Numbers 22:15-20
English Standard Version
15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 (A)for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. (B)Come, curse this people for me.’” 18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, (C)“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, (D)I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, (E)please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 (F)And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; (G)but only do what I tell you.”
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Numbers 22:15-20
New English Translation
Balaam Accompanies the Moabite Princes
15 Balak again sent princes,[a] more numerous and more distinguished than the first.[b] 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming[c] to me. 17 For I will honor you greatly,[d] and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”
18 Balaam replied[e] to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment[f] of the Lord my God[g] to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please stay[h] the night here also, that I may know what more the Lord might say to me.”[i] 20 God came to Balaam that night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them, but the word that I will say to you, that you must do.”
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- Numbers 22:15 tn The construction is a verbal hendiadys. It uses the Hiphil preterite of the verb “to add” followed by the Qal infinitive “to send.” The infinitive becomes the main verb, and the preterite an adverb: “he added to send” means “he sent again.”
- Numbers 22:15 tn Heb “than these.”
- Numbers 22:16 tn The infinitive construct is the object of the preposition.
- Numbers 22:17 tn The construction uses the Piel infinitive כַּבֵּד (kabbed) to intensify the verb, which is the Piel imperfect/cohortative אֲכַבֶּדְךָ (ʾakhabbedekha). The great honor could have been wealth, prestige, or position.
- Numbers 22:18 tn Heb “answered and said.”
- Numbers 22:18 tn Heb “mouth.”
- Numbers 22:18 sn In the light of subsequent events one should not take too seriously that Balaam referred to Yahweh as his God. He is referring properly to the deity for which he is acting as the agent.
- Numbers 22:19 tn In this case “lodge” is not used, but “remain, reside” (שְׁבוּ, shevu).
- Numbers 22:19 tn This clause is also a verbal hendiadys: “what the Lord might add to speak,” meaning, “what more the Lord might say.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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