NASB — Numbers 22 — KJV

Balak Sends for Balaam

1 aThen the sons° of Israel° journeyed°, and camped° in the plains° of Moab° beyond°° the Jordan° [opposite] Jericho°.

[1] aNu 33:48, 49

2 ¶ Now aBalak° the son° of Zippor° saw° all° that Israel° had done° to the Amorites°. 3 aSo Moab° was in great° fear° because°° of the people°, for they were numerous°; and Moab° was in dread° of the sons° of Israel°. 4 Moab° said° to the elders° of aMidian°, “Now° this Ihorde° will lick° up all° that is around° us, as the ox° licks° up the grass° of the field°.” And Balak° the son° of Zippor° was king° of Moab° at that time°. 5 So he sent° messengers° to aBalaam° the son° of Beor°, at bPethor°, which° is near° the IRiver°, [in] the land° of the sons° of his people°, to call° him, saying°, “Behold°, a people° came° out of Egypt°; behold°, they cover° the surface° of the land°, and they are living° opposite°° me. 6 aNow°, therefore, please° come°, bcurse° this° people° for me since° they are too° Imighty° for me; perhaps° I may be able° to IIdefeat° them and drive° them out of the land°. For I know° that he whom° you bless° is blessed°, and he whom° you curse° is cursed°.”

[2] aJg 11:25
[3] aEx 15:15
[4] ILit assembly aNu 25:15-18; 31:1-3
[5] II.e. Euphrates aJsh 24:9; 2P 2:15f; Jde 11 bDt 23:4
[6] IOr numerous IILit smite aNu 22:17; 23:7, 8 bNu 22:12; 24:9

7 ¶ So the elders° of Moab° and the elders° of Midian° departed° with the [fees for] adivination° in their hand°; and they came° to Balaam° and Irepeated° Balak’s° words° to him. 8 He said° to them, “Spend° the night° here°, and I will bring° word° back° to you as the LORD° may speak° to me.” And the leaders° of Moab° stayed° with Balaam°. 9 Then aGod° 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 ‘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 may be able° to fight° against them and drive° them out.’” 12 God° said° to Balaam°, “Do not go° with them; ayou shall not curse° the people°, for they bare blessed°.” 13 So Balaam° arose° in the morning° and said° to Balak’s° leaders°, “Go° back° to your land°, 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.”

[7] ILit spoke aNu 23:23; 24:1; Jsh 13:22
[9] aGn 20:3
[12] aNu 23:8; 24:9 bGn 12:2; 22:17

15 ¶ Then Balak° again°° sent° leaders°, more° numerous° and more° distinguished° than° Ithe former°. 16 They came° to Balaam° and said° to him, “Thus° says° Balak° the son° of Zippor°, ‘Let nothing°, I beg° you, hinder° you from coming° to me; 17 for I will indeed° honor° you richly°, and I will do° whatever°° you say° to me. aPlease° come° then, curse° this° people° for me.’” 18 Balaam° replied° to the servants° of Balak°, “aThough° Balak° were to give° me his house° full° of silver° and gold°, I could° not do° anything, either small° or° great°, contrary° to the Icommand° of the LORD° my God°. 19 Now° please°, you also° stay° here° tonight°, and I will find° out what° else° the LORD° will speak° to me.” 20 God° came° to Balaam° at night° and said° to him, “If° the men° have come° to call° you, rise° up [and] go° with them; but aonly° the word° which° I speak° to you shall you do°.”

[15] ILit these
[17] aNu 22:6
[18] ILit mouth aNu 22:38; 24:13; 1K 22:14; 2Ch 18:13
[20] aNu 22:35; 23:5, 12, 16, 26; 24:13

21aSo Balaam° arose° in the morning°, and saddled° his donkey° and went° with the leaders° of Moab°.

