Numbers 22:22-28

Common English Bible

Balaam and the Lord’s messenger

²² Then God became angry because he went. So while he was riding on his donkey accompanied by his two servants, the Lord’s messenger stood in the road as his adversary. ²³ The donkey saw the Lord’s messenger standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, so the donkey turned from the road and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey in order to turn him back onto the road. ²⁴ Then the Lord’s messenger stood in the narrow path between vineyards with a stone wall on each side. ²⁵ When the donkey saw the Lord’s messenger, it leaned against the wall and squeezed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he continued to beat it. ²⁶ The Lord’s messenger persisted and crossed over and stood in a narrow place, where it wasn’t possible to turn either right or left. ²⁷ The donkey saw the Lord’s messenger and lay down underneath Balaam. Balaam became angry and beat the donkey with the rod. ²⁸ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you’ve beaten me these three times?”