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          DASV: Numbers 22    

1 The Israelites journeyed and camped in the plains of Moab
on the east side of the Jordan River across from Jericho.
2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to
the Amorites.
3 Moab was terrified of the people, because they were so numerous.
Moab was full of dread because of the Israelites.
4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this horde will lick
up everything that is around us, as an ox licks up the grass
of the field." Balak, the son of Zippor, was king of Moab at that time.

5 So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor,
which is by the Euphrates River, in the land of the people of Amaw,
to summon him, saying, "Look, a people has come out of Egypt.
They cover the face of the earth and they have settled next to me.
6 Come now, curse this people for me; for they are too powerful
for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive
them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed,
and whoever you curse is cursed."
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the
fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and told
him the words of Balak.
8 Then he said to them, "Stay here tonight, and I will bring you
back whatever word the LORD tells me." So the princes of Moab
stayed with Balaam.
9 Then God came to Balaam, and said, "Who are these men with you?"
10 Balaam replied to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab,
has sent a request to me, saying,
11 'Look, a people has come out of Egypt, it covers the face of
the earth. Now come curse them for me; perhaps then I will be
able to fight against them and drive them out.'"
12 But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you are not to
curse the people, for they are blessed."
13 So Balaam got up in the morning and told the princes of Balak,
"Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go
with you."
14 So the princes of Moab got up and returned to Balak, and reported,
"Balaam refused to come with us."

15 Once again Balak sent princes, more numerous and more
distinguished than the first.
16 They came to Balaam and said to him, "This is what Balak
the son of Zippor says, 'Let nothing, stop you from coming to me,
17 for I will reward you substantially, and whatever you tell
me I will do. So come curse this people for me.'"
18 Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak,
"Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold,
I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19 Now therefore, please spend the night here, that I may
learn what more the LORD will say to me."
20 Then God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "Since these
men have come to invite you, get up and go with them. But do only
what I tell you to do."
21 So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went
with the princes of Moab.

22 But God's anger was sparked because he went; and the angel of
the LORD stood in the way to oppose him. Now he was riding upon
his donkey and his two servants were with him.
23 The donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road,
with his sword drawn in his hand. So the donkey turned off the
road and went into the field. But Balaam beat the donkey to
turn it back onto the road.
24 Then the angel of the LORD stood where the road narrowed between
the vineyards, a rock wall being on both sides.
25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it squeezed by
against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.
So again he beat the donkey.
26 Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow
place where was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under
Balaam. Then Balaam's anger was sparked, and he beat the donkey
with his stick.
28 So the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to
Balaam, "What have I done to you that you beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam retorted to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool
of me! I wish there were a sword in my hand, then I would kill you
right now."
30 But the donkey responded to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey that
you have ridden on all your life until this day? Have I ever done
anything like this to you before?" and he said, "No."
31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the
LORD standing in the road, with his sword drawn in his hand. So he
bowed his head and fell on his face.
32 Then the angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your
donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because
what you are doing is stubbornly opposing me.
33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times.
If it had not turned away from me, surely I would have killed
you by now, and yet saved it alive."
34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned.
For I did not know that you stood in the road against me.
Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back home."
35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men;
but speak only the word that I tell you to say." So Balaam went
with the princes of Balak.

36 Now when Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet
him at a town of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon gorge,
which is the farthest border of his territory.
37 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent
invitation? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able reward
you handsomely?"
38 But Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you. Do I
have the power to speak just anything at all? The word that God
puts in my mouth, that alone is what I must speak."
39 Then Balaam went with Balak and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some of it to Balaam
and the princes who were with him.
41 The next morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to Bamot
Baal and from there he was able to see the outer part of the
people of Israel.

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