Numbers 22:1-21
Balak Summons Balaam

1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan [by] Jericho.

1:

2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

2:

3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they [were] many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

3:

4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all [that are] round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time.

4:

5 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:

5:

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they [are] too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, [that] we may smite them, and [that] I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest [is] blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

6:

7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

7:

8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

8:

9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men [are] these with thee?

9:

10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying],

10:

11 Behold, [there is] a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

11:

12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they [are] blessed.

12:

13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.

13:

14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

14:

15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

15:

16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:

16:

17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

17:

18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

18:

19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

19:

20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

20:

21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.

21:

NOTES: