1The Israelites encamp in the plains of Moab. 2Balak's first message for Balaam is refused. 15His second message prevaileth. 22An angel opposeth Balaam on the way; his ass seeth the angel, and endeavoureth to avoid him; Balaam smiteth the ass; God openeth the ass's mouth; the angel reproveth Balaam, but suffereth him to proceed on his journey. 36Balak goeth out to meet him.
1AND the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side 1Jordan by Jericho.
1Jordan by Jericho, that is, which passes nearby Jericho, or which had a ferry at Jericho.
2¶And 2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
2 This Balak was at this time king of the Moabites, verse 4. See more of him Judges 11:25; Micah 6:5.
33And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab 4was distressed because of the children of Israel.
3 Here is fulfilled what was foretold, Exod. 15:15.
4 Or, were grieved, as Exod. 1:12.
4And Moab said unto 5the elders of Midian, Now shall this company 6lick up 7all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5 They are called princes, verse 8.
6 That is, consume and devour.
7 Hebr. all our round-abouts, or, round aboutnesses.
5He sent messengers therefore unto 8Balaama the son of Beor to 9Pethor, which is by the 10river 11of 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 12face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
8 In Joshua 13:22 he is called a soothsayer. See Num. 24:1. The apostle Peter calls him a prophet, 2 Peter 2:16.
a Joshua 24:9.
9 A city in Mesopotamia, Num. 23:7; Deut. 23:4.
10 Namely, the Euphrates.
11 That is, in his, namely, Balaam’s own country, or fatherland, which was Mesopotamia, as appears Num. 23:7.
12 Hebr. eye. See Exod. 10:5, 15. Also verse 11.
6Come 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 wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the 13rewards of divinationb in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
13 In 2 Peter 2:15 it is called the wages of unrighteousness. See Jer. 22 on verse 13.
b prediction by magic or supernatural means*
8And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9And God 14came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
14 Namely, in the night.
10And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, 15Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15 As Balaam said less to the princes of the Moabites than God had spoken to him, so these messengers tell their master, king Balak, less than Balaam had told them.
15¶And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than 16they.
16 Namely, those who were sent first.
16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17For I will promote thee unto 17very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
17 Hebr. honouring I shall honour thee.
18And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, Ifc Balak would give me 18his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond 19the word of the 20LORD my God, to do less or more.
c Num. 24:13.
18 Hebr. the fullness of his house.
19 Hebr. the mouth.
20 Hence it appears that Balaam had some knowledge of the true God in regard of this transaction; yet neither completely nor uprightly.
19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye 21also here this night, 22that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
21Also, namely, as previous ambassadors have done.
22 Balaam did resign himself that he would do nothing in this matter but what would be pleasing to God, whereas he knew well enough that God had already forbidden him to curse the Israelites.
20And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, 23rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
23 God, the LORD, permits Balaam to go indeed at length with Balak’s ambassadors, not that He was pleased therewith, as appears in verse 22, but to discover the more the evil disposition of Balaam and to manifest His glory therein that Balaam was constrained to bless the people, which he intended to curse.
21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22¶And God's anger was kindled 24because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an 25adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
24 Namely, with such an intent to curse the people of God. Other, as.
25 Hebr. Satan.
23And the assd saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword 26drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam 27smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
d 2 Peter 2:16; Jude verse 11.
26 This was a sign of wrath and vengeance, as Joshua 5:13 and 1 Chron. 21:16.
27 Namely, with his staff, verse 27.
24But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28And the LORDe opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
e 2 Peter 2:16; Jude verse 11.
29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? 28was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
28 Hebr. have I having the manner had the manner?
31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, 29because thy 30wayf is perverse 31before me:
29 That is, because you do not go into this way, which I wanted you to enter.
30 Namely, which you intend (to go).
f 2 Peter 2:15.
31 Hebr. over against me, that is, under mine own eyes, in my presence.
33And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, 32if it displease thee, 33I will get me back again.
32 Hebr. be evil in thine eyes.
33 Hebr. I will return me.
35And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36¶And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not 34earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
34 Hebr. sending sent.
38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: 35have I now any power at all to say 36any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
35 Hebr. being able be able to speak ought?
36 Namely, what I want to and what God does not want.
39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto 37Kirjath-huzoth.
37 Other, the city of the streets, or, into the city that is situated outside.
40And Balak 38offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
38 Namely, for sacrifice; and the remaining pieces they did eat themselves at their meal time. See Num. 25:2.
41And it came to pass 39on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part 40of the people.
39 Namely, on the second day, after the feast of the sacrifice.
40 Namely, of the people of Israel.