Bilang 22
Ang Salita ng Dios (Tagalog Contemporary Bible)
Ipinatawag ni Haring Balak si Balaam
22 Nagpatuloy sa paglalakbay ang mga Israelita hanggang sa nakarating sila sa kapatagan ng Moab, at nagkampo sila sa silangan ng Ilog ng Jordan, sa harapan ng Jerico.
2 Alam ni Haring Balak ng Moab, na anak ni Zipor, ang lahat ng ginawa ng mga Israelita sa mga Amoreo, 3 at natakot siya at ang mga Moabita dahil sa dami ng mga Israelita.
4 Sinabi ng mga Moabita sa mga tagapamahala ng Midian, “Uubusin talaga tayo ng mga taong ito, tulad ng baka na nanginginain ng mga damo.”
Kaya si Balak na anak ni Zipor, na siyang hari ng Moab nang mga panahong iyon 5 ay nagsugo ng mga mensahero para ipatawag si Balaam na anak ni Beor na naninirahan sa Petor. Sa Petor, malapit sa Ilog ng Eufrates ipinanganak si Balaam. Ito ang mensahe ni Balak:
May mga taong nanggaling sa Egipto at masyado silang marami at naninirahan sila malapit sa amin. 6 Kaya pumunta ka rito at sumpain ang mga taong ito dahil mas makapangyarihan sila kaysa sa amin. At baka sakaling matalo ko sila at maitaboy palayo sa aking lupain. Dahil nalalaman ko na ang sinumang isinusumpa mo ay nasusumpa.
7 Kaya naglakbay ang mga tagapamahala ng Moab at Midian na dala ang bayad para kay Balaam. Sinabi nila sa kanya ang sinabi ni Balak. 8 At sinabi ni Balaam sa kanila, “Dito na lang kayo matulog ngayong gabi at sasabihin ko sa inyo bukas kung ano ang sasabihin ng Panginoon sa akin.” Kaya roon natulog ang mga pinuno ng Moab.
9 Nagtanong ang Dios kay Balaam, “Sino ang mga taong ito na kasama mo?” 10 Sumagot si Balaam sa Dios, “Sila po ang mga mensaherong isinugo ni Haring Balak ng Moab, na anak ni Zipor. Ganito ang kanyang mensahe: 11 May mga taong nanggaling sa Egipto at masyado silang marami. Kaya pumunta ka rito at sumpain ang mga taong ito para sa akin dahil baka matalo ko sila at maitaboy palayo.”
12 Pero sinabi ng Dios kay Balaam, “Huwag kang sasama sa kanila. At huwag mong isusumpa ang mga taong sinasabi nila, dahil pinagpala ko ang mga iyon.”
13 Paggising ni Balaam kinaumagahan, sinabihan niya ang mga pinuno ni Balak, “Umuwi na lang kayo sa inyong bansa dahil hindi pumayag ang Panginoon na sumama ako sa inyo.”
14 Kaya umuwi ang mga pinuno ng Moab at pumunta kay Balak at sinabi, “Ayaw sumama ni Balaam sa amin.”
15 Kaya muling nagpadala si Balak ng mga pinuno na mas marami at mas marangal pa sa nauna. 16 Pumunta sila kay Balaam at sinabi:
“Ito ang ipinapasabi ni Balak na anak ni Zipor: Huwag mong payagan na may humadlang sa pagpunta mo rito. 17 Babayaran kitang mabuti at gagawin ko ang anumang gustuhin mo. Sige na, pumunta ka na rito at sumpain ang mga taong ito para sa akin.”
18 Pero sumagot si Balaam sa kanila, “Kahit na ibigay pa ni Balak sa akin ang palasyo niyang puno ng pilak at ginto, hindi ko magagawang suwayin ang utos ng Panginoon na aking Dios, kahit na sa malaki o maliit lang na bagay. 19 Pero rito na lang muna kayo matulog ngayong gabi katulad ng ginawa ng iba ninyong mga kasama dahil baka may iba pang sabihin ang Panginoon sa akin.”
