Balak Hires Balaam

22 The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho. Now Balak(A) son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.(B) Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous,(C) and Moab dreaded the Israelites. So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field.”

Since Balak son of Zippor was Moab’s king at that time, he sent messengers to Balaam(D) son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people.[a][b] Balak said to him, “Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land(E) and are living right across from me. Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed.”(F)

The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination(G) in hand.(H) They came to Balaam and reported Balak’s words to him. He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will give you the answer the Lord tells me.” So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

10 Balaam replied to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me: 11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”

12 Then God said to Balaam, “You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

13 So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your land, because the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

14 The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15 Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me, 17 for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!’”

18 But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great. 19 Please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the Lord has to tell me.”

20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” 21 When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab.

Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel

22 But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the angel of the Lord(I) took his stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing on the path with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into the field. So Balaam hit her to return her to the path. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow passage between the vineyards, with a stone wall on either side. 25 The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and pressed herself against the wall, squeezing Balaam’s foot against it. So he hit her once again. 26 The angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she crouched down under Balaam. So he became furious and beat the donkey with his stick.

28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and she asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?” (J)

29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you now!”

30 But the donkey said, “Am I not the donkey you’ve ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?”

“No,” he replied.

31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the path with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam knelt low and bowed in worship on his face. 32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because I consider what you are doing to be evil.[c] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.”

34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back.”

35 Then the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city[d] on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak asked 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 Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.” 39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.[e] 40 Balak sacrificed cattle, sheep, and goats and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him.

41 In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal.[f] From there he saw the outskirts of the people’s camp.

Balaam’s Oracles

23 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”(K) So Balak did as Balaam directed, and they offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone. Maybe the Lord will meet with me. I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So he went to a barren hill.

God met with him and Balaam said to him, “I have arranged seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” Then the Lord put a message in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak and say what I tell you.”

So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with all the officials of Moab.

Balaam’s First Oracle

Balaam proclaimed his poem:

Balak brought me from Aram;(L)
the king of Moab, from the eastern mountains:
“Come, put a curse on Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel!” (M)
How can I curse someone God has not cursed?
How can I denounce someone the Lord has not denounced?
I see them from the top of rocky cliffs,
and I watch them from the hills.
There is a people living alone;(N)
it does not consider itself among the nations.
10 Who has counted the dust of Jacob(O)
or numbered even one-fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of the upright;
let the end of my life be like theirs.

11 “What have you done to me?” Balak asked Balaam. “I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you have only blessed them!”

12 He answered, “Shouldn’t I say exactly what the Lord puts in my mouth?” (P)

Balaam’s Second Oracle

13 Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place(Q) where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp; you won’t see all of them. From there, put a curse on them for me.” 14 So Balak took him to Lookout Field[g] on top of Pisgah,(R) built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I seek the Lord over there.”

16 The Lord met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth. Then he said, “Return to Balak and say what I tell you.”

17 So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the officials of Moab. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”

18 Balaam proclaimed his poem:

Balak, get up and listen;
son of Zippor, pay attention to what I say!
19 God is not a man, that he might lie,
or a son of man, that he might change his mind.(S)
Does he speak and not act,
or promise and not fulfill?(T)
20 I have indeed received a command to bless;
since he has blessed,[h] I cannot change it.
21 He considers no disaster for Jacob;
he sees no trouble for Israel.[i]
The Lord their God is with them,(U)
and there is rejoicing over the King among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt;
he is like the horns of a wild ox for them.[j](V)
23 There is no magic curse against Jacob
and no divination against Israel.
It will now be said about Jacob and Israel,
“What great things God has done!”
24 A people rise up like a lioness;
they rouse themselves like a lion.(W)
They will not lie down until they devour the prey
and drink the blood of the slain.

