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?” (A)

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.[a](B)

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

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Footnotes

  1. 23:28 Or overlooks Jeshimon

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

26 “Didn’t I tell you,” Balaam responded to Balak, “that I’ll say whatever the Lord tells me to say?”

Balaam’s Third Sacrifice

27 So Balak exhorted Balaam, “Let’s go right now! I’ll take you to another place. Maybe God will agree to have you curse them for me from there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount[a] Peor, which overlooks the open wilderness.[b]

29 Balaam told Balak, “Build seven altars for me right here. Then prepare seven bulls and seven rams.” 30 Balak did just what Balaam had instructed—he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 23:28 The Heb. lacks Mount
  2. Numbers 23:28 Lit. the Jeshimon; a desert wasteland not suitable for agriculture or human habitation