20 Noong gabing iyon, sinabi ng Dios kay Balaam, “Pumunta rito ang mga taong ito para tawagin ka, sumama ka na lang sa kanila, pero ang mga sasabihin ko lang sa iyo ang gawin mo.”
Ang Asno ni Balaam
21 Kaya kinaumagahan, inihanda ni Balaam ang kanyang asno at sumama sa mga pinuno ng Moab 22 kasama ang kanyang dalawang katulong. Pero habang naglalakbay[a] si Balaam, nagalit ang Panginoon, kaya hinarang siya ng anghel ng Panginoon sa daan. 23 Pagkakita ng asno na nakatayo ang anghel ng Panginoon sa daan na may hawak na espada, lumihis ng daan ang asno at nagpunta sa bukid. Kaya pinalo ito ni Balaam at pinabalik sa daan.
24 Pagkatapos, tumayo ang anghel ng Panginoon sa makitid na daan sa gitna ng dalawang pader ng mga ubasan. 25 Pagkakita ng asno sa anghel ng Panginoon, sumiksik siya sa pader at naipit ang paa ni Balaam sa pader kaya pinalo na naman ito ni Balaam.
26 Pagkatapos, lumakad sa unahan ang anghel ng Panginoon at tumayo sa mas makitid na daan na hindi na talaga makakadaan kahit sa magkabilang gilid. 27 Pagkakita ng asno sa anghel ng Panginoon, tumumba na lang ito at nagalit si Balaam, at pinalo na naman niya ito ng kanyang baston. 28 Pagkatapos, pinagsalita ng Panginoon ang asno, at sinabi niya kay Balaam, “Ano ba ang nagawa ko sa iyo para paluin mo ako ng tatlong beses?” 29 Sumagot si Balaam sa asno, “Ginawa mo akong parang luku-luko. Kung may espada lang ako, papatayin kita ngayon din.” 30 Sinabi ng asno kay Balaam, “Hindi baʼt ako ang asnong palagi mong sinasakyan? Umasal ba ako dati nang gaya nito?” Sumagot si Balaam, “Hindi.”
31 Pagkatapos, ipinakita ng Panginoon kay Balaam ang anghel na nakatayo sa daan na may hawak na espada. Kaya nagpatirapa si Balaam.
32 Nagtanong sa kanya ang anghel ng Panginoon, “Bakit mo ba pinalo ang asno mo ng tatlong beses? Nandito ako para harangan ka dahil masama sa aking paningin ang inasal mo. 33 Nakita ako ng iyong asno at umiwas siya sa akin ng tatlong beses. Kung hindi siya umiwas sa akin, pinatay na sana kita at pinabayaang mabuhay ang iyong asno.”
34 Sinabi ni Balaam sa anghel ng Panginoon, “Nagkasala po ako! Hindi ko alam na nakatayo pala kayo riyan sa daan para humarang sa akin. Kung masama para sa inyong magpatuloy ako, uuwi na lang po ako.”
35 Sinabi ng anghel ng Panginoon kay Balaam, “Sasama ka sa mga taong iyon, pero sabihin mo lang sa kanila ang mga sasabihin ko sa iyo.” Kaya sumama si Balaam sa mga pinuno ni Balak.
36 Nang malaman ni Balak na paparating si Balaam, sumalubong siya roon sa isang bayan ng Moab malapit sa Arnon, sa hangganan ng kanyang teritoryo.
37 Sinabi ni Balak kay Balaam, “Hindi baʼt dali-dali kitang ipinatawag? Bakit hindi ka kaagad nagpunta? Iniisip mo ba na hindi kita babayaran?” 38 Sumagot si Balaam, “Nandito na ako. Pero sasabihin ko lang sa iyo kung ano ang ipinapasabi ng Dios sa akin.”
39 Pagkatapos, sumama si Balaam kay Balak sa Kiriat Huzot. 40 At naghandog doon si Balak ng baka at tupa. Ibinigay niya ang ibang mga karne kay Balaam at sa mga pinuno na kasama niya. 41 Kinaumagahan, dinala ni Balak si Balaam sa Bamot Baal at doon nakita niya sa ibaba ang buong[b] mamamayan ng Israel.
