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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Numbers 22</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/bsb/spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/numbers/22.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc//numbers/22-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/numbers/">Numbers</a> > Numbers 22</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../numbers/21.htm" title="Numbers 21">◄</a> Numbers 22 <a href="../numbers/23.htm" title="Numbers 23">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div align="center" id="jump2"><a href="/niv/numbers/22.htm">NIV</a> • <a href="/nlt/numbers/22.htm">NLT</a> • <a href="/esv/numbers/22.htm">ESV</a> • <a href="/kjv/numbers/22.htm">KJV</a> • <a href="/nkjv/numbers/22.htm">NKJ</a> • <a href="/nasb/numbers/22.htm">NAS</a></div><br /><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="1%" valign="top">BSB</td><td width="99%" valign="top" align="right"><a href="/parallel/numbers/22.htm" style="font-weight:normal" title="Parallel Chapters">Parallel Chapters ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><A name="2"></a><p class="hdg">Balak Summons Balaam<p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho. <A name="3"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. <A name="5"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” <p class="reg"> Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time, <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">a</a></span> in the land of his people. <p class="reg">“Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.” <A name="8"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak. <A name="9"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. <A name="10"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” <A name="11"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’<span class="thinq"> </span>” <A name="13"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” <A name="14"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” <A name="15"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” <A name="16"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. <A name="17"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, <A name="18"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’<span class="thinq"> </span>” <A name="19"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. <A name="20"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.” <A name="21"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” <A name="22"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. <A name="23"></a><p class="hdg">The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey<p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">b</a></span> of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. <A name="24"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path. <A name="25"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. <A name="26"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again. <A name="27"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. <A name="28"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff. <A name="29"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>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?” <A name="30"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>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!” <A name="31"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” <p class="reg">“No,” he replied. <A name="32"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown. <A name="33"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">c</a></span> before me. <A name="34"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.” <A name="35"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.” <A name="36"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. <A name="37"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>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. <A name="38"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?” <A name="39"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.” <A name="40"></a><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. <A name="41"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him. <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/22-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.</p><A name="fn"></a><div id="fnlink"><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:</b><br><br><span class="fnverse">5</span> <span class="footnotesbot">a</span> Hebrew <i>the River</i><span class="thin"> </span><br><span class="fnverse">22</span> <span class="footnotesbot">b</span> Or <i>Angel</i><span class="thin"> </span>; here through the rest of chapter 22; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized.<br><span class="fnverse">32</span> <span class="footnotesbot">c</span> Or <i>reckless</i><span class="thin"> </span> or <i>contrary</i><span class="thin"> </span><br><br /></div><br /></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Berean Bible (<a href=http://berean.bible>www.Berean.Bible</a>) <a href=http://bereanbible.com>Berean Study Bible (BSB)</a> © 2016, 2020 by <a href=http://biblehub.com>Bible Hub</a> and <a href=http://berean.bible>Berean.Bible</a>. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. 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