Study Desk

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come, let me take you to another place.^(ax) Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me^(ay) from there."

And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor,^(az) overlooking the wasteland.

Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."

Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.^(ba)

Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,^(a) he did not resort to divination^(b) as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.^(c)

When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him^(d)

and he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,^(e)

the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,^(f) who sees a vision from the Almighty,^[a](g) who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

"How beautiful are your tents,^(h) Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel!

"Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river,⁽ⁱ⁾ like aloes^(j) planted by the Lord , like cedars beside the waters.^(k)

Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. "Their king will be greater than Agag;^(l) their kingdom will be exalted.^(m)

"God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces;⁽ⁿ⁾ with their arrows they pierce them.^(o)

Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness^(p)—who dares to rouse them? "May those who bless you be blessed^(q) and those who curse you be cursed!"^(r)

Then Balak's anger burned^(s) against Balaam. He struck his hands together^(t) and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies,^(u) but you have blessed them^(v) these three times.^(w)

Now leave at once and go home!^(x) I said I would reward you handsomely,^(y) but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded."

Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,^(z)

‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord ^(aa)—and I must say only what the Lord says'?^(ab)

Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come."^(ac)

Then he spoke his message: "The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

the prophecy of one who hears the words^(ad) of God, who has knowledge from the Most High,^(ae) who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.^(af) A star will come out of Jacob;^(ag) a scepter will rise out of Israel.^(ah) He will crush the foreheads of Moab,^(ai) the skulls^[b](aj) of^[c] all the people of Sheth.^[d]

Edom^(ak) will be conquered; Seir,^(al) his enemy, will be conquered,^(am) but Israel^(an) will grow strong.

A ruler will come out of Jacob^(ao) and destroy the survivors of the city."

Then Balaam saw Amalek^(ap) and spoke his message: "Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction."^(aq)

Then he saw the Kenites^(ar) and spoke his message: "Your dwelling place is secure,^(as) your nest is set in a rock;

yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur^(at) takes you captive."

Then he spoke his message: "Alas! Who can live when God does this?^[e]

Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;^(au) they will subdue Ashur^(av) and Eber,^(aw) but they too will come to ruin.^(ax)"

Then Balaam^(ay) got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.