Numbers 22:5
3 and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
4 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.” Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time,
he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
6 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.”
7 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.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
- KJV
- 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 people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
- WEB
- He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.
- ASV
- And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.
- DARBY
- And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is on the river in the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people is come out from Egypt; behold, they cover the face of the land, and they abide over against me.
- BLB
- And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which [is] near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come from Egypt. Behold, he has covered the eye of the land, and he is dwelling next to me.”
- ÅB
- Han sendte bud til Bileam, Beors sønn, i Petor, som ligger ved den store elv, til det land hvor han bodde blant sitt folk, for å be ham komme og si til ham: Se, her er kommet et folk fra Egypt; det fyller hele landet, og det har leiret seg midt imot meg.
- OTB
- Han sendte budbringere for å kalle til seg Bileam, Beors sønn, som var i Petor ved Eufrat, i sitt hjemland. Balak sa: «Et folk har kommet ut av Egypt; de dekker landets overflate og har slått seg ned ved siden av meg.
- B1930
- Han sendte bud til Bileam, Beors sønn, i Petor, som ligger ved den store elv, til det land hvor han bodde blandt sitt folk, for å be ham komme og si til ham: Se, her er kommet et folk fra Egypten; det fyller hele landet, og det har leiret sig midt imot mig.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 23:4
For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you.
Read in contextMicah 6:5
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
Read in contextJoshua 24:9
Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,
Read in contextJude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
Read in contextNumbers 23:7
And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’
Read in contextJoshua 13:22
The Israelites also killed the diviner Balaam son of Beor along with the others they put to the sword.
Read in contextNehemiah 13:1–2
At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
Read in contextGenesis 13:16
I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.
Read in context