ﺍﻟﻌﺪﺩ 22
Ketab El Hayat
بالاق يستدعي بلعام
22 وَارْتَحَلَ الإِسْرَائِيلِيُّونَ وَنَزَلُوا فِي سُهُولِ مُوآبَ، شَرْقِيَّ الأُرْدُنِّ مُقَابِلَ أَرِيحَا.
2 وَإِذْ بَلَغَ بَالاقَ بْنَ صِفُّورَ مَلِكَ مُوآبَ جَمِيعُ مَا أَنْزَلَهُ الإِسْرَائِيلِيُّونَ بِالأَمُورِيِّينَ، 3 اعْتَرَاهُ الْفَزَعُ لِكَثْرَةِ عَدَدِهِمْ، وَمَلأَ الْخَوْفُ قَلْبَ شَعْبِهِ مِنَ الإِسْرَائِيلِيِّينَ. 4 فَقَالَ بَالاقُ لِشُيُوخِ مِدْيَانَ: «إِنَّ هَذَا الْجُمْهُورَ قَادِرٌ عَلَى لَحْسِ كُلِّ مَا حَوْلَنَا كَمَا يَلْحَسُ الثَّوْرُ عُشْبَ الْحَقْلِ». 5 ثُمَّ بَعَثَ بِرُسُلٍ يَسْتَدْعِي بَلْعَامَ بْنَ بَعُورَ، الْمُقِيمَ فِي مَوْطِنِهِ فِي فَتُورَ، الْوَاقِعَةِ عَلَى نَهْرِ الْفُرَاتِ قَائِلاً: «هَا قَدْ خَرَجَ شَعْبٌ مِنْ مِصْرَ يُغَشِّي وَجْهَ الأَرْضِ بِكَثْرَتِهِ، وَهُوَ مُنْتَشِرٌ أَمَامِي. 6 فَتَعَالَ الآنَ وَالْعَنْ لِي هَذَا الشَّعْبَ لأَنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ مِنِّي، لَعَلِّي أَتَمَكَّنُ مِنْ دَحْرِهِ وَطَرْدِهِ مِنَ الأَرْضِ، لأَنِّي عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ مَنْ تُبَارِكُهُ يَكُونُ مُبَارَكاً وَمَنْ تَلْعَنُهُ يَكُونُ مَلْعُوناً».
7 فَمَضَى شُيُوخُ مُوآبَ وَشُيُوخُ مِدْيَانَ حَامِلِينَ مَعَهُمْ حُلْوَانَ الْعِرَافَةِ، وَأَقْبَلُوا عَلَى بَلْعَامَ وَأَبْلَغُوهُ كَلامَ بَالاقَ. 8 فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «بِيتُوا هُنَا اللَّيْلَةَ، وَغَداً أَرُدُّ عَلَيْكُمْ جَوَاباً كَمَا يُعْلِنُ لِي الرَّبُّ». فَمَكَثَ رُؤَسَاءُ مُوآبَ عِنْدَ بَلْعَامَ.
9 فَتَجَلَّى اللهُ لِبَلْعَامَ وَسَأَلَهُ: «مَنْ هُمْ هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجَالُ الَّذِينَ عِنْدَكَ؟» 10 فَأَجَابَ: «لَقَدْ أَرْسَلَ بَالاقُ بْنُ صِفُّورَ مَلِكُ مُوآبَ إِلَيَّ قَائِلاً: 11 هَا قَدْ خَرَجَ شَعْبٌ مِنْ مِصْرَ يُغَشِّي وَجْهَ الأَرْضِ. فَتَعَالَ الآنَ وَالْعَنْهُ لِي، لَعَلِّي أَقْدِرُ عَلَى مُحَارَبَتِهِ وَطَرْدِهِ». 12 فَقَالَ اللهُ لِبَلْعَامَ: «لا تَمْضِ مَعَهُمْ وَلا تَلْعَنِ الشَّعْبَ لأَنَّهُ مُبَارَكٌ». 13 فَنَهَضَ بَلْعَامُ فِي الصَّبَاحِ وَقَالَ لِرُؤَسَاءِ بَالاقَ: «انْطَلِقُوا إِلَى دِيَارِكُمْ، لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ أَبَى أَنْ يَأْذَنَ لِي بِالذَّهَابِ مَعَكُمْ». 14 فَانْطَلَقَ رُؤَسَاءُ مُوآبَ وَأَبْلَغُوا بَالاقَ أَنَّ بَلْعَامَ رَفَضَ أَنْ يَحْضُرَ مَعَهُمْ.
