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Numbers 23:11

BalaamBalak

9 For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous; let my end be like theirs!”

Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”

12 But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

13 Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the outskirts of their camp—not all of them. And from there, curse them for me.”

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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
Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”
KJV
And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
WEB
Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.”
ASV
And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
DARBY
And Balak said to Balaam, What hast thou done to me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.
BLB
And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? To curse my enemies I took you, and behold, you have surely blessed them.”
ÅB
Da sa Balak til Bileam: Hva har du gjort mot meg? Til å forbanne mine fiender hentet jeg deg, og se, du har velsignet!
OTB
Balak sa til Bileam: «Hva har du gjort mot meg? Jeg hentet deg for å forbanne mine fiender, men du har velsignet dem i stedet!»
B1930
Da sa Balak til Bileam: Hvad har du gjort mot mig? Til å forbanne mine fiender hentet jeg dig, og se, du har velsignet!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Nehemiah 13:2

    because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

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  • Numbers 24:10

    Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

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  • Psalms 109:17–20

    The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.

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  • Numbers 23:7–8

    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!’

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  • Numbers 22:17

    for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”

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  • Numbers 22:11

    ‘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.’”

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