[21] a2P 2:15

The Angel and Balaam

22 But God° was angry°° because° he was going°, aand the angel° of the LORD° took° his stand° in the way° as an adversary° against him. Now he was riding° on his donkey° and his two° servants° were with him. 23 When the donkey° saw° the angel° of the LORD° standing° in the way° with his drawn° sword° in his hand°, the donkey° turned° off from the way° and went° into the field°; but Balaam° struck° the donkey° to turn° her back° into the way°. 24 Then the angel° of the LORD° stood° in a narrow° path° of the vineyards°, [with] a wall° on this° side° and a wall° on that side°. 25 When the donkey° saw° the angel° of the LORD°, she pressed° herself to the wall° and pressed° Balaam’s° foot° against° the wall°, so he struck° her again°. 26 The angel° of the LORD° went° further°, and stood° in a narrow° place° where° there° was no° way° to turn° to the right° hand° or the left°. 27 When the donkey° saw° the angel° of the LORD°, she lay° down° under° Balaam°; so aBalaam° was angry°° and struck° the donkey° with his stick°. 28 And athe LORD° opened° 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 Then Balaam° said° to the donkey°, “Because° you have made° a mockery° of me! If° there° had° been° a sword° in my hand°, aI would have killed° you by now°.” 30 The donkey° said° to Balaam°, “Am I not your donkey° on which° you have ridden° all°° your life° to this° day°? Have I ever° been accustomed° to do° so° to you?” And he said°, “No°.”

[22] aEx 23:20
[27] aJm 1:19
[28] a2P 2:16
[29] aPv 12:10; Mt 15:19

31 ¶ Then the LORD° opened° the eyes° of Balaam°, and he saw° athe angel° of the LORD° standing° in the way° with his drawn° sword° in his hand°; and he bowed° Iall the way° to the ground°. 32 The angel° of the LORD° said° to him, “Why°° have you struck° your donkey° these° three° times°? Behold°, I have come° out as an adversary°, because° your way° was Iacontrary° to me. 33 But the donkey° saw° me and turned° aside° from me these° three° times°. If° she had not turned° aside° from me, I would surely° have killed° you just now°, and let her live°.” 34 Balaam° said° to the angel° of the LORD°, “aI have sinned°, for I did not know° that you were standing° in the way° against° me. Now° then, if° it is displeasing° to you, I will turn° back°.” 35 But the angel° of the LORD° said° to Balaam°, “Go° with the men°, but ayou shall speak° only° the word° which° I Itell° you.” So Balaam° went° along with the leaders° of Balak°.

[31] ILit and prostrated himself to his face aJsh 5:13-15
[32] ILit reckless a2P 2:15
[34] aNu 14:40
[35] IOr speak to aNu 22:20

36 ¶ When Balak° heard° that Balaam° was coming°, he went° out to meet° him at the city° of Moab°, which° is on the Arnon° border°, Iat the extreme° end° of the border°. 37 Then Balak° said° to Balaam°, “Did I not urgently° send° to you to call° you? Why° did you not come° to me? Am I really° unable°° to honor° you?” 38 So Balaam° said° to Balak°, “Behold°, I have come° now° to you! aAm I able° to speak° 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 the leaders° who° were with him.

[36] ILit which is at
[38] aNu 22:18

41 ¶ Then it came° about in the morning° that Balak° took° Balaam° and brought° him up to Iathe high° places° of Baal°, and he saw° from there° IIa bportion° of the people°.

[41] IOr Bamoth-baal IILit the end of the camp aNu 21:28 bNu 23:13


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Balak's first message for Balaam is refused.

1 ¶ And the childrenº of Israelº set forward,ºª and pitchedºª in the plainsº of Moabº on this sideº² Jordanº [by] Jericho.º

[1] Nu 21:20; 32:19; 33:48; 34:15; 36:13; Dt 1:5; 3:8; 34:1, 8; Jsh 3:16.

