they were many; and Moab was grieved beforethe face of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Madiam, Now shall this assembly lick up all that are roundabout us, as a calf would lick up the greenherbs of the field:—and Balac son of Sepphor was king of Moab at that time. 5 And he sent ambassadors to Balaam the son of Beor, to Phathura, which is on a river ofthe land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out of Egypt, and beholdit has covered the face of the earth, and it has encamped close to me. 6 And now come, curse me this people, for it is stronger than we; if we may be able to strikesome of them, and I will cast them out of the land: for I know that whoever you do bless, they are blessed,and whoever you do curse, they are cursed. 7 And the elders of Moab went, and the elders of Madiam, and their divininginstruments were in their hands; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balac. 8 And he said to them, Tarry here the night, and I will answer you the things which theLord shall say to me; and the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam, and said to him, Who are these men with you? 10 And Balaam said to God, Balac son of Sepphor, king of Moab, sent them to me, saying, 11 Behold, a people has come forth out of Egypt, and has covered the face of the land, andit has encamped near to me; and now come, curse it for me, if indeed I shall be able to strike it, andcast it out of the land. 12 And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them, neither shall you curse the people;for they are blessed. 13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balac, Depart quickly toyour lord; God does not permit me to go with you. 14 And the princes of Moab rose, and came to Balac, and said, Balaam will not come withus. 15 And Balac yet again sent more princes and more honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam, and they say to him, Thus says Balac the son of Sepphor: I beseechyou, delay not to come to me. 17 For I will greatly honor you, and will do for you whatever you shall say; come then,curse me this people. 18 And Balaam answered and said to the princes of Balac, If Balac would give me his housefull of silver and gold, I shall not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord God, to make it littleor great in my mind. 19 And now do you⌃ also wait here this night, and I shall know what the Lord will yet sayto me. 20 And God came to Balaam by night, and said to him, If these men are come to call you,rise and follow them; nevertheless the word which I shall speak to you, it shall you do. 21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes ofMoab. 22 And God was very angry because he went; and the angel of the Lord rose up to withstandhim. Now he had mounted his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23 And when the ass saw the angel of God standing opposite in the way, and his sword drawnin his hand, then the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; andBalaam struck the ass with his staff to direct her in the way. 24 And the angel of the Lord stood in the avenues of the vines, a fencebeing on this side and a fence on that. 25 And when the ass saw the angel of God, she thrust herself against the wall, and crushedBalaam's foot against the wall, and he struck her again. 26 And the angel of the Lord went farther, and came and stood in a narrow place where itwas impossible to turn to the right or the left. 27 And when the ass saw the angel of God, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam was angry,and struck the ass with his staff. 28 And God opened the mouth of the ass, and she says to Balaam, What have I done to you,that you have struck me this third time? 29 And Balaam said to the ass, Because you have mocked me; and if Ihad had a sword in my hand, I would now have killed you. 30 And the ass says to Balaam,Am not I your ass on which you have ridden since your youth till this day? did I ever do thusto you, utterly disregardingyou? and he said, No. 31 And God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he sees the angel of the Lord withstandinghim in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and he stooped down and worshipped on hisface. 32 And the angel of God said to him, Why have you struck your ass this third time? and,behold, I came out to withstand you, for your way was not seemly before me; and when the ass saw me, sheturned away from me this third time. 33 And if she had not turned out of the way, surely now, I should have slain you, and shouldhave saved her alive. 34 And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, for I did not know that youwere standing opposite in the way to meetme; and now if it shall not be pleasing to youfor me to go on, I will return. 35 And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men: nevertheless the word whichI shall speak to you, that you shall take heed to speak. And Balaam went with the princes of Balac. 36 And when Balac heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him, to a city of Moab,which is on the borders of Arnon, which is on theextreme part of the borders. 37 And Balac said to Balaam, Did I not send to you to call you? why have you not come tome? shall I not indeed be able to honor you? 38 And Balaam said to Balac, Behold, I am now come to you: shall I be able to say anything?the word which God shall put into my mouth, that I shall speak. 39 And Balaam went with Balac, and they came to the cities of streets. 40 And Balac offered sheep and calves, and sent to Balaam and to his princes who were withhim. 41 And it was morning; and Balac took Balaam, and brought him up to the pillar of Baal,and showed him thence a part of the people.