﻿Numbers.
Chapter 22.
The Israelites set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan, opposite Jericho. 
Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 
Moab was very afraid of the people because they were numerous, and Moab was distressed because of the Israelites. 
Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this assembly will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 
He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the River, in the land of his people, to summon him, saying, “Look, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the land and are settled opposite me. 
Now please come and curse this people for me, for they are stronger than I am. Perhaps I can prevail so that we may strike them, and I may drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.” 
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian set out with payment for divination in their hands. They came to Balaam and spoke Balak’s words to him. 
He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring you an answer according to what the LORD tells me.” So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 
God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 
Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent this message to me: 
‘Look, the people who came out of Egypt cover the face of the land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I can fight against them and drive them out.’” 
God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 
Balaam rose 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.” 
The leaders of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam has refused to come with us.” 
Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than these. 
They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not hold back from coming to me, 
for I will surely honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you tell me. Please come and curse this people for me.’” 
Balaam answered Balak’s servants, “Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do anything small or great. 
Now please stay here tonight, you also, so that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.” 
God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to summon you, rise and go with them. But you shall do only what I tell you.” 
Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab. 
God’s anger burned because he was going, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road as an adversary to him. He was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 
The donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. She turned aside from the road and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 
The angel of the LORD stood in a path between the vineyards, with a wall on one side and a wall on the other. 
The donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed against the wall, pressing Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 
The angel of the LORD went farther and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right or to the left. 
The donkey saw the angel of the LORD and lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with a stick. 
Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 
Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!” 
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all along to this day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing this to you?” He said, “No.” 
Then the LORD uncovered Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. He bowed down and prostrated himself on his face. 
The angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is reckless before me. 
The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. Perhaps she turned away from me because by now I would certainly have killed you, but let her live.” 
Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to meet me. Now, if this is evil in your eyes, I will turn back.” 
The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s leaders. 
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab on the border of the Arnon, at the edge of the territory. 
Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not expressly send to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor you?” 
Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you. But can I say anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I will speak.” 
Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent portions to Balaam and the leaders who were with him. 
In the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he saw the outer part of the people. 
