Numbers 22
The Voice
22 But they didn’t remain there. The Israelites traveled on to the Moabite plains, where they set up camp, just across the Jordan River, east of Jericho. 2 The Moabite Balak (Zippor’s son) knew about the Israelites’ victory over the Amorites and what they had done there. 3 Actually, everyone in Moab was terrified of the Israelites. And Moab hated the Israelites, because there were so many of them!
Now we overhear this very unusual dialogue between the Moabite leader Balak and the respected prophet Balaam. While Balaam is not an Israelite, he has a healthy respect for the God of the Israelites. No matter how Balak tempts Balaam to curse the people of the Lord, God continues speaking to Balaam and frustrating Balak’s plans. Eventually it comes down to a not-so-dumb donkey instructing the great prophet. Both Balaam and Balak learn that God is not one to be toyed with. He can frustrate the plans of even the greatest kings and prophets.
Interestingly, a discovery was made in Jordan of an inscription containing prophecies of Balaam. He specialized in animal divination, slaughtering animals for his prophetic purposes. So Balaam was used to hearing God “speak” through animals, if not always so directly.
Moabites (to elders in the neighboring Midianite community): 4 This voracious horde, these Israelites, will wipe us out without so much as a second thought. They’ll devour us and move through our land as a herd of hungry cows mows a field.
Balak (Zippor’s son), you’ll remember, was then the king of Moab. 5 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. 6 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.
7 So the messengers went—elders, actually, from both Moab and Midian—with money in hand, to pay the prophet to come back with them and curse the Israelites. They gave him Balak’s message.
Balaam (to the messengers): 8 It’s been a long trip for you. Spend the night, and I’ll give you the prophecy the Eternal tells me.
So the Moabite and Midianite elders stayed overnight with Balaam. 9 But God came in the night to Balaam and questioned him.
Eternal One (to Balaam): Who are these people staying with you?
Balaam: 10 Messengers. Balak, the king of Moab and Zippor’s son, sent them to ask me for help on their behalf. 11 He says that a certain people, coming from Egypt, seem to be taking over the land. He wants me to curse those people for him so he can fight them and make the survivors leave.
Eternal One: 12 Don’t do it. The people whom Balak wants you to curse are already blessed.
13 So first thing in the morning, Balaam confronted Balak’s elders with the news.
Balaam: You’ll have to go back to your land without me. The Eternal has prohibited me from returning with you.
14 The Moabite contingent returned and told Balak that Balaam wouldn’t come. 15 But Balak wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. He sent another, bigger contingent of even more highly esteemed men to solicit Balaam’s help.
Balak’s Second Message (to Balaam): 16 Don’t let anything stop you from coming to Moab; 17 there’s a lot in it for you—whatever you desire—and I’ll make sure you are treated with the greatest honors. Just, please, come and curse these people for me!
Balaam (to Balak’s messengers): 18 Even if Balak gave me everything he has, riches of silver and gold in his house, I simply couldn’t do it. It is impossible for me to say anything less or greater than what the Eternal One, my God, directs me to say. 19 But, listen, why don’t you spend the night, and I’ll let you know whatever else the Eternal might tell me in the meantime.
20 Again, God came to Balaam in the night and spoke with him.
Eternal One (to Balaam): If these men have indeed come to get you, go ahead. Go with them, but do only what I tell you to do.
21 So when morning came, Balaam got his donkey ready. He set out with the Moabite elders. 22 Nevertheless, God was angry that Balaam was going. He sent His own messenger as an adversary to stand in Balaam’s way, blocking the prophet’s path. Now Balaam was riding on his donkey, and he had two servants too. 23 But it was the donkey who saw the Eternal’s messenger standing in the road with a sword in his hand, drawn and ready. The donkey went off the road and into the field, and Balaam, not seeing the messenger as his donkey had, hit the beast to drive it back onto the road; 24 but then the messenger of the Eternal stood in the narrow walkway separating two vineyards, and there was a wall on either side. 25 Spooked by the Eternal’s messenger, the donkey pressed herself against one of the walls, trapping Balaam’s foot. Balaam hit her again. 26 The Eternal’s messenger got ahead of them again and faced them in a narrow spot where they had no way to avoid him. 27 This time, the donkey, seeing the Eternal’s messenger, just lay down, Balaam still sitting on top. Balaam was furious, and he beat the beast with a rod. 28 But the Eternal One gave the donkey the ability to speak.
Donkey (to Balaam): What have I done to you that you would hit me three times?
Balaam: 29 You’ve made me look stupid! If I’d had a sword, I’d have killed you by now!
Donkey: 30 Aren’t I the very same donkey you’ve always ridden? Have I ever been disloyal or hurt you?
Balaam: No.
31 At that point, the Eternal opened the eyes of Balaam to see His messenger standing in the road, sword drawn. Balaam bowed low to the ground, lying with his face in the dirt.
Eternal One’s Messenger: 32 Why were you so hard on your donkey, beating her these three times? I came here as an adversary against you because I do not approve of the direction you’re taking, in more ways than one.[a] 33 Your donkey did the right thing. She saw me and turned away all three times. This donkey saved your life. Perhaps I would have killed you on the spot and let her live.
Balaam (to the messenger): 34 I confess I was wrong, but I didn’t know you were there, trying to block my way. Now, please, if you don’t want me to go any farther, then let me go back home.
Eternal One’s Messenger: 35 No, go ahead with this Moabite escort, but only say what I tell you to say.
So Balaam traveled on with Balak’s men.
36 When they neared the very edge of Moabite territory, Balak (who’d heard they were on their way) met Balaam at Moab’s city on the Arnon.
