Numbers 22 : 1 (NCV)
Then the people of Israel went to the plains of Moab,and they camped near the Jordan River across from Jericho.
Numbers 22 : 2 (NCV)
Balak son of Zippor saw everything the Israelites had done to the Amorites.
Numbers 22 : 3 (NCV)
And Moab was scared of so many Israelites; truly, Moab was terrified by them.
Numbers 22 : 4 (NCV)
The Moabites said to the older leaders of Midian, "These people will take everything around us like an ox eating grass." Balak son of Zippor was the king of Moab at this time.
Numbers 22 : 5 (NCV)
He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, near the Euphrates River in his native land. Balak said, "A nation has come out of Egypt that covers the land. They have camped next to me,
Numbers 22 : 6 (NCV)
and they are too powerful for me. So come and put a curse on them. Maybe then I can defeat them and make them leave the area. I know that if you bless someone, the blessings happen, and if you put a curse on someone, it happens."
Numbers 22 : 7 (NCV)
The older leaders of Moab and Midian went with payment in their hands. When they found Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
Numbers 22 : 8 (NCV)
Balaam said to them, "Stay here for the night, and I will tell you what the Lord tells me." So the Moabite leaders stayed with him.
Numbers 22 : 9 (NCV)
God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"
Numbers 22 : 10 (NCV)
Balaam said to God, "The king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, sent them to me with this message:
Numbers 22 : 11 (NCV)
'A nation has come out of Egypt that covers the land. So come and put a curse on them, and maybe I can fight them and force them out of my land.'"
Numbers 22 : 12 (NCV)
But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. Don't put a curse on those people, because I have blessed them."
Numbers 22 : 13 (NCV)
The next morning Balaam awoke and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your own country; the Lord has refused to let me go with you."
Numbers 22 : 14 (NCV)
So the Moabite leaders went back to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
Numbers 22 : 15 (NCV)
So Balak sent other leaders -- this time there were more of them, and they were more important.
Numbers 22 : 16 (NCV)
They went to Balaam and said, "Balak son of Zippor says this: Please don't let anything stop you from coming to me.
Numbers 22 : 17 (NCV)
I will pay you very well, and I will do what you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me."
Numbers 22 : 18 (NCV)
But Balaam answered Balak's servants, "King Balak could give me his palace full of silver and gold, but I cannot disobey the Lord my God in anything, great or small.
Numbers 22 : 19 (NCV)
You stay here tonight as the other men did, and I will find out what more the Lord tells me."
Numbers 22 : 20 (NCV)
That night God came to Balaam and said, "These men have come to ask you to go with them. Go, but only do what I tell you."
Numbers 22 : 21 (NCV)
Balaam got up the next morning and put a saddle on his donkey. Then he went with the Moabite leaders.
Numbers 22 : 22 (NCV)
But God became angry because Balaam went, so the angel of the Lord stood in the road to stop Balaam. Balaam was riding his donkey, and he had two servants with him.
Numbers 22 : 23 (NCV)
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a sword in his hand, the donkey left the road and went into the field. Balaam hit the donkey to force her back on the road.
Numbers 22 : 24 (NCV)
Later, the angel of the Lord stood on a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.
Numbers 22 : 25 (NCV)
Again the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, and she walked close to one wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he hit her again.
Numbers 22 : 26 (NCV)
The angel of the Lord went ahead again and stood at a narrow place, too narrow to turn left or right.
Numbers 22 : 27 (NCV)
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. This made him so angry that he hit her with his stick.
Numbers 22 : 28 (NCV)
Then the Lord made the donkey talk, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to make you hit me three times?"
Numbers 22 : 29 (NCV)
Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!"
Numbers 22 : 30 (NCV)
But the donkey said to Balaam, "I am your very own donkey, which you have ridden for years. Have I ever done this to you before?" "No," Balaam said.
Numbers 22 : 31 (NCV)
Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel of the Lord, who was standing in the road with his sword drawn. Then Balaam bowed facedown on the ground.
Numbers 22 : 32 (NCV)
The angel of the Lord asked Balaam, "Why have you hit your donkey three times? I have stood here to stop you, because what you are doing is wrong.
Numbers 22 : 33 (NCV)
The donkey saw me and turned away from me three times. If she had not turned away, I would have killed you by now, but I would have let her live."
Numbers 22 : 34 (NCV)
Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned; I did not know you were standing in the road to stop me. If I am wrong, I will go back."
Numbers 22 : 35 (NCV)
The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with these men, but say only what I tell you." So Balaam went with Balak's leaders.
Numbers 22 : 36 (NCV)
When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at Ar in Moab, which was beside the Arnon, at the edge of his country.
Numbers 22 : 37 (NCV)
Balak said to Balaam, "I had asked you before to come quickly. Why didn't you come to me? I am able to reward you well."
Numbers 22 : 38 (NCV)
But Balaam answered, "I have come to you now, but I can't say just anything. I can only say what God tells me to say."
Numbers 22 : 39 (NCV)
Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.
Numbers 22 : 40 (NCV)
Balak offered cattle and sheep as a sacrifice and gave some meat to Balaam and the leaders with him.
Numbers 22 : 41 (NCV)
The next morning Balak took Balaam to Bamoth Baal; from there he could see the edge of the Israelite camp.
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