Numbers 22

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 22

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

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

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

4And 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.

5He 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:

6Come 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

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

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

11Behold, [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.

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

13And 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.

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

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

16And 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:

17For 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.

18And 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.

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

20And 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.

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

22¶ And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him.

23And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

24But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side.

25And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

26And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where [was] no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

27And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

28And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

30And the ass said unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since [I was] thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

32And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me:

33And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

34And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

35And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

36¶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which [is] in the border of Arnon, which [is] in the utmost coast.

37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?

38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.

40And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that [were] with him.

41And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost [part] of the people.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Balak of Moab, fearing the numerous Israelites, sends for the prophet Balaam to curse them. God initially forbids Balaam from going, but later permits him with a strict command to speak only what He dictates. On his journey, Balaam's ass miraculously speaks after being beaten for seeing the Angel of the LORD, who reveals Balaam's perverse way and reiterates God's command to speak only His words.

Medium Summary

As the Israelites encamp in the plains of Moab, King Balak becomes terrified by their vast numbers and recent victories. He dispatches messengers to Balaam, a renowned diviner, requesting him to curse Israel, believing Balaam's pronouncements hold power. God appears to Balaam, explicitly forbidding him to go or curse the blessed people. Despite this, Balak sends more honorable princes with greater promises of reward. Balaam, though stating he cannot transgress God's word, again consults God, who permits him to go but only to speak what He commands. En route, the Angel of the LORD obstructs Balaam, visible only to his ass, which repeatedly turns aside and eventually speaks, rebuking Balaam. God then opens Balaam's eyes to see the Angel, who reveals Balaam's perverse path and confirms he must only deliver God's message. Balaam then proceeds to meet Balak, affirming his inability to speak anything but God's words.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with the children of Israel encamped in the plains of Moab, opposite Jericho. King Balak of Moab, observing Israel's immense numbers and their recent victories over the Amorites, becomes greatly distressed and fearful. He consults with the elders of Midian and decides to send messengers to Balaam, a prophet or diviner from Pethor, renowned for his ability to bless or curse effectively. Balak's plea is for Balaam to come and curse Israel, hoping to weaken them sufficiently to drive them out of the land. The messengers, carrying rewards for divination, reach Balaam, who tells them to lodge for the night while he consults the LORD. God appears to Balaam and explicitly commands him not to go with the men or curse the people, for they are blessed. Balaam relays God's refusal to the princes, who return to Balak. Undeterred, Balak sends a second, more distinguished delegation, offering even greater honor and reward to persuade Balaam. Balaam reiterates his inability to transgress the LORD's word, even for vast riches, but again seeks further counsel from God. This time, God permits Balaam to go, but strictly warns him to speak only the words He will give him. As Balaam rides his ass with the Moabite princes, God's anger is kindled. The Angel of the LORD appears in the way as an adversary, visible only to the ass. The ass, seeing the Angel, turns aside three times, crushing Balaam's foot against a wall on one occasion, and finally lying down, prompting Balaam to beat her repeatedly. Miraculously, the LORD opens the ass's mouth, and she questions Balaam's harsh treatment. Subsequently, the LORD opens Balaam's eyes, allowing him to see the Angel with a drawn sword. The Angel rebukes Balaam, explaining that his way was perverse and that the ass's actions saved his life. Balaam confesses his sin and offers to return, but the Angel instructs him to proceed, re-emphasizing that he must only speak what God commands. Balaam then meets Balak, who questions his initial delay, and Balaam reiterates that he can only speak the words God puts in his mouth. Balak then takes Balaam to the high places of Baal, from where he can view the Israelite encampment.

Core Concepts

  • Balak's Fear and StrategyKing Balak of Moab is overwhelmed by fear due to Israel's large numbers and military success, leading him to seek supernatural means (a curse from Balaam) to overcome them rather than direct military confrontation.
  • Balaam's Divination and God's AuthorityBalaam is presented as a diviner whose blessings and curses are believed to be potent, yet he is ultimately subject to the will and direct commands of the LORD, who dictates what he may or may not speak.
  • Divine Obstruction and Perverse WayGod's anger is kindled when Balaam goes, leading the Angel of the LORD to obstruct his path, demonstrating divine opposition to Balaam's intent or the path he was taking, even if permitted to go under specific conditions.
  • The Talking Ass as a Divine MessengerThe miraculous opening of the ass's mouth serves as a direct, supernatural intervention by the LORD, used to rebuke Balaam and reveal the unseen divine presence and danger he was in.
  • God's Sovereignty over ProphecyDespite Balak's desires and Balaam's initial inclinations, the chapter powerfully illustrates that God maintains absolute control over Balaam's words, ensuring that only His message, not Balaam's or Balak's, will be delivered.
  • The Blessed Status of IsraelA core theme is God's declaration that Israel is 'blessed,' implying divine protection and favor that cannot be undone by human or magical curses, underscoring their covenant relationship with the LORD.