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the Israelites moved on, and they camped in the plains of Moab along the Jordan across from Jericho.
2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified of the people because they were so numerous. So Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of his people, to summon him. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the earth, and they have settled next to me. 6 Please come now and put a curse on this people for me, because they are much more powerful than I am. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that those whom you bless are blessed, and those whom you curse are cursed.”
7 So the elders of Moab and Midian departed, taking the fees for divination with them. Then they went to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.
8 Balaam said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring you back the answer the Lord gives me.” So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me: 11 ‘A people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Now come and put a curse them for me. Perhaps I will then be able to fight against them and drive them away’.”
12 But God said to Balaam, “You are not to go with them. You must not curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 The officials of Moab arose and went back to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Then Balak sent other officials who were more numerous and more distinguished than the others. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor said:
‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will honour you greatly and do whatever you say, So please come and put a curse on this people for me’.”
18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great. 19 Now please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the Lord will tell me.” 20 That night God came to Balaam and said to him, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but only do what I tell you.”
21 When Balaam got up in the morning, he saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab. 22 But God was very angry with him for going, and the Angel of the Lord stood on the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with a drawn sword in His hand, she turned off the road and headed into a field. So Balaam beat the donkey to get her to return back to the road.
24 Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pressed herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against it, so he beat her again.
26 Then the Angel of the Lord moved ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. At that, Balaam was furious with the donkey, and he beat her with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
30 But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I ever treated you this way before?”
“No,” he replied.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the path, with His drawn sword in His hand. So Balaam bowed his head and fell facedown.
32 The Angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come here to oppose you, because your way is perverse before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would certainly have killed you by now and let her live.”
34 Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the road to oppose me. And now, if it is displeasing to You, I will turn back.”
35 The Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the officials of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak asked Balaam, “Did I not urgently summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38 “Look, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But can I speak whatever I need to speak? I must speak only the words that God puts in my mouth.”
39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. 41 The next morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he could see the edge of the Israelite people.