NUMBERS 22

Then the sons of Israel set out, and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.

2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread because of the people, for they were many; and Moab was sick with fear because of the sons of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now this horde will eat up all that is round about us, like an ox eating up the grass in the fields. So Balak the son of Zippor, who was the king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor which is near the river in the land of the sons of his people, to summon him, and he said, See, a people has come out of Egypt; look how they cover the face of the land and are dwelling on top of me. 6 Come now therefore, and curse this people for me, for they are more numerous than me; perhaps then 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 the elders of Midian departed with fees for divination in their hands; and they came to Balaam, and conveyed Balak's words to him. 8 And he said to them, Lodge here tonight, and I will bring word back to you, as Yehowah will speak to me; so the princes of Moab remained with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam, and said, Who are these men with you? 10 And Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, has sent to me, and he says, 11 Look how the people that have come out of Egypt cover the face of the land; come now, and curse them for me; perhaps then I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out. 12 And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. 13 So Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Return to your land, for Yehowah refuses to let me go with you. 14 Then the princes of Moab got up and went to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us.

15 Then once again Balak sent princes, more numerous and more honourable than the others. 16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Balak the son of Zippor says this, Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will certainly honour you greatly, and do whatever you tell me. Therefore please come and curse this people for me. 18 And Balaam answered and said to Balak's servants, Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold I could not go beyond the word of Yehowah my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please, stay here again tonight, so that I may know what else Yehowah will tell me. 20 And God came to Balaam that night, and said to him, If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but you must do only the thing which I tell you.

21 Then Balaam got up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God's anger flared up because he went; and the angel of Yehowah placed himself on the path as an opponent to him. Now he was riding on his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the ass saw the angel of Yehowah standing on the path, with his drawn sword in his hand; and the ass turned away from the path and went into the fields; so Balaam struck the ass to drive her back on to the path. 24 Then the angel of Yehowah stood in a dip between two vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the ass saw the angel of Yehowah she thrust herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of Yehowah went further on, and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn either right or left. 27 When the ass saw the angel of Yehowah she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger flared up, and he struck the ass with his stick. 28 Then Yehowah opened the ass's mouth, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you to make you strike me these three times? 29 And Balaam said to the ass, It is because you have played me up. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you. 30 And the ass said to Balaam, Am I not your ass, on which you have ridden ever since I was yours, until today? Have I ever treated you like this before? And he said, No.

31 Then Yehowah opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of Yehowah standing in his path with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down, and prostrated himself on his face. 32And the angel of Yehowah said to him, Why have you struck your ass these three times? See, I have come as an opponent, because your way is contrary to me; 33 but the ass saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you but kept her alive. 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of Yehowah, I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing against me in the path; now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back again. 35 But the angel of Yehowah said to Balaam, Go with the men; but you must speak only the words that I tell you. So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

36 Now when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at Ar of Moab, which is on the boundary formed by the Arnon, which is at the furthest part of the boundary. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not earnestly send to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Have I not the power to promote you to honour? 38 And Balaam said to Balak, See, I have come to you! Have I now any power at all to say anything? I must speak the words which God will put in my mouth. 39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent portions to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.

41 And when it was morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the hill-shrines of Baal, and he saw from there the full extent of the people.* * In the printed text the first paragraph of the next chapter is joined to this paragraph.