15 فَعَادَ بَالاقُ وَبَعَثَ أَيْضاً عَدَداً مِنَ الرُّؤَسَاءِ أَكْبَرَ، وَعُظَمَاءَ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الرُّؤَسَاءِ الأَوَّلِينَ. 16 فَقَدِمُوا عَلَى بَلْعَامَ وَقَالُوا: «هَذَا مَا يَقُولُهُ لَكَ بَالاقُ بْنُ صِفُّورَ: 17 لَا تَتَقَاعَسْ عَنِ الْمَجِيءِ إِلَيَّ، لأَنَّنِي سَأُبَالِغُ فِي إِكْرَامِكَ، وَكُلُّ مَا تَطْلُبُهُ أَفْعَلُهُ، فَتَعَالَ الآنَ وَالْعَنْ هَذَا الشَّعْبَ». 18 فَأَجَابَ بَلْعَامُ رُسُلَ بَالاقَ: «لا يُمْكِنُنِي أَنْ أَعْصَى أَمْرَ الرَّبِّ إِلَهِي فِي أَيِّ عَمَلٍ صَغِيرٍ أَوْ كَبِيرٍ، وَلَوْ أَغْدَقَ عَلَيَّ بَالاقُ مِلْءَ قَصْرِهِ فِضَّةً وَذَهَباً. 19 فَالآنَ، اقْضُوا هُنَا لَيْلَتَكُمْ لأَعْلَمَ بِمَاذَا يَعُودُ الرَّبُّ فَيُوْصِينِي بِهِ». 20 فَتَرَاءَى اللهُ لِبَلْعَامَ لَيْلاً وَقَالَ لَهُ: «إِنْ جَاءَ الرِّجَالُ يَسْتَدْعُونَكَ فَقُمْ وَامْضِ مَعَهُمْ، إِنَّمَا لَا تَنْطِقْ إِلّا بِمَا آمُرُكَ بِهِ فَقَطْ».
أتان بلعام
21 فَنَهَضَ بَلْعَامُ صَبَاحاً وَأَسْرَجَ أَتَانَهُ، وَانْطَلَقَ مَعَ رُؤَسَاءِ مُوآبَ. 22 فَاحْتَدَمَ غَضَبُ اللهِ لأَنَّهُ مَضَى مَعَهُمْ، فَاعْتَرَضَهُ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ فِي الطَّرِيقِ لِيُقَاوِمَهُ وَهُوَ رَاكِبٌ عَلَى أَتَانِهِ وَغُلامَاهُ مَعَهُ. 23 فَأَبْصَرَتِ الأَتَانُ مَلاكَ الرَّبِّ مُنْتَصِباً فِي الطَّرِيقِ، وَقَدِ اسْتَلَّ سَيْفَهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَحَادَتْ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ وَمَشَتْ فِي الْحَقْلِ. فَضَرَبَهَا بَلْعَامُ لِيَرُدَّهَا إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ. 24 ثُمَّ وَقَفَ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ فِي مَمَرٍّ لِلْكُرُومِ يَقُومُ عَلَى جَانِبَيْهِ حَائِطَانِ. 25 فَلَمَّا شَاهَدَتِ الأَتَانُ مَلاكَ الرَّبِّ زَحَمَتْ جَانِبَ الْحَائِطِ وَضَغَطَتْ رِجْلَ بَلْعَامَ عَلَيْهِ، فَضَرَبَهَا أَيْضاً. 