22 ¹ And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

² And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. ³ And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. ⁴ And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will ^[a]this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. ⁵ And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the ^[b]face of the earth, and they abide over against me. ⁶ Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.