Self-interpreting Bible

« back to list of books

« back to list of chapters

Numbers 22

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.

1 AND the children of Israel aset forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.

2 ¶And Balak the son of Zippor saw ball that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3 And Moab was *sore cafraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

4 And Moab said unto the delders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all 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 He esent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to fPethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they gcover the 1face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, hcurse 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.

7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the irewards of *divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this jnight, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

9 And kGod came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

10 And Balaam said unto God, lBalak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; *peradventure 2I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

  • *: peradventure-perhaps.
  • 2: Heb. I shall prevail in fighting against him.

12 And God said unto Balaam, mThou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for nthey are blessed.

13 And 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.

    14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

      15 ¶And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

        16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, 3Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

        • 3: Heb. Be not thou letted from.

        17 For oI will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

        18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, pIf Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, qI cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

        19 Now therefore, I pray you, rtarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

        20 sAnd God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, tIf the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but uyet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

        21 And Balaam vrose up in the morning, and saddled his wass, and went with the princes of Moab.

        22 ¶And God's anger was kindled xbecause he went: and the yangel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

        23 And zthe ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

        24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a apath of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

        25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and bcrushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

        26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, cwhere was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

        27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and dBalaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

        28 And the LORD eopened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

        29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I fwould there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

        30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, 4upon which thou hast ridden 5ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever *wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

        • 4: Heb. who hast ridden upon me.
        • 5: Or, ever since thou wast.
        • *: wont-accustomed.

        31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he gsaw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he hbowed down his head, and 6fell flat on his face.

        32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, iWherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out 7to withstand thee, because thy way is jperverse before me:

        33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I khad slain thee, and saved her alive.

        34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I lhave sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it 8displease thee, I will get me back again.

        35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, mGo 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 nwent out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of oArnon, which is in the *utmost coast.

        37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am pI not able indeed to promote thee to honour?

        38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have qI now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

        39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto 9Kirjath-huzoth.

        • 9: Or, a city of streets.

        40 And Balak roffered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.

        41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the shigh places of Baal, that thence he might see tthe *utmost part of the people.