2 ¶ And Balakº the sonº of Zipporº sawºª² all² that² Israelº had doneºª to the Amorites.º 3 And Moabº was sore¹ afraidºª² ofº² the people,º because² they² [were] many:º and Moabº was distressedºª because²² of¹ the childrenº of Israel.º 4 And Moabº saidºª unto² the eldersº of Midian,º Now² shall this companyº lick upºª² all² [that are] round aboutº us, as the oxº licketh upºª² the grassº of the field.º And Balakº the sonº of Zipporº [was] kingº of the Moabitesº at that² time.º 5 He sentºª messengersº therefore unto² Balaamº the sonº of Beorº to Pethor,º which² [is] by² the riverº of the landº of the childrenº of his people,º to callºª him, saying,ºª Behold,² there is a peopleº come outºª from Egypt:º² behold,² they coverºª² the faceº of the earth,º and they² abideºª over againstº² me: 6 Come¹ª² now² therefore, I pray thee,² curseºª me² this² people;º for² they² [are] too mighty¹ for²² me: peradventure² I shall prevail,ºª [that] we may smiteºª them, and [that] I may drive them outºª of² the land:º for² I wotºª² that he whom² thou blessestºª [is] blessed,ºª and he whom² thou cursestºª is cursed.ºª 7 And the eldersº of Moabº and the eldersº of Midianº departed¹ª² with the rewards of divinationº in their hand;º and they cameºª unto² Balaam,º and spakeºª unto² him the wordsº of Balak.º 8 And he saidºª unto² them, Lodgeºª here² this night,º and I will bringºª you wordº again,¹ª as² the LORDº shall speakºª unto² me: and the princesº of Moabº abodeºª with² Balaam.º 9 And Godº cameºª unto² Balaam,º and said,ºª What² men¹² [are] these² with² thee? 10 And Balaamº saidºª unto² God,º Balakº the sonº of Zippor,º kingº of Moab,º hath sentºª unto² me, [saying], 11 Behold,² [there is] a peopleº come outºª of Egypt,º² which coverethºª² the faceº of the earth:º come¹ª² now,² curseºª me them; peradventure² I shall be ableºª to overcomeºª them, and drive them out.ºª 12 And Godº saidºª unto² Balaam,º Thou shalt not² go¹ª² with² them; thou shalt not² curseºª² the people:º for² they² [are] blessed.ºª 13 And Balaamº rose upºª in the morning,º and saidºª unto² the princesº of Balak,º Get¹ª² you into² your land:º for² the LORDº refusethºª to give me leaveºª to goºª with² you. 14 And the princesº of Moabº rose up,ºª and they wentºª unto² Balak,º and said,ºª Balaamº refusethºª to comeºª with² us.

[2] Nu 21:3, 20; Jg 11:25.
[3] Ex 15:15; Dt 2:25; Jsh 2:10, 24; 9:24; Ps 53:5; Is 23:5.
[4] Nu 22:2, 7; 24:17; 25:15; 31:8; Jsh 13:21; Jg 11:25; Jr 48:38.
[5] Gn 13:16; Ex 1:7; Nu 23:7; Dt 23:4; Jsh 13:22; 24:9; Ne 13:1; Ps 105:24; Mi 6:5; 2P 2:15; Jde 1:11; Rv 2:14.
[6] Gn 12:3; 27:29; Nu 23:7; 24:9; Dt 23:4; Jsh 24:9; 1S 17:43; 1K 22:6, 8, 13; Ne 13:2; Ps 109:17, 28; Pv 26:2; Is 47:12; Ezk 13:6; Ac 8:9; 16:16.
[7] 1S 9:7; Is 56:11; Ezk 13:19; Mi 3:11; Ro 16:18; 1Ti 6:9; Tit 1:11; 2P 2:15; Jde 1:11.
[8] Nu 12:6; 22:19; 23:12; Jr 12:2; Ezk 33:31.
[9] Gn 3:9; 4:9; 16:8; 20:3; 31:24; 41:25; Ex 4:2; Nu 22:20; 2K 20:14; Dn 2:45; 4:31; Mt 7:22; 24:24; Jn 11:51.
[10] Nu 22:4.
[11] Nu 22:11.
[12] Gn 12:2; 22:16; Nu 22:19, 20; 23:3, 13, 19, 20, 23; Dt 23:5; 33:29; Jb 33:15; Ps 144:15; 146:5; Mi 6:5; Mt 27:19; Ro 4:6; 11:29; Ep 1:3.
[13] Nu 22:14; Dt 23:5.
[14] Nu 22:13, 37.

His second message obtaineth him.

