Numbers 22:1-6

Expanded Bible

Balak Sends for Balaam

22 Then the ·people [^Lsons/^Tchildren of] of Israel went to the plains of Moab, and they camped near the Jordan River across from Jericho.

² Balak son of Zippor saw everything the Israelites had done to the Amorites. ³ And Moab ·was scared of [dreaded] so many Israelites; truly, Moab was terrified by them.

⁴ The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “·These people [^LThis community/assembly/congregation] will ·take [lick up] everything around us like an ox ·eating [licking] grass.”

Balak son of Zippor was the king of Moab at this time. ⁵ He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, near the Euphrates River in ·his native land [or the land of Amaw]. Balak said, “A nation has come out of Egypt that covers the land. They have ·camped [^Lsettled] next to me, ⁶ and they are too powerful for me. So come and put a curse on them. Maybe then I can defeat them and ·make them leave [drive them from] the area. I know that if you bless someone, the blessings happen, and if you put a curse on someone, it happens.”