Numbers 22

1The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.Cross-references: Num 21:20 · Num 32:19 · Num 33:48 · Num 34:15 · Num 36:13 · Deut 1:5 · +4 more

2Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.Cross-references: Num 21:3 · Num 21:20 · Judg 11:25

3Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.Cross-references: Ex 15:15 · Deut 2:25 · Josh 2:10 · Josh 2:24 · Josh 9:24 · Ps 53:5 · +1 more

4Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.Cross-references: Num 22:2 · Num 22:7 · Num 24:17 · Num 25:15 · Num 31:8 · Josh 13:21 · +2 more

5He sent messengers to 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 who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.Cross-references: Gen 13:16 · Ex 1:7 · Num 23:7 · Deut 23:4 · Josh 13:22 · Josh 24:9 · +6 more

6Please come now therefore, and curse this people for me; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”Cross-references: Gen 12:3 · Gen 27:29 · Num 22:12 · Num 22:17 · Num 23:7 · Num 24:9 · +14 more

7The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.Cross-references: Num 23:23 · Num 24:1 · 1Sam 9:7 · Isa 56:11 · Ezek 13:19 · Mic 3:11 · +5 more

8He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.Cross-references: Num 12:6 · Num 22:19 · Num 23:12 · Jer 12:2 · Ezek 33:31

9God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”Cross-references: Gen 3:9 · Gen 4:9 · Gen 16:8 · Gen 20:3 · Gen 31:24 · Gen 41:25 · +8 more

10Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,

11‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”

12God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”Cross-references: Gen 12:2 · Gen 22:16 · Num 22:19 · Num 23:3 · Num 23:13 · Num 23:19 · +11 more

13Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for Yahweh refuses to permit me to go with you.”Cross-references: Num 22:14 · Deut 23:5

14The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”Cross-references: Num 22:13 · Num 22:37

15Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they.Cross-references: Num 22:7 · Acts 10:7

16They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

17for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”Cross-references: Num 22:6 · Num 22:37 · Num 23:2 · Num 23:29 · Num 24:11 · Deut 16:9 · +5 more

18Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.Cross-references: Num 22:38 · Num 23:26 · Num 24:13 · 1Ki 22:14 · 2Chr 18:13 · Dan 5:17 · +2 more

19Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else Yahweh will speak to me.”Cross-references: Num 22:7 · 1Tim 6:9 · 2Pet 2:3 · 2Pet 2:15 · Jude 1:11

20God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”Cross-references: Num 22:35 · Num 23:5 · Num 23:12 · Num 23:16 · Num 23:26 · Num 24:13 · +9 more

21Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.Cross-references: Prov 1:15

22God’s anger burned because he went; and Yahweh’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.Cross-references: Gen 48:15 · Ex 3:2 · Ex 4:24 · Ex 23:20 · Num 22:32 · Num 22:35 · +4 more

23The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path.Cross-references: 2Ki 6:17 · 1Chr 21:16 · Jer 8:7 · Dan 10:7 · Acts 22:9 · 1Cor 1:27 · +2 more

24Then Yahweh’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

25The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.Cross-references: Job 5:13 · Isa 47:12

26Yahweh’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.Cross-references: Isa 26:11 · Hos 2:6

27The donkey saw Yahweh’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.Cross-references: Prov 14:16 · Prov 27:3 · James 1:19

28Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”Cross-references: Ex 4:11 · Luke 1:37 · Rom 8:22 · 1Cor 1:19 · 2Pet 2:16

29Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”Cross-references: Prov 12:10 · Prov 12:16 · Eccl 9:3 · Matt 15:19

30The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?” He said, “No.”Cross-references: 1Cor 1:27 · 2Pet 2:16

31Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw Yahweh’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.Cross-references: Gen 21:19 · Ex 34:8 · Num 24:4 · Num 24:16 · 2Ki 6:17 · 1Chr 21:16 · +5 more

32Yahweh’s angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.Cross-references: Ex 3:2 · Num 22:20 · Num 22:22 · Num 22:28 · Num 22:35 · Deut 23:4 · +11 more

33The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”Cross-references: Num 14:37 · Num 16:33 · 1Ki 13:24

34Balaam said to Yahweh’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”Cross-references: Ex 9:27 · Ex 10:16 · Num 11:1 · Num 14:40 · Num 22:12 · 1Sam 15:24 · +9 more

35Yahweh’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.Cross-references: Num 22:20 · Ps 81:12 · Isa 37:26 · 2Thess 2:9

36When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.Cross-references: Gen 14:17 · Gen 18:2 · Gen 46:29 · Ex 18:7 · Num 21:13 · Deut 2:24 · +6 more

37Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”Cross-references: Num 22:16 · Num 24:11 · Ps 75:6 · Matt 4:8 · Luke 4:6 · John 5:44

38Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”Cross-references: Num 22:18 · Num 23:16 · Num 23:26 · Num 24:13 · 1Ki 22:14 · 2Chr 18:13 · +6 more

39Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.

40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.Cross-references: Gen 31:54 · Num 23:2 · Num 23:14 · Num 23:30 · Prov 1:16

41In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.Cross-references: Num 21:28 · Num 23:13 · Num 25:2 · Deut 12:2 · 2Chr 11:15 · Jer 48:35