26 ثُمَّ اجْتَازَ بِهِ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ وَوَقَفَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ ضَيِّقٍ، لَا سَبِيلَ فِيهِ لِلتَّحَوُّلِ يَمْنَةً أَوْ يَسْرَةً. 27 فَلَمَّا رَأَتِ الأَتَانُ مَلاكَ الرَّبِّ رَبَضَتْ تَحْتَ بَلْعَامَ. فَثَارَ غَضَبُ بَلْعَامَ وَضَرَبَ الأَتَانَ بِالْقَضِيبِ. 28 عِنْدَئِذٍ أَنْطَقَ الرَّبُّ الأَتَانَ، فَقَالَتْ لِبَلْعَامَ: «مَاذَا جَنَيْتُ حَتَّى ضَرَبْتَنِي الْآنَ ثَلاثَ دَفْعَاتٍ؟» 29 فَقَالَ بَلْعَامُ: «لأَنَّكِ سَخَرْتِ مِنِّي. لَوْ كَانَ فِي يَدِي سَيْفٌ لَكُنْتُ قَدْ قَتَلْتُكِ». 30 فَأَجَابَتْهُ الأَتَانُ: «أَلَسْتُ أَنَا أَتَانَكَ الَّتِي رَكِبْتَ عَلَيْهَا دَائِماً إِلَى هَذَا الْيَوْمِ؟ وَهَلْ عَوَّدْتُكَ أَنْ أَصْنَعَ بِكَ هَكَذَا؟» فَقَالَ: «لا».
31 عِنْدَئِذٍ كَشَفَ الرَّبُّ عَنْ عَيْنَيْ بَلْعَامَ، فَشَاهَدَ مَلاكَ الرَّبِّ مُنْتَصِباً فِي الطَّرِيقِ وَسَيْفُهُ مَسْلُولٌ فِي يَدِهِ، فَخَرَّ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ سَاجِداً. 32 فَقَالَ لَهُ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ: «لِمَاذَا ضَرَبْتَ الآنَ أَتَانَكَ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ؟ فَهَا أَنَا قَدْ جِئْتُ لأَعْتَرِضَكَ، لأَنَّ طَرِيقَكَ مُلْتَوِيَةٌ فِي نَظَرِي، 33 فَشَاهَدَتْنِي الأَتَانُ فَحَادَتْ مِنْ أَمَامِي ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ. وَلَوْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ لَكُنْتُ قَدْ قَتَلْتُكَ وَاسْتَحْيَيْتُهَا». 34 فَقَالَ بَلْعَامُ لِمَلاكِ الرَّبِّ: «لَقَدْ أَخْطَأْتُ، وَلَمْ أَعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ وَاقِفٌ لاِعْتِرَاضِي فِي الطَّرِيقِ. وَالآنَ إِنْ سَاءَ فِي عَيْنَيْكَ فَإِنِّي أَرْجِعُ». 35 فَقَالَ مَلاكُ الرَّبِّ لِبَلْعَامَ: «امْضِ مَعَ الرِّجَالِ، وَلَكِنْ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَنْطِقَ بِمَا آمُرُكَ بِهِ فَقَطْ». فَانْطَلَقَ بَلْعَامُ مَعَ رُؤَسَاءِ بَالاقَ.