25 Then Balak told Balaam, “Don’t curse them and don’t bless them!”

26 But Balaam answered him, “Didn’t I tell you: Whatever the Lord says, I must do?” (X)

Balaam’s Third Oracle

27 Again Balak said to Balaam, “Please come. I will take you to another place. Maybe it will be agreeable to God that you can put a curse on them for me there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.[k](Y)

29 Balaam told Balak, “Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”(Z) 30 So Balak did as Balaam said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

24 Since Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned[l] toward the wilderness. When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God(AA) came on him, and he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened,
the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,(AB)
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:
How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwellings, Israel.
They stretch out like river valleys,[m]
like gardens beside a stream,
like aloes the Lord has planted,
like cedars beside the water.
Water will flow from his buckets,
and his seed will be by abundant water.
His king will be greater than Agag,(AC)
and his kingdom will be exalted.
God brought him out of Egypt;
he is like[n] the horns of a wild ox for them.(AD)
He will feed on enemy nations
and gnaw their bones;
he will strike them with his arrows.
He crouches, he lies down like a lion
or a lioness—who dares to rouse him?(AE)
Those who bless you will be blessed,
and those who curse you will be cursed.(AF)

10 Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, “I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly,(AG) but look, the Lord has denied you a reward.”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I previously tell the messengers you sent me: 13 If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord’s command, to do anything good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says.(AH) 14 Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future.”

Balaam’s Fourth Oracle

15 Then he proclaimed his poem:

The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened;
16 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God
and has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls into a trance with his eyes uncovered:(AI)
17 I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel.(AJ)
He will smash the forehead[o] of Moab
and strike down[p] all the Shethites.[q]
18 Edom will become a possession;
Seir(AK) will become a possession of its enemies,
but Israel will be triumphant.
19 One who comes from Jacob will rule;
he will destroy the city’s survivors.

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:

Amalek was first among the nations,(AL)
but his future is destruction.

21 Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem:

Your dwelling place is enduring;
your nest is set in the cliffs.
22 Kain will be destroyed
when Asshur takes you captive.

23 Once more he proclaimed his poem:

Ah, who can live when God does this?
24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim;(AM)
they will carry out raids against Asshur and Eber,(AN)
but they too will come to destruction.

25 Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.

Footnotes

  1. 22:5 Sam, Vg, Syr read of the Ammonites
  2. 22:5 Or of the Amawites
  3. 22:32 Lit because your way is perverse before me
  4. 22:36 Or at Ir-moab, or at Ar of Moab
  5. 22:39 = The City of Streets
  6. 22:41 = The High Places of Baal
  7. 23:14 Or to the field of Zophim
  8. 23:20 Sam, LXX read since I will bless
  9. 23:21 Or He does not observe sin in Jacob; he does not see wrongdoing in Israel
  10. 23:22 Or Egypt; they have the horns of a wild ox
  11. 23:28 Or overlooks Jeshimon
  12. 24:1 Lit set his face
  13. 24:6 Or like date palms
  14. 24:8 Or he has
  15. 24:17 Or frontiers
  16. 24:17 Sam reads and the skulls of; Jr 48:45
  17. 24:17 Or Sethites

Balak Summons Balaam

22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab(A) and camped along the Jordan(B) across from Jericho.(C)

Now Balak son of Zippor(D) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread(E) because of the Israelites.

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, 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. 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.”

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.

“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.

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)

Balaam’s First Message

23 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams(AQ) for me.” Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.(AR)

Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me.(AS) Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.

God met with him,(AT) and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth(AU) and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”(AV)

So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.(AW) Then Balaam(AX) spoke his message:(AY)

“Balak brought me from Aram,(AZ)
    the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.(BA)
‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me;
    come, denounce Israel.’(BB)
How can I curse
    those whom God has not cursed?(BC)
How can I denounce
    those whom the Lord has not denounced?(BD)
From the rocky peaks I see them,
    from the heights I view them.(BE)
I see a people who live apart
    and do not consider themselves one of the nations.(BF)
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob(BG)
    or number even a fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,(BH)
    and may my final end be like theirs!(BI)