15 ¶ And Balakº sentºª yet² againºª princes,º more,º and more honourableºª than they.²² 16 And they cameºª to² Balaam,º and saidºª to him, Thus² saithºª Balakº the sonº of Zippor,º Let nothing,² I pray thee,² hinderºª thee from comingºª² unto² me: 17 For² I will promote¹ª thee unto very¹ great¹ª honour,ºª² and I will doºª whatsoever²² thou sayestºª unto² me: come¹ª² therefore, I pray thee,² curseºª me² this² people.º 18 And Balaamº answeredºª and saidºª unto² the servantsº of Balak,º If² Balakº would giveºª me his houseº fullº of silverº and gold,º I cannotºª² go beyondºª² the wordº of the LORDº my God,º to doºª lessº or² more.º 19 Now² therefore, I pray you,² tarryºª ye² also² here² this night,º that I may knowºª what² the LORDº will sayºª unto² me more.ºª 20 And Godº cameºª unto² Balaamº at night,º and saidºª unto him, If² the men¹² comeºª to callºª thee, rise up,ºª [and] go¹ª² with² them; but yetº² the wordº which² I shall sayºª unto² thee, that shalt thou do.ºª 21 And Balaamº rose upºª in the morning,º and saddledºª² his ass,º and went¹ª² with² the princesº of Moab.º

[15] Nu 22:7; Ac 10:7.
[16] Nu 22:16.
[17] Nu 22:6; 23:2, 29; 24:11; Dt 16:9; Es 5:11; 7:9; Mt 4:8; 14:7; 16:26.
[18] Nu 23:26; 24:13; 1K 22:14; 2Ch 18:13; Dn 5:17; Ac 8:20; Tit 1:16.
[19] Nu 22:7; 1Ti 6:9; 2P 2:3, 15; Jde 1:11.
[20] Nu 22:9, 35; 23:12, 26; 24:13; 1S 8:5; 12:12; Ps 33:10; 78:30; 81:12; Is 37:29; Ezk 14:2; Ho 13:11; 2Th 2:9.
[21] Pv 1:15.

An angel would have slain him, if his ass had not saved him.

22 ¶ And God'sº angerº was kindledºª because² he² went:ºª and the angelº of the LORDº stoodºª in the wayº for an adversaryº against him. Now he² was ridingºª upon² his ass,º and his twoº servantsº [were] with² him. 23 And the assº sawºª² the angelº of the LORDº standingºª in the way,º and his swordº drawnºª in his hand:º and the assº turned asideºª out of² the way,º and went¹ª² into the field:º and Balaamº smoteºª² the ass,º to turnºª her into the way.º 24 But the angelº of the LORDº stoodºª in a pathº of the vineyards,º a wallº [being] on this side,²² and a wallº on that side.²² 25 And when the assº sawºª² the angelº of the LORD,º she thrust¹ª herself² unto² the wall,º and crushedºª² Balaam'sº footº against² the wall:º and he smoteºª her again.ºª 26 And the angelº of the LORDº wentºª further,ºª and stoodºª in a narrowº place,º where² [was] no² wayº to turnºª either to the right handº or to the left.º 27 And when the assº sawºª² the angelº of the LORD,º she fell downºª under² Balaam:º and Balaam'sº angerº was kindled,ºª and he smoteºª² the assº with a staff.º 28 And the LORDº openedºª² the mouthº of the ass,º and she saidºª unto Balaam,º What² have I doneºª unto thee, that² thou hast smittenºª me these² threeº times?º 29 And Balaamº saidºª unto the ass,º Because² thou hast mockedºª me: I wouldº there wereº a swordº in mine hand,º for² now² would I killºª thee. 30 And the assº saidºª unto² Balaam,º [Am] not² I² thine ass,º upon² which² thou hast riddenºª ever since²² [I was] thine unto² this² day?º was I ever¹ª wontºª to do² so¹ª² unto thee? And he said,ºª Nay.² 31 Then the LORDº openedºª² the eyesº of Balaam,º and he sawºª² the angelº of the LORDº standingºª in the way,º and his swordº drawnºª in his hand:º and he bowed down¹ª his head,² and fell flatºª on his face.º 32 And the angelº of the LORDº saidºª unto² him, Wherefore²² hast thou smittenºª² thine assº these² threeº times?º behold,² I² went outºª to withstandº thee, because² [thy] wayº is perverseºª before² me: 33 And the assº sawºª me, and turnedºª from² me¹ these² threeº times:º unlessº she had turnedºª from²² me,¹ surely² now² also² I had slainºª thee, and saved her alive.ºª² 34 And Balaamº saidºª unto² the angelº of the LORD,º I have sinned;ºª for² I knewºª not² that² thou² stoodestºª in the wayº againstºª me: now² therefore, if² it displease²² thee,¹ª¹ I will get me back again.ºª 35 And the angelº of the LORDº saidºª unto² Balaam,º Go¹ª² with² the men:¹² but onlyº² the wordº that² I shall speakºª unto² thee, that thou shalt speak.ºª So Balaamº went¹ª² with² the princesº of Balak.º

