Balak

Are you now so much better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them?

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,

¹⁰ but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

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.’”

² Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,

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,

⁵ 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.

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.

¹⁰ And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

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.’”

¹³ So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

¹⁴ And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

¹⁵ Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.

¹⁶ They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

¹⁷ for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’”

¹⁸ But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

³⁵ But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

³⁶ When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.

³⁷ And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”

³⁸ “See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

³⁹ So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

⁴⁰ Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.

¹ Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

² So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

³ “Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” So Balaam went off to a barren height,

⁴ and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

⁵ Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”