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Balak Sends for Balaam

^1 (C1)The Israelites journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan River across from Jericho.

² And ^(C1)Balak the king of Moab the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.^3 (C1)So Moab was terrified because of the people, for they were numerous. Moab was overcome with fear because of the sons of Israel.⁴ Moab said to the elders of ^(C1)Midian, "Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, just as the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was the king of Moab at that time.⁵ So he sent messengers to ^(F1)(C1)Balaam a famous prophet-diviner the son of Beor at ^(C2)Pethor, which is by the Euphrates River, in the land of the descendants of his people, to call for him, saying, "There is a people who have come out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.⁶ "^(C1)Now please come, ^(C2)curse these people for me, for they are too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know your reputation that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

⁷ So the elders of Moab and of Midian departed with fees for ^(C1)divination (foretelling) in hand; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.⁸ Balaam said to them, "Spend the night here and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me." So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam that night.^9 (C1)God came to Balaam, and said, "Who are these men with you?"¹⁰ Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me:¹¹ 'Hear this, the people who came out of Egypt cover the surface of the land; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"¹² God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; ^(C1)you shall not curse the people of Israel, for they ^(C2)are blessed."¹³ Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the leaders of Balak, "Go back to your own land of Moab, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."¹⁴ The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

¹⁵ Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and men who were more distinguished than the first ones.¹⁶ They came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'I beg you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.¹⁷ 'For I will give you a very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so please ^(C1)come, curse these people of Israel for me.'"¹⁸ Balaam answered the servants of Balak, "^(C1)Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.¹⁹ "Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will say to me."²⁰ God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them, but you shall still do ^(C1)only what I tell you."

^21 (C1)So Balaam got up in the morning and ^(F1)saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.

The Angel and Balaam

³¹ Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw ^(C1)the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and lay himself face down.³² The Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your behavior was ^(C1)obstinate and contrary to Me.³³ "The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have certainly killed you now, and let her live."³⁴ Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, "^(C1)I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the way against me. But now, if my going displeases You, I will turn back."³⁵ The Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but ^(C1)you shall speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.

³⁶ When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon River, at the farthest end of the border.³⁷ Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not urgently send word to you to call you? Why did you not come to me immediately? Am I really unable to honor (pay) you?"³⁸ So Balaam said to Balak, "Indeed I have come to you now, but ^(C1)am I able to say anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."³⁹ And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.⁴⁰ Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and to the leaders who were with him.

⁴¹ Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to ^(C1)the high places of Baal; from there he saw a ^(C2)portion of the Israelites.