[22] Gn 48:15; Ex 3:2; 4:24; Nu 22:32, 35; 2K 10:20; Lm 2:4; Ho 1:4; 12:4.
[23] 2K 6:17; 1Ch 21:16; Jr 8:7; Dn 10:7; Ac 22:9; 1Co 1:27; 2P 2:16; Jde 1:11.
[25] Jb 5:13; Is 47:12.
[26] Is 26:11; Ho 2:6.
[27] Pv 14:16; 27:3.
[28] Ex 4:11; Lk 1:37; Ro 8:22; 1Co 1:19; 2P 2:16.
[29] Pv 12:10, 16; Ec 9:3.
[30] 1Co 1:27; 2P 2:16.
[31] Gn 21:19; Ex 34:8; Nu 24:4, 16; 2K 6:17; 1Ch 21:16; Ps 9:20; Lk 24:16, 31; Jn 18:6; Ac 26:18.
[32] Ex 3:2; Nu 22:20, 22, 28, 35; Dt 23:4; 25:4; Ps 36:6; 145:9; 147:9; Pv 14:2; 28:6, 18; Jna 4:11; Mi 6:5; Ac 13:10; 2P 2:14.
[33] Nu 14:37; 16:33; 1K 13:24.
[34] Ex 9:27; 10:16; Nu 11:1; 22:12; 1S 15:24, 30; 24:17; 26:21; 2S 12:13; 1Ch 21:7; Jb 34:31; Ps 78:34; Pv 24:18; Mt 27:4.
[35] Nu 22:20; Ps 81:12; Is 37:26; 2Th 2:9.

Balak entertaineth him.

36 ¶ And when Balakº heardºª that² Balaamº was come,ºª he went outºª to meetºª him unto² a cityº of Moab,º which² [is] in² the borderº of Arnon,º which² [is] in the utmostº coast.º 37 And Balakº saidºª unto² Balaam,º Did I not² earnestly¹ª sendºª unto² thee to callºª thee? wherefore² camestºª thou not² unto² me? am I not ableºª² indeedº to promote thee to honour?ºª 38 And Balaamº saidºª unto² Balak,º Lo,² I am comeºª unto² thee: have I now² any power¹ª at allºª to sayºª any thing?º the wordº that² Godº puttethºª in my mouth,º that shall I speak.ºª 39 And Balaamº went¹ª² with² Balak,º and they cameºª unto Kirjathhuzoth.º¹ 40 And Balakº offeredºª oxenº and sheep,º and sentºª to Balaam,º and to the princesº that² [were] with² him. 41 And it came to pass² on the morrow,º that Balakº tookºª² Balaam,º and brought him upºª into the high placesº of Baal,¹² that thence²² he might seeºª the utmostº [part] of the people.º

[36] Gn 14:17; 18:2; 46:29; Ex 18:7; Nu 21:13; Dt 2:24; 3:8; Jg 11:18; 1S 13:10; Is 16:2; Jr 48:20; Ac 28:15.
[37] Nu 22:16; 24:11; Ps 75:6; Mt 4:8; Lk 4:6; Jn 5:44.
[38] Nu 22:18; 23:16, 26; 24:13; 1K 22:14; 2Ch 18:13; Ps 33:10; 76:10; Pv 19:21; Is 44:25; 46:10; 47:12.
[39] Nu 22:39.
[40] Gn 31:54; Nu 23:2, 14, 30; Pv 1:16.
[41] Nu 21:19; 23:13; 25:2; Dt 12:2; 2Ch 11:15; Jr 48:35.


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