36 فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ بَالاقَ أَنَّ بَلْعَامَ قَدْ قَدِمَ أَسْرَعَ لاِسْتِقْبَالِهِ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ مُوآبَ الْوَاقِعَةِ عَلَى حُدُودِ أَرْنُونَ الْقَصِيَّةِ. 37 فَقَالَ بَالاقُ لِبَلْعَامَ: «أَلَمْ أَبْعَثْ إِلَيْكَ أَسْتَدْعِيكَ؟ فَلِمَاذَا لَمْ تَقْدِمْ عَلَيَّ؟ أَحَقّاً أَعْجَزُ عَنْ إِكْرَامِكَ؟» 38 فَأَجَابَ بَلْعَامُ: «هَا أَنَا جِئْتُ إِلَيْكَ. أَتَظُنُّ أَنَّ فِي وُسْعِي أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ الآنَ بِمَا أُرِيدُ؟ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَنْطِقَ فَقَطْ بِمَا يَأْمُرُنِي بِهِ الرَّبُّ». 39 فَمَضَى بَلْعَامُ مَعَ بَالاقَ حَتَّى أَقْبَلا إِلَى قَرْيَةِ حَصُوتَ. 40 فَذَبَحَ بَالاقُ بَقَراً وَغَنَماً وَأَرْسَلَهَا إِلَى بَلْعَامَ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ مِنَ الرُّؤَسَاءِ.
41 وَفِي الصَّبَاحِ التَّالِي أَخَذَ بَالاقُ بَلْعَامَ إِلَى مُرْتَفَعَاتِ بَعْلٍ، فَرَأَى مِنْ هُنَاكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كُلَّهُمْ.
Numbers 22
New International Version
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab(A) and camped along the Jordan(B) across from Jericho.(C)
2 Now Balak son of Zippor(D) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread(E) because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites(F) said to the elders of Midian,(G) “This horde is going to lick up everything(H) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.(I)”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,(J) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,(K) in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt;(L) they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse(M) on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.(N) For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.(O) When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.(P)” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam(Q) and asked,(R) “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.(S)”
13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely(T) and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse(U) on these people for me.”
18 But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.(V) 19 Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.(W)”
20 That night God came to Balaam(X) and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”(Y)
Balaam’s Donkey
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry(Z) when he went, and the angel of the Lord(AA) stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam 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 road with a drawn sword(AB) in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it(AC) to get it back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry(AD) and beat it with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth,(AE) and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?(AF)”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.(AG)”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes,(AH) and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.[a] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now,(AI) but I would have spared it.”
34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned.(AJ) I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”
35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
36 When Balak(AK) heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon(AL) border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38 “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”(AM)
39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep,(AN) and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41 The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal,(AO) and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.(AP)
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:32 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
Numbers 22
New King James Version
Balak Sends for Balaam
22 Then (A)the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho.
2 Now (B)Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And (C)Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. 4 So Moab said to (D)the elders of Midian, “Now this company will [a]lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 Then (E)he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at (F)Pethor, which is near [b]the River in the land of [c]the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! 6 (G)Therefore please come at once, (H)curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat 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.”
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with (I)the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 And he said to them, (J)“Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 (K)Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10 So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.’ ”
12 And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for (L)they are blessed.”
13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.”
14 And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more [d]honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will certainly (M)honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. (N)Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’ ”
18 Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, (O)“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, (P)I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please, you also (Q)stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”
20 (R)And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but (S)only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel
22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, (T)and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 Now (U)the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 24 Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. 26 Then the Angel of the Lord 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 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Then the Lord (V)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 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have [e]abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, (W)for now I would kill you!”
30 (X)So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever [f]disposed to do this to you?”
And he said, “No.”
31 Then the Lord (Y)opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out [g]to stand against you, because your way is (Z)perverse[h] before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”
34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, (AA)“I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it [i]displeases You, I will turn back.”
35 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, (AB)but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, (AC)he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, (AD)which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory. 37 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able (AE)to honor you?”
38 And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? (AF)The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.” 39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth. 40 Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.
Balaam’s First Prophecy
41 So it was, the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the (AG)high places of Baal, that from there he might observe [j]the extent of the people.
Footnotes
- Numbers 22:4 consume
- Numbers 22:5 The Euphrates
- Numbers 22:5 Or the people of Amau
- Numbers 22:15 distinguished
- Numbers 22:29 mocked
- Numbers 22:30 accustomed
- Numbers 22:32 as an adversary
- Numbers 22:32 contrary
- Numbers 22:34 Lit. is evil in your eyes
- Numbers 22:41 the farthest extent
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