11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies,(BJ) but you have done nothing but bless them!”(BK)

12 He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”(BL)

Balaam’s Second Message

13 Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place(BM) where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp.(BN) And from there, curse them for me.(BO) 14 So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah,(BP) and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.(BQ)

15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”

16 The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth(BR) and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”

17 So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials.(BS) Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”

18 Then he spoke his message:(BT)

“Arise, Balak, and listen;
    hear me, son of Zippor.(BU)
19 God is not human,(BV) that he should lie,(BW)
    not a human being, that he should change his mind.(BX)
Does he speak and then not act?
    Does he promise(BY) and not fulfill?
20 I have received a command to bless;(BZ)
    he has blessed,(CA) and I cannot change it.(CB)

21 “No misfortune is seen in Jacob,(CC)
    no misery observed[b] in Israel.(CD)
The Lord their God is with them;(CE)
    the shout of the King(CF) is among them.
22 God brought them out of Egypt;(CG)
    they have the strength of a wild ox.(CH)
23 There is no divination against[c] Jacob,
    no evil omens(CI) against[d] Israel.
It will now be said of Jacob
    and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
24 The people rise like a lioness;(CJ)
    they rouse themselves like a lion(CK)
that does not rest till it devours its prey
    and drinks the blood(CL) of its victims.”

25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

26 Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”(CM)

Balaam’s Third Message

27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place.(CN) Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me(CO) from there.” 28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor,(CP) overlooking the wasteland.

29 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.(CQ)

24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,(CR) he did not resort to divination(CS) as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.(CT) When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him(CU) and he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,(CV)
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,(CW)
    who sees a vision from the Almighty,[e](CX)
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

“How beautiful are your tents,(CY) Jacob,
    your dwelling places, Israel!

“Like valleys they spread out,
    like gardens beside a river,(CZ)
like aloes(DA) planted by the Lord,
    like cedars beside the waters.(DB)
Water will flow from their buckets;
    their seed will have abundant water.

“Their king will be greater than Agag;(DC)
    their kingdom will be exalted.(DD)

“God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
    and break their bones in pieces;(DE)
    with their arrows they pierce them.(DF)
Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
    like a lioness(DG)—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessed(DH)
    and those who curse you be cursed!”(DI)

10 Then Balak’s anger burned(DJ) against Balaam. He struck his hands together(DK) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,(DL) but you have blessed them(DM) these three times.(DN) 11 Now leave at once and go home!(DO) I said I would reward you handsomely,(DP) but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,(DQ) 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord(DR)—and I must say only what the Lord says’?(DS) 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”(DT)

Balaam’s Fourth Message

15 Then he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words(DU) of God,
    who has knowledge from the Most High,(DV)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

17 “I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near.(DW)
A star will come out of Jacob;(DX)
    a scepter will rise out of Israel.(DY)
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,(DZ)
    the skulls[f](EA) of[g] all the people of Sheth.[h]
18 Edom(EB) will be conquered;
    Seir,(EC) his enemy, will be conquered,(ED)
    but Israel(EE) will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob(EF)
    and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaam’s Fifth Message

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek(EG) and spoke his message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
    but their end will be utter destruction.”(EH)

Balaam’s Sixth Message

21 Then he saw the Kenites(EI) and spoke his message:

“Your dwelling place is secure,(EJ)
    your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
    when Ashur(EK) takes you captive.”

Balaam’s Seventh Message

23 Then he spoke his message:

“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[i]
24     Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;(EL)
they will subdue Ashur(EM) and Eber,(EN)
    but they too will come to ruin.(EO)

25 Then Balaam(EP) got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 22:32 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
  2. Numbers 23:21 Or He has not looked on Jacob’s offenses / or on the wrongs found
  3. Numbers 23:23 Or in
  4. Numbers 23:23 Or in
  5. Numbers 24:4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
  6. Numbers 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
  7. Numbers 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter
  8. Numbers 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters
  9. Numbers 24:23 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.