Balak Summons Balaam

1 And the sons of Israel moved on, and encamped in the plains of Moab, some distance from the Jordan crossing near Jericho. 2 And Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And the Moabite was greatly afraid of the people, because they were many; indeed, the Moabites were distressed because of the sons of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now this multitude will consume everything around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak son of Zippor was the king of Moab at that time. 5 And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor to Pethor in Aram which is on the Euphrates, the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: Look, a people has come out of Egypt; look, they cover the sunshine from the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, please, curse this people for me, for they are stronger than I am: perhaps I will be able to fight with him, and drive him from the land: for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. 7 And the elders of Moab and of Midian went, with the payment for divination in their hands, and came to Balaam, and told him the words of Balak. 8 And he said to them, Stay here for the night, and I will bring back word to you, according as the Lord speaks with me. And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And a word from before the Lord came to Balaam, and said, Who are these men who are with you? 10 And Balaam said before the Lord, Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me. 11 Look, a people have come out of Egypt, and hide the glance of the sun from the earth. Now come, curse him for me, so that I may be able to fight him, and drive him away. 12 And the Lord said to Balaam, You shall not go with them: you shall not curse the people, for he is blessed. 13 And Balaam arose in the morning, and said to the leaders of Balak, Go back to your country; for it is not pleasing before the Lord to permit me to go with you. 14 And the leaders of Moab arose and came to Balak, and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. 15 But Balak sent leaders more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him: This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please let nothing keep you from coming to me; 17 for I will greatly honor you, and will do all that you tell me. Come, then, curse this people for me. 18 Balaam responded, and said to the servants of Balak: If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I have no power to transgress the decree of the Memra of the Lord my God, to do anything, small or great. 19 But now I beg you stay here this night, so that I may know what else the Lord will speak to me. 20 And word came from before the Lord to Balaam by night, and said to him: If the men come to call you, arise and go with them; but you shall do only what I tell you.

Balaam and the Donkey

21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab. 22 But the displeasure of the Lord was provoked because he went; and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him: and he was riding upon his donkey, and his two young men were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside from the road, and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to make her return into the road. 24 And the angel of the Lord again stood in the way of the vineyards in a place where there was a fence here and a fence there. 25 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, and pressed against the wall, and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he struck her again. 26 And the angel of the Lord went on again, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right or to the left. 27 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, and fell down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger flared, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey; and she spoke to Balaam, What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times? 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me: if only there were a sword in my hand! I would kill you now. 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden ever since I became yours until today? Have I ever treated you like this before? And he said, No. 31 And the Lord unveiled Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed low with his face to the ground. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come out to oppose you, because it is seen before me that you are willing to go in a way contrary to me. 33 But the donkey saw me, and turned from before me these three times: unless she had turned from before me, I would have killed you by now and spared her. 34 And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I did not know that you were standing before me in the way. And now, if it displeases you, I will return. 35 But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, Go with the men; you shall say only what I tell you. And Balaam went with the leaders of Balak.

Balak Meets Balaam

36 And Balak heard that Balaam was coming, and went out to meet him, at a city of Moab which is upon the border of Arnon, on the side of the frontier. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, Did I not send an urgent invitation for you? Why did you not come to me? Have you really said that I cannot honor you? 38 And Balaam said to Balak, Look, I have come to you: but even now, have I really any power to speak anything? The word which the Lord puts into my mouth I will speak. 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to a city of his territory. 40 And Balak slaughtered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and to the leaders who were with him. 41 And when it was morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to the high places of his idol;⁠a and he saw from there the outskirts of the people.