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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 ESV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../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="../topmenuchap/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="../">ESV</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 class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/numbers/22.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Balak Summons Balaam</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="That is, the Euphrates">a</a></sup></span> in the land of the people of Amaw,<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or the people of his kindred">b</a></sup></span> to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> has refused to let me go with you.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> my God to do less or more. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> will say to me.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.</p> <p class="heading">Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel</p><p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>And the donkey saw the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Then the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>And when the donkey saw the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Then the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>When the donkey saw the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Then the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> 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?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Then the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>And the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or reckless">c</a></sup></span> before me. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Then Balaam said to the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>And the angel of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.</p> <p class="regular"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/22-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">5</span> That is, <span class="catch-word">the</span> Euphrates<br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">5</span> Or <i><span class="catch-word">the people of</span> his kindred</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">32</span> Or <i>reckless</i><br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="http://www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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