Chapter 22
1 The children of Israel travelled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho .
2 Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 Moab was very afraid of the people , because they were many . Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel .
4 Moab said to the elders of Midian , " Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us , as the ox licks up the grass of the field ." Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time .
5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor , to Pethor , which is by the River , to the land of the children of his people , to call him , saying, " Behold , there is a people who came out of Egypt . Behold , they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me .
6 Please come now therefore , and curse this people for me ; for they are too mighty for me . Perhaps I shall prevail , that we may strike them , and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed , and he whom you curse is cursed ."
7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand . They came to Balaam , and spoke to him the words of Balak .
8 He said to them , " Lodge here this night , and I will bring you word again , as the LORD shall speak to me ." The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam .
9 God 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 said to me ,
11 ‘ Behold , the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now , come curse them for me . Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them , and shall drive them out .’"
12 God said to Balaam , " You shall not go with them . You shall not curse the people , for they are blessed ."
13 Balaam rose up in the morning , and said to the princes of Balak , " Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you ."
14 The princes of Moab rose up , and they went to Balak , and said, " Balaam refuses to come with us ."
15 Balak again sent princes , more , and more honourable than they.
16 They came to Balaam , and said to him , " Balak the son of Zippor says , ‘ Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me ,
17 for I will promote you to very great honour , and whatever you say to me I will do . Please come therefore , and curse this people for me .’"
18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak , "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold , I can ’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God , to do less or more .
19 Now therefore please stay here tonight as well , that I may know 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 , go with them ; but only the word which I speak to you , that you shall do ."
21 Balaam rose up in the morning , and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab .
22 God ’s anger burnt because he went ; and the LORD ’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him . Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him .
23 The donkey saw the LORD ’s angel standing in the way , with his sword drawn in his hand ; and the donkey turned out of the path , and went into the field . Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path .
24 Then the LORD ’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards , a wall being on this side , and a wall on that side .
25 The donkey saw the LORD ’s angel , and she thrust herself to the wall , and crushed Balaam ’s foot against the wall . He struck her again .
26 The LORD ’s angel went further , and stood in a narrow place , where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left .
27 The donkey saw the LORD ’s angel , and she lay down under Balaam . Balaam ’s anger burnt, and he struck the donkey with his staff .
28 The 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 Balaam said to the donkey, " Because you have mocked me , I wish there were a sword in my hand , for now I would have killed you ."
30 The donkey said to Balaam , "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today ? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you ?" He said, " No ."
31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam , and he saw the LORD ’s angel standing in the way , with his sword drawn in his hand ; and he bowed his head , and fell on his face .
32 The LORD ’s angel said to him , " Why have you struck your donkey these three times ? Behold , I have come out as an adversary , because your way is perverse before me .
33 The donkey saw me , and turned away before me these three times . Unless she had turned away from me , surely now I would have killed you , and saved her alive ."
34 Balaam said to the LORD ’s angel , " I have sinned ; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me . Now therefore , if it displeases you , I will go back again ."
35 The LORD ’s angel said to Balaam , " Go with the men ; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you ." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak .
36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come , he went out to meet him to the City of Moab , which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border .
37 Balak said to Balaam , "Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you ? Why didn’t you come to me ? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honour ?"
38 Balaam said to Balak , " Behold , I have come to you . Have I now any power at all to speak anything ? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth ."
39 Balaam went with Balak , and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep , and sent to Balaam , and to the princes who were with him .
41 In the morning , Balak took Balaam , and brought him up into the high places of Baal ; and he saw from there part of the people .