Study Desk

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left with the fees for ^(C1)divination in their hands; and they came to Balaam and ^(F1)repeated Balak's words to him.

And he said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you just as the LORD may speak to me." And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Then ^(C1)God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"

Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent word to me:

'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"

But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; ^(C1)you shall not curse the people, for they ^(C2)are blessed."

So Balaam got up in the morning and said to Balak's representatives, "Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."

And the representatives from Moab got up and went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."