Num 22-25, Deu 23:4-5, Psa 83:4-7, Amo 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 2:4, 6, Mic 6:5 | ESV | STEP | Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho .

1 Then ^athe people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And ^bBalak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And ^cMoab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to ^dthe elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 ^esent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor ^fat Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, ^{▼▼Or the people of his kindred} to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 ^hCome now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

7 So the elders of Moab and ⁱthe elders of Midian departed with ^jthe fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message. 8 And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 ^kAnd God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for ^lthey are blessed.” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 ^mfor I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. ⁿCome, curse this people for me.’” 18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, ^o“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, ^pI could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, ^qplease stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 ^rAnd God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; ^sbut only do what I tell you.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel

22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, ^tand the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way ^uas his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord ^vopened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

31 Then the Lord ^wopened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out ^xto oppose you because your way is perverse ^{▼▼Or reckless} before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, ^z“I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” 35 And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, ^aabut speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, ^abon the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to ^achonor you?” 38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? ^adThe word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.” 39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.

41 And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.

Numbers 23

Balaam’s First Oracle

1 And Balaam said to Balak, ^ae“Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” 2 Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam ^afoffered on each altar a bull and a ram. 3 And Balaam said to Balak, ^ag“Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come ^ahto meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height, 4 ^aiand God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” 5 And the Lord ^ajput a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” 6 And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. 7 And Balaam ^aktook up his discourse and said,

“From ^alAram Balak has brought me,
the king of Moab ^amfrom the eastern mountains:
‘Come, ^ancurse Jacob for me,
and come, denounce Israel!’
8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?
9 For from the top of the crags ^aoI see him,
from the hills I behold him;
behold, ^apa people dwelling alone,
and ^aqnot counting itself among the nations!
10 ^arWho can count the dust of Jacob
or number the fourth part ^{▼▼Or dust clouds} of Israel?
Let me die ^atthe death of the upright,
and let my end be like his!”
11 And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? ^auI took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.” 12 And he answered and said, ^av“Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”

Balaam’s Second Oracle

13 And Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.” 14 And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, ^awand built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Balaam said to Balak, ^ax“Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.” 16 And the Lord met Balaam and ^ayput a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.” 17 And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lord spoken?” 18 And Balaam took up his discourse and said,

“Rise, Balak, and hear;
give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
19 ^azGod is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
20 Behold, I received a command to bless:
^bahe has blessed, and ^bbI cannot revoke it.
21 ^bcHe has not beheld misfortune in Jacob,
nor has he seen trouble in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them,
and the shout of a king is among them.
22 ^bdGod brings them out of Egypt
and is for them like ^bethe horns of the wild ox.
23 For there is no enchantment against Jacob,
no ^bfdivination against Israel;
now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
^bg‘What has God wrought!’
24 Behold, a people! ^bhAs a lioness it rises up
and as a lion it lifts itself;
^biit does not lie down until it has devoured the prey
and drunk the blood of the slain.”
25 And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” 26 But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ^bj‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?” 27 And Balak said to Balaam, ^bk“Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of ^blPeor, which overlooks ^bmthe desert. ^{▼▼Or Jeshimon} 29 And Balaam said to Balak, ^bo“Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” 30 ^bpAnd Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 24

Balaam’s Third Oracle

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at ^bqother times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel ^brcamping tribe by tribe. And ^bsthe Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and he ^bttook up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, ^{▼▼Or closed, or perfect; also verse 15}
4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
^bvfalling down with his eyes uncovered:
5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
6 Like palm groves ^{▼▼Or valleys} that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
^bxlike aloes ^bythat the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be ^bzin many waters;
his king shall be higher than ^caAgag,
and ^cbhis kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the ^cchorns of the wild ox;
he shall ^cdeat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall ^cebreak their bones in pieces
and ^cfpierce them through with his arrows.
9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and ^cglike a lioness; who will rouse him up?
^chBlessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.”
10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he ^cistruck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, ^cj“I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. 11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ^ck‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the Lord has held you back from honor.” 12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 13 ^cl‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad ^cmof my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak’? 14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, ^cnI will let you know what this people will do to your people ^coin the latter days.”

