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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 23 Christian Standard Bible</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" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></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/23.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/23-1.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="../">CSB</a> > Numbers 23</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 width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="../menu.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../numbers/22.htm" title="Numbers 22">◄</a> Numbers 23 <a href="../numbers/24.htm" title="Numbers 24">►</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">Christian Standard Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/csb/esv/numbers/23.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Verses"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><section epub:type="chapter" id="csb-Numbers.23" /><h3 class="head1">Balaam’s Oracles</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.1" /><A name="2"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.1.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.2" /> <A name="3"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>So Balak did as Balaam directed, and they offered a bull and a ram on each altar. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.3" /> <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone. Maybe the L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> will meet with me. I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So he went to a barren hill.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.4" /> <A name="5"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>God met with him and Balaam said to him, “I have arranged seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.5" /> <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Then the L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> put a message in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak and say what I tell you.”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.6" /> <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with all the officials of Moab.</p><h3 class="head1">Balaam’s First Oracle</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.7" /> <A name="8"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Balaam proclaimed his poem:</p><blockquote class="poetryblock"><p class="poem">Balak brought me from Aram;<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.7.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">the king of Moab, from the eastern mountains:</p><p class="poem">“Come, put a curse on Jacob for me;</p><p class="poem">come, denounce Israel! ”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.7.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.8" /> <A name="9"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>How can I curse someone God has not cursed?</p><p class="poem">How can I denounce someone the L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> has not denounced?</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.9" /> <A name="10"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>I see them from the top of rocky cliffs,</p><p class="poem">and I watch them from the hills.</p><p class="poem">There is a people living alone;<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.9.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">it does not consider itself among the nations.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.10" /> <A name="11"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Who has counted the dust of Jacob<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.10.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">or numbered even one-fourth of Israel?</p><p class="poem">Let me die the death of the upright;</p><p class="poem">let the end of my life be like theirs.</p></blockquote><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.11" /> <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>“What have you done to me? ” Balak asked Balaam. “I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you have only blessed them! ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.12" /> <A name="13"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>He answered, “Shouldn’t I say exactly what the L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> puts in my mouth? ”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.12.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><h3 class="head1">Balaam’s Second Oracle</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.13" /> <A name="14"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.13.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp; you won’t see all of them. From there, put a curse on them for me.” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.14" /> <A name="15"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>So Balak took him to Lookout Field<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Numbers.23.14.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> on top of Pisgah,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.14.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.15" /> <A name="16"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here by your burnt offering while I seek the L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> over there.”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.16" /> <A name="17"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>The L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth. Then he said, “Return to Balak and say what I tell you.”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.17" /> <A name="18"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with the officials of Moab. Balak asked him, “What did the L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> say? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.18" /> <A name="19"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Balaam proclaimed his poem:</p><blockquote class="poetryblock"><p class="poem">Balak, get up and listen;</p><p class="poem">son of Zippor, pay attention to what I say!</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.19" /> <A name="20"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>God is not a man, that he might lie,</p><p class="poem">or a son of man, that he might change his mind.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.19.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">Does he speak and not act,</p><p class="poem">or promise and not fulfill?<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.19.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.20" /> <A name="21"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>I have indeed received a command to bless;</p><p class="poem">since he has blessed,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Numbers.23.20.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> I cannot change it.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.21" /> <A name="22"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>He considers no disaster for Jacob;</p><p class="poem">he sees no trouble for Israel.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Numbers.23.21.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a></p><p class="poem">The L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> their God is with them,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.21.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">and there is rejoicing over the King among them.</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.22" /> <A name="23"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>God brought them out of Egypt;</p><p class="poem">he is like the horns of a wild ox for them.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Numbers.23.22.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">a</span></a> <a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.22.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.23" /> <A name="24"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>There is no magic curse against Jacob</p><p class="poem">and no divination against Israel.</p><p class="poem">It will now be said about Jacob and Israel,</p><p class="poem">“What great things God has done! ”</p><p class="poem"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.24" /> <A name="25"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>A people rise up like a lioness;</p><p class="poem">they rouse themselves like a lion.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.24.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="poem">They will not lie down until they devour the prey</p><p class="poem">and drink the blood of the slain.</p></blockquote><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.25" /> <A name="26"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Then Balak told Balaam, “Don’t curse them and don’t bless them! ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.26" /> <A name="27"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>But Balaam answered him, “Didn’t I tell you: Whatever the L<span class="smallcaps">ord</span> says, I must do? ”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.26.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><h3 class="head1">Balaam’s Third Oracle</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.27" /> <A name="28"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Again Balak said to Balaam, “Please come. I will take you to another place. Maybe it will be agreeable to God that you can put a curse on them for me there.” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.28" /> <A name="29"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Numbers.23.28.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">a</span></a> <a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.28.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.29" /> <A name="30"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Balaam told Balak, “Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Numbers.23.29.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Numbers.23.30" /> <span class="reftext"><a href="/numbers/23-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>So Balak did as Balaam said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.</p><br /><section id="footnotes-Numbers.23" class="fnSection"><aside id="fn.Numbers.23.14.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.14">23:14</a></span> Or <span class="italic">to the field of Zophim</span></aside><aside id="fn.Numbers.23.20.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.20">23:20</a></span> Sam, LXX read <span class="italic">since I will bless</span></aside><aside id="fn.Numbers.23.21.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.21">23:21</a></span> Or <span class="italic">He does not observe sin in Jacob; he does not see wrongdoing in Israel</span></aside><aside id="fn.Numbers.23.22.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.22">23:22</a></span> Or <span class="italic">Egypt; they have the horns of a wild ox</span></aside><aside id="fn.Numbers.23.28.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.28">23:28</a></span> Or <span class="italic">overlooks Jeshimon</span></aside><br /><section id="cross-references-Numbers.23" class="xrfSection"><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.1.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.1">23:1</a></span> 1Ch 15:26; 2Ch 29:21; Jb 42:8; Ezk 45:23</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.7.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.7">23:7</a></span> Dt 23:4</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.7.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.7">23:7</a></span> Nm 22:6,17</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.9.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.9">23:9</a></span> Dt 33:28</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.10.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.10">23:10</a></span> Gn 13:16</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.12.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.12">23:12</a></span> Nm 22:38</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.13.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.13">23:13</a></span> Nm 23:27</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.14.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.14">23:14</a></span> Nm 21:20; Dt 3:17,27; 4:49; 34:1; Jos 12:3; 13:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.19.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.19">23:19</a></span> 1Sm 15:29; Mal 3:6; Ti 1:2; Heb 6:17–18</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.19.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.19">23:19</a></span> Ps 33:10–11; Pr 19:21; Is 14:24; 31:2; 45:23; 46:9–11; 48:3; 55:11; Rm 11:29; Eph 1:11; 2Tm 2:13</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.21.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.21">23:21</a></span> Gn 28:15; Nm 14:9; Dt 2:7; 20:1; Jos 1:17; Jdg 6:13; 2Ch 20:17; Ps 46:11; Is 8:10; 41:10; Jr 1:19; 15:20; Zph 3:17; Hg 2:4; Rv 21:3</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.22.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.22">23:22</a></span> Nm 24:8</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.24.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.24">23:24</a></span> Nm 24:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.26.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.26">23:26</a></span> Nm 22:38</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.28.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.28">23:28</a></span> Nm 21:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Numbers.23.29.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Numbers.23.29">23:29</a></span> Nm 23:1–2</aside><br /><section id="study-notes-Numbers.23" class="snSection"><br /></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Christian Standard Bible. 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