Numbers 22:13

13 Bil'am got up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Return to your own land, because ADONAI refuses to give me permission to go with you."

Numbers 22:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:13

And Balaam rose up in the morning
With the impression of the dream upon his mind, and of what had passed between God and him in it:

and said unto the princes of Balak;
which shows what the elders were that were sent, of what honour and dignity, and may include both those of Moab and of Midian:

get you into your land;
as soon as you can; set forward on your journey, it is to no purpose to stay here:

for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you;
he only relates one part of the answer he had from the Lord, respecting his going with them, but says not a word of his being forbid to curse Israel, and of the reason given why he should not; had he reported this, in all probability it would have prevented any further application to him, and so any attempt to get this done, which Balaam seemed aware of; and therefore, by concealing this, hoped for fresh solicitations and entreaties, and that in time the Lord might be prevailed on to let him go and curse them; he having a covetous desire of riches, honour, and preferment, in Balak's court.

Numbers 22:13 In-Context

11 'The people who came out of Egypt have spread over the land; now, come and curse them for me; maybe I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"

12 God answered Bil'am, "You are not to go with them; you are not to curse the people, because they are blessed."

13 Bil'am got up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Return to your own land, because ADONAI refuses to give me permission to go with you."

14 The princes of Mo'av got up, returned to Balak and said, "Bil'am refuses to come with us."

15 Balak again sent princes, more of them and of higher status than the first group.