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In the face of this threat, he sent messengers to the famous prophet Balaam (Beor’s son), who lived in a town that belonged to his country on the Euphrates River called Pethor. Balak wanted the prophet to come to Moab.

Since the victories over Sihon and Og, the Israelites have gained a reputation of taking over. Their size and strength frighten the local inhabitants.

Moab’s Message (to Balaam): There is a group of people who came from Egypt and who have settled right near me. They cover the land with their numbers. Come quickly, and curse them for me. There’s no other hope that I have of defeating so many of them and driving the rest away. They’re too strong. But I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed.

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He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

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Then (A)he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at (B)Pethor, which is near [a]the River in the land of [b]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! (C)Therefore please come at once, (D)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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 22:5 The Euphrates
  2. Numbers 22:5 Or the people of Amau

(A)sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor (B)at Pethor, which is near the River[a] in the land of the people of Amaw,[b] to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. (C)Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 22:5 That is, the Euphrates
  2. Numbers 22:5 Or the people of his kindred

sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,(A) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,(B) in his native land. Balak said:

“A people has come out of Egypt;(C) they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. Now come and put a curse(D) 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.(E) For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

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