Num 22 | ABEn | STEP | And departing, the sons of Israel camped upon the descent of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho.

Numbers 22

CHAPTER 22 Balak Sends for Balaam to Curse Israel

1 And departing, the sons of Israel camped upon the descent of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho. 2 And [⁴was seeing ¹Balak ²son ³of Zippor] all as many things as Israel did to the Amorites. 3 And Moab feared the people exceedingly, for they were many. And Moab loathed of the face of the sons of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the council of elders of Midian, Now [²shall lick up ¹this congregation] all the ones round about us, as [³licks up ¹the ²calf] the green grass from the plain. And Balak son of Zippor [²king ³of Moab ¹was] at that time. 5 And he sent ambassadors to Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which is upon the river of the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people have come forth from out of Egypt. And behold, it covers up the appearance of the earth, and this people lie in wait next to me. 6 And now come, curse for me this people! for [²stronger than me ¹it is]. If we should be able to strike at them, then I will cast them from out of the land. For I know that whom ever you should bless, they are blessed; and whom ever you should curse, they are cursed. 7 And [⁴went ¹the ²council of elders ³of Moab], and the council of elders of Midian, with the oracles in their hands. And they came to Balaam, and they spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 And he said to them, You rest up here the night, and I will answer you the things which ever the lord should speak to me! And [⁴stayed ¹the ²rulers ³of Moab] with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam, and he said to him, What do these men want with you? 10 And Balaam said to God, Balak son of Zippor king of Moab sent them to me, saying, 11 Behold, a people come forth from out of Egypt, and covered the appearance of the earth, and now come curse it for me! if it is so I shall be able to strike it, and I will cast it out. 12 And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them, nor shall you curse the people; for they are blessed. 13 And Balaam rising in the morning, said to the rulers of Balak, You run to your land, [²does not ³allow ⁴me ¹the lord] to go with you. 14 And rising, the rulers of Moab came to Balak. And they said, [²does not ³want ¹Balaam] to go with us. 15 And [²added ³again ¹Balak] to send [²rulers ¹many], and ones more important than these. 16 And they came to Balaam, and they say to him, Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, I deem you worthy, you should not be reluctant to come to me, 17 for highly valued I will esteem you, and as many things as you should say to me I will do for you. Now come, accurse for me this people! 18 And Balaam answered and said to the rulers of Balak, If [²shall give ³to me ¹Balak ⁶full ⁵house ⁴his] of silver and gold, I shall not be able to violate the word of the lord God, to do it small or great. 19 And now remain behind here, even you this night! and I will know what the lord shall add to speak to me. 20 And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If [²calling ³you ⁴are at hand ¹these men], rising up you follow them, but the saying which ever I speak to you, this you observe! 21 And Balaam rising in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the rulers of Moab.

The Angel Opposes Balaam

22 And [²was provoked to anger ³in rage ¹God] that he himself went. And [⁴rose up ¹the ²angel ³of God] in the way to stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he mounted upon his donkey, and [²two ³servants ¹his] with him. 23 And [³seeing ¹the ²donkey] the angel of God opposing it in the way, and the broadsword being unsheathed in his hand, that [³turned aside ¹the ²donkey] from the way, and went into the plain. And he struck the donkey to straighten it in the way. 24 And [⁴stood ¹the ²angel ³of God] in the furrows of the grapevines, a barrier here on this side and a barrier here on that side. 25 And [³seeing ¹the ²donkey] the angel of God, pressed herself against the wall, and it squeezed the foot of Balaam to the wall, and he added again to crack the whip on her. 26 And [⁴proceeded ¹the ²angel ³of God] going forth. And he stood in [²place ¹a narrow] for which there was no turning aside right or left. 27 And [³seeing ¹the ²donkey] the angel of God, sat down underneath Balaam. And Balaam became enraged, and beat the donkey with the rod. 28 And God opened the mouth of the donkey, and she says to Balaam, What did I do to you that you have hit me this third time? 29 And Balaam said to the donkey that, You have mocked me, and if I had a sword in my hand, already I would have stabbed you. 30 And [³says ¹the ²donkey] to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, upon which you mounted from your youth, until today's day? Have [²to neglect ³by overlooking ¹I acted] you thus? And he said, No! 31 [³uncovered ¹And ²God] the eyes of Balaam, and he sees the angel of the lord opposing him in the way, and the sword being unsheathed in his hand. And bowing he did obeisance on his face. 32 And [⁴said ⁵to him ¹the ²angel ³of God], Why do you strike your donkey this third time? Now behold, I came forth to distract you, for [²was not ³fair ¹your way] before me. 33 And seeing me, the donkey turned aside from me this third time; and unless she turned aside from me, now then you indeed I would have killed, [⁴her ¹and ²then ³I would have preserved]. 34 And Balaam said to the angel of the lord, I have sinned, for I did not have knowledge that you opposed me in the way to meet with me. And now, unless it not be sufficient to you, I shall return. 35 And [⁴said ¹the ²angel ³of God] to Balaam, You go with the men! Except the word which ever I should say to you, this you shall guard to speak. And Balaam went with the rulers of Balak. 36 And Balak hearing that Balaam had came, came forth to meet him in a city of Moab, which is upon the borders of Arnon, which is of the parts of the borders. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send to you to call you? Why have you not come to me? Really, shall I not be able to esteem you? 38 And Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I come to you now. Am I able to speak anything? The word which ever God should put into my mouth, this I will speak. 39 And Balaam went with Balak. And they came to Cities of Properties. 40 And Balak sacrificed sheep and calves, and sent to Balaam and to the rulers, to the ones with him. 41 And it became morning, and Balak taking Balaam transported him unto the stele of Baal, and showed to him from there a certain part of the people.