Balaam’s Final Oracle

15 ^cpAnd he took up his discourse and said,

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of ^cqthe Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
^crfalling down with his eyes uncovered:
17 ^csI see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
^cta star shall come out of Jacob,
and ^cua scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall ^cvcrush the forehead ^{▼▼Hebrew corners [of the head]} of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 ^cxEdom shall be dispossessed;
^cySeir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
Israel is doing valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
and destroy the survivors of cities!”
20 Then he looked on Amalek and ^cztook up his discourse and said,

“Amalek was the first among the nations,
^dabut its end is utter destruction.”
21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said,

“Enduring is your dwelling place,
and your nest is set in the rock.
22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned
when Asshur takes you away captive.”
23 And he took up his discourse and said,

“Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 But ships shall come from ^dbKittim
and shall afflict Asshur and ^dcEber;
and he too ^ddshall come to utter destruction.”
25 Then Balaam rose and ^dewent back to his place. And Balak also went his way.

Numbers 25

Baal Worship at Peor

1 While Israel lived in ^dfShittim, ^dgthe people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 ^dhThese invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4 And the Lord said to Moses, ^di“Take all the chiefs of the people and ^djhang ^{▼▼Or impale} them in the sun before the Lord, ^dlthat the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” 5 And Moses said to ^dmthe judges of Israel, ^dn“Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

6 And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were ^doweeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 ^dpWhen Phinehas ^dqthe son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, ^drthose who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

The Zeal of Phinehas

10 And the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he ^dswas jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in ^dtmy jealousy. 12 Therefore say, ^du‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, 13 and it shall be to him and to ^dvhis descendants after him the covenant of ^dwa perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”

14 The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, chief of a father’s house belonging to the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of ^dxZur, who was the tribal head of a father’s house in Midian.

16 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17 ^dy“Harass the Midianites and strike them down, 18 for they have harassed you with their ^dzwiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of ^eaPeor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor.”

Deuteronomy 23:4-5

4 ^ebbecause they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they ^echired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of ^edMesopotamia, to curse you. 5 But the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the Lord your God turned ^eethe curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.

Psalms 83:4-7

4 They say, “Come, ^eflet us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5 For they conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of ^egEdom and ^ehthe Ishmaelites,
^eiMoab and ^ejthe Hagrites,
7 ^ekGebal and ^elAmmon and ^emAmalek,
^enPhilistia with the inhabitants of ^eoTyre;

Amos 1:3

3 Thus says the Lord:

^ep“For three transgressions of ^eqDamascus,
and for four, ^erI will not revoke the punishment, ^{▼▼Hebrew I will not turn it back; also verses 6, 9, 11, 13}
because they have threshed ^etGilead
with threshing sledges of iron.

Amos 1:6

6 Thus says the Lord:

^eu“For three transgressions of ^evGaza,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because ^ewthey carried into exile a whole people
to deliver them up to Edom.

Amos 1:9

9 Thus says the Lord:

^ex“For three transgressions of ^eyTyre,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,
and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

Amos 1:11

11 Thus says the Lord:

^ez“For three transgressions of ^faEdom,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
^fbbecause he pursued his brother with the sword
^fcand cast off all pity,
^fdand his anger tore perpetually,
^feand he kept his wrath forever.

Amos 1:13

13 Thus says the Lord:

^ff“For three transgressions of the ^fgAmmonites,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because ^fhthey have ripped open pregnant women in ^fiGilead,
that they might enlarge their border.

Amos 2:4

Judgment on Judah

4 Thus says the Lord:

^fj“For three transgressions of Judah,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because ^fkthey have rejected the law of the Lord,
and have not kept his statutes,
but ^fltheir lies have led them astray,
those after which their fathers walked.

Amos 2:6

Judgment on Israel

6 Thus says the Lord:

^fm“For three transgressions of Israel,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because ^fnthey sell the righteous for ^fosilver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals—

Micah 6:5

5 O my people, remember ^fpwhat Balak king of Moab devised,
and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from ^fqShittim to Gilgal,
that you may know ^frthe righteous acts of the Lord.”