Balak (to Balaam): 37 Didn’t you understand it was I who requested you again and again? Why didn’t you come? Am I not able to give you honor?
Balaam (to Balak): 38 Well, I’m here now. But do you think I can say whatever I please? I can only say what God tells me to say. God puts the words in my mouth.
39 Nevertheless the two went off together. Balak led Balaam to Kiriath-huzoth in Moab. 40 Later on, Balak had some oxen and sheep sacrificed, which he made sure Balaam received (along with the officials who accompanied him).
41 The next day, Balak led Balaam up to a high place of Baal worship, an altar dedicated to pagan lords.[b] Looking down from there, they could see a section of the Israelite camp.
民數記 22
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
摩押王召巴蘭
22 以色列人繼續前行，抵達約旦河東岸的摩押平原，在耶利哥對面安營。 2 西撥的兒子摩押王巴勒及其人民得知以色列人殺敗了亞摩利人， 3 又見他們人多勢眾，都驚恐萬狀， 4 對米甸的長老說：「這群人將吞掉我們周圍的一切，如同牛吃光田間的草一樣。」那時，西撥的兒子巴勒做摩押王。 5 他差遣使者到幼發拉底河附近的毗奪——比珥的兒子巴蘭的家鄉，去召巴蘭。他讓使者帶去的信息是：「有一個民族從埃及鋪天蓋地而來，就住在我對面。 6 他們比我強大，求你為我咒詛他們。這樣，我也許就能擊敗他們，把他們趕走。我知道你祝福誰，誰就蒙福；你咒詛誰，誰就遭禍。」
7 摩押和米甸的長老們帶著占卜的禮金去見巴蘭，把巴勒的話轉告他。 8 巴蘭說：「你們今夜住在這裡，我必照耶和華的旨意回覆你們。」摩押的使臣就在巴蘭那裡住下。 9 晚上，上帝來問巴蘭：「住在你這裡的是誰？」 10 巴蘭回答說：「他們是摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒派來的使臣， 11 前來告訴我說，『有一個民族從埃及鋪天蓋地而來。請你去咒詛那民族，這樣巴勒王或許能擊敗他們，把他們趕走。』」 12 上帝對巴蘭說：「你不可跟他們去，也不可咒詛那民族，因為那民族是蒙福的。」
13 第二天清早，巴蘭對巴勒的使臣說：「你們回去吧，耶和華不准我跟你們去。」 14 摩押的使臣回去對巴勒說：「巴蘭不肯跟我們來。」 15 巴勒又派去更多、更尊貴的使臣。 16 他們到了巴蘭那裡，對他說：「西撥的兒子巴勒請你務必去一趟， 17 他必有重賞。你要什麼都可以，只求你去為他咒詛那民族。」 18 巴蘭回答說：「巴勒就是把他滿屋的金銀都給我，我也不能在任何事上違背我的上帝耶和華的命令。 19 你們可以在這裡過夜，看看耶和華對我還有什麼吩咐。」 20 當夜，上帝來對巴蘭說：「這些人既然來請你，你就跟他們去吧，但你只可照我說的做。」 21 巴蘭清早起來，備好驢，跟摩押的使臣去了。
上帝攔阻巴蘭
22 巴蘭這一去，激怒了上帝。巴蘭騎著驢，帶著兩個僕人正走在途中，耶和華的天使攔住他的去路。 23 驢看見耶和華的天使持刀攔在路上，就離開大路，跑進田間。巴蘭鞭打牠，要牠回到路上。 24 耶和華的天使又站在葡萄園之間的一條窄路上，兩邊都是牆。 25 驢看見耶和華的天使，就靠著牆邊走，將巴蘭的腳擠傷了。巴蘭又鞭打牠。 26 耶和華的天使又走到前面，站在狹窄之處，兩邊都無側身通過的餘地。 27 驢看見耶和華的天使，就臥在地上，巴蘭大怒，便用杖打牠。 28 耶和華使驢開口對巴蘭說：「我做錯了什麼，你竟打我三次！」 29 巴蘭說：「因為你戲弄我。如果我手中有刀，早就把你宰了！」 30 驢對巴蘭說：「我是你從小就騎的驢，我可曾這樣對你？」巴蘭說：「沒有。」
31 那時，耶和華開了巴蘭的眼，他才看見耶和華的天使持刀攔在路上，便俯伏在地。 32 耶和華的天使對他說：「你為何三次打你的驢？我特意來阻擋你，因為你走的路在我眼中是邪路。 33 你的驢看見我，一連躲避了三次，驢若沒有躲開，我早已殺了你，只放過驢。」 34 巴蘭對耶和華的天使說：「我有罪了，我不知道是你攔在路上。如果你反對我去，我就回去。」 35 耶和華的天使說：「跟這些人去吧，但你只許按我的指示說話。」於是，巴蘭跟巴勒的使臣去了。
36 巴勒聽見巴蘭來了，就來到邊界盡頭、亞嫩河邊的摩押城迎接他。 37 巴勒對巴蘭說：「上次派人請你，你為何不肯來？難道我不能給你重賞嗎？」 38 巴蘭說：「現在我已經來了，但我不能隨便發言，只能按上帝的指示說話。」 39 巴蘭和巴勒一同來到基列·胡瑣。 40 巴勒宰牛殺羊賞給巴蘭和隨行的臣僕。 41 次日清晨，巴勒領巴蘭上到巴力巴末[a]，從那裡可以看到一部分以色列人。
Footnotes
- 22·41 「巴力巴末」希伯來文是「巴力的高崗」之意。
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.