Numbers 22:1-6
Christian Standard Bible
Balak Hires Balaam
22 The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho. 2 Now Balak(A) son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.(B) 3 Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous,(C) and Moab dreaded the Israelites. 4 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, 5 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. 6 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)
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Numbers 22:1-6
English Standard Version
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then (A)the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And (B)Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And (C)Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to (D)the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 (E)sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor (F)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. 6 (G)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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- Numbers 22:5 That is, the Euphrates
- Numbers 22:5 Or the people of his kindred
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.