Balak Summons Balaam
Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho. Deu 1:5Deu 3:8Deu 34:1Deu 34:8Jos 3:16Num 21:20Num 32:19Num 33:48-50
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, Jdg 11:25Num 21:20-35Num 21:3 and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. Exo 15:15Isa 23:5Deu 2:25Jos 2:10-11Jos 2:24Jos 9:24Psa 53:5 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.” Num 25:15-18Num 31:8Jdg 11:25Jer 48:38Jos 13:21-22Num 22:2Num 22:7Num 24:17
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 1in the land of his people. Deu 23:4Jos 24:9Mic 6:5Jud 1:11Jos 13:22Num 23:72Pe 2:15-16Exo 1:7-10
“Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 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.” Num 24:9Num 23:7-81Ki 22:131Ki 22:61Ki 22:81Sa 17:43Act 16:16Act 8:9-10
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. 1Sa 9:7-8Mic 3:111Ti 6:9-102Pe 2:15Ezk 13:19Isa 56:11Jud 1:11Num 23:23
“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. Ezk 33:31Jer 12:2Num 12:6Num 22:19-20Num 23:12
Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” Gen 20:3Num 22:202Ki 20:14-15Dan 4:31-32Exo 4:2Gen 16:8Gen 3:9-11Gen 4:9
And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: ‘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.’”
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.” Deu 23:5Eph 1:3Rom 11:29Gen 12:2Num 23:19-20Deu 33:29Rom 4:6-7Gen 22:16-18
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.” Deu 23:5Num 22:14
And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” Num 22:13Num 22:37
Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers. Act 10:7-8Num 22:7-8 They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’” Num 24:11Deu 16:9Est 5:11Est 7:9Mat 14:7Mat 16:26Mat 4:8-9Num 22:37
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. Num 24:131Ki 22:142Ch 18:13Num 23:26Num 22:38Act 8:20Dan 5:17Tit 1:16 So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.” Jud 1:111Ti 6:9-102Pe 2:152Pe 2:3Num 22:7-8
That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” Num 23:12Num 23:26Num 24:13Num 22:352Th 2:9-121Sa 12:12-191Sa 8:5-9Ezk 14:2-5 So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. Pro 1:15-16
The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey
Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel 2of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. Exo 4:24Lam 2:4Num 22:32Exo 23:202Ki 10:20Hos 1:4Hos 12:4-5Num 22:35
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path. Jud 1:111Co 1:27-292Pe 2:161Ch 21:162Ki 6:17Act 22:9Dan 10:7Jer 8:7
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again. Isa 47:12Job 5:13-15
And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. Hos 2:6Isa 26:11 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff. Pro 14:16Jas 1:19Pro 27:3-4
Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?” 2Pe 2:16Exo 4:11Luk 1:371Co 1:19Rom 8:22
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!” Pro 12:10Mat 15:19Pro 12:16Ecc 9:3
But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?” 2Pe 2:161Co 1:27-28
“No,” he replied.
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown. Gen 21:19Luk 24:311Ch 21:16Act 26:18Luk 24:16Num 24:16Num 24:4Exo 34:8
The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse 3before me. Act 13:10Num 22:22Pro 28:18Pro 14:2Pro 28:62Pe 2:14-15Deu 23:4Deu 25:4 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.” 1Ki 13:24-28Num 14:37Num 16:33-35
“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.” 1Sa 15:24Job 34:31-322Sa 12:131Sa 15:301Sa 26:211Ch 21:71Sa 24:17Exo 10:16-17
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. 2Th 2:9-12Isa 37:26-29Num 22:20-21Psa 81:12
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. Act 28:15Isa 16:2Jer 48:20Deu 2:24Deu 3:8Exo 18:7Gen 14:17Gen 18:2 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?” Num 24:11Jhn 5:44Luk 4:6Mat 4:8-9Num 22:16-17Psa 75:6
“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.” Num 22:18Pro 19:21Num 23:16Num 23:261Ki 22:142Ch 18:13Isa 44:25Isa 46:10
So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him. Num 23:14Pro 1:16Gen 31:54Num 23:2Num 23:30
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. Num 23:132Ch 11:15Deu 12:2Jer 48:35Num 21:28Num 25:2-3