Numbers Chapter 22

Numbers Chapter 22
1 After, the children of Israel departed
and pitched in the plain of Moab on the
other side of Jordan from Jericho.
2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all
that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3
And the Moabites were sore afraid of
the people, because they were many, and
Moab fretted against the children of
Israel.
4 Therefore Moab said unto the elders of
Midian, Now shall this multitude lick up
all that are round about us, as an ox
licketh up the grass of the field: and
Balak the son of Zippor was King of the
Moabites at that time. 5 He sent
messengers therefore unto Balaam the
son of Beor to Pethor (which is by the
river of the land of the children of his
folk) to call him, saying, Behold, there is
a people come out of Egypt, which cover
the face of the earth, and lie over against
me.
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, and
curse me this people (for they are
stronger than I) so it may be that I shall
be able to smite them, and to drive them
out of the land: for I know that he, whom
thou blessest, is blessed, and he whom
thou cursest, shall be cursed.
7 And the elders of Moab, and the elders
of Midian departed, having the reward
of the soothsaying in their hand, and they
came unto Balaam, and told him the
words of Balak.
8 Who answered them, Tarry here this
night, and I will give you an answer, as
the Lord shall say unto me. So the
princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9
Then God came unto Balaam, and said,
What men are these with thee?
10 And Baalam said unto God, Balak the
son of Zippor, king of Moab hath sent
unto me, saying,
11 Behold, there is a people come out of
Egypt and covereth the face of the earth:
come now, curse them for my sake: so it
may be that I shall be able to overcome
them in battle, and to drive them out.
12 And God said unto Balaam, Go not
thou with them, neither curse the people,
for they are blessed.
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning,
and said unto the princes of Balak,
Return unto your land: for the Lord hath
refused to give me leave to go with you.
14 So the princes of Moab rose up, and
went unto Balak, and said, Balaam hath
refused to come with us.
15 Balak yet sent again more princes,
and more honorable than they. 16 Who
came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus
saith Balak the son of Zippor, Be not
thou stayed, I pray thee, from coming
unto me.
17 For I will promote thee unto great
honor, and will do whatsoever thou
sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray
thee, curse me this people. 18 And
Balaam answered, and said unto the
servants of Balak, If Balak would give
me his house full of silver and gold, I
cannot go beyond the word of the Lord
my God, to do less or more.
19 But now, I pray you, tarry here this
night, that I may wit, what the Lord will
say unto me more.
20 And God came unto Balaam by night,
and said unto him, If the men come to
call thee, rise up, and go with them: but
only what thing I say unto thee, that shalt
thou do.
21 So Balaam rose up early, and
saddled his ass, and went with the
princes of Moab.
22 And the wrath of God was kindled,
because he went: and the Angel of the
Lord stood in the way to be against him,
as he rode upon his ass, and his two
servants were with him.
23 And when the ass saw the Angel of
the Lord stand in the way, and his sword
drawn in his hand, the ass turned out of
the way and went into the field, but
Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the
way.
24 Again the Angel of the Lord stood in
a path of the vineyards, having a wall on
the one side, and a wall on the other.
25 And when the ass saw the Angel of
the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall,
and dashed Balaam’s foot against the
wall: wherefore he smote her again.
26 Then the Angel of the Lord went
further, and stood in a narrow place,
where was no way to turn, either to the
right hand, or to the left. 27 And when
the ass saw the Angel of the Lord, she
lay down under Balaam: therefore
Balaam was very wroth, and smote the
ass with a staff. 28 Then the Lord
opened the mouth of the ass, and she said
unto Balaam, What have I done unto
thee, that thou hast smitten me now three
times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass,
Because thou hast mocked me: I would
there were a sword in mine hand, for
now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am
not I thine ass, which thou hast ridden
upon since thy first time unto this day?
Have I used at any time to do thus unto
thee? Who said, Nay.
31 And the Lord opened the eyes of
Balaam, and he saw the Angel of the
Lord standing in the way with his sword
drawn in his hand: then he bowed
himself, and fell flat on his face.
32 And the Angel of the Lord said unto
him, Wherefore hast thou now smitten
thine ass three times? Behold, I came out
to withstand thee, because thy way is not
straight before me.
33 But the ass saw me, and turned from
me now three times: for else, if she had
not turned from me, surely I had even
now slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 Then Balaam said unto the Angel of
the Lord, I have sinned: for I wist not
that thou stoodest in the way against me:
now therefore if it displease thee, I will
turn home again.
35 But the Angel said unto Balaam, Go
with the men: but what I say unto thee,
that shalt thou speak. So Balaam went
with the princes of Balak. 36 And when
Balak heard that Balaam came, he went
out to meet him unto a city of Moab,
which is in the border of Arnon, even in
the utmost coast. 37 Then Balak said
unto Balaam, Did I not send for thee to
call thee?
Wherefore camest thou not unto me? Am
I not able indeed to promote thee unto
honor?
38 And Balaam made answer unto
Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee, and can
I now say anything at all? The word that
God putteth in my mouth, that shall I
speak.
39 So Balaam went with Balak, and they
came unto the city of Huzoth. 40 Then
Balak offered bullocks, and sheep, and
sent thereof to Balaam, and to the
princes that were with him.
41 And on the morrow Balak took
Balaam, and brought him up into the high
places of Baal, that thence he might see
the utmost part of the people.