Numbers 22:1-21

Balak Sends for Balaam

1 ¹Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond * the Jordan opposite Jericho.

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

3 ³So Moab was in great fear because * of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel.

4 Moab said to the elders of ⁴Midian, "Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

5 So he sent messengers to ⁵Balaam the son of Beor, at ⁶Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite * me.

6 "⁷Now, therefore, please come, ⁸curse this people for me since 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 he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for ⁹divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him.

8 He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me." And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 Then ¹⁰God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"

10 Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me,

11 'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.' "

12 God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; ¹¹you shall not curse the people, for they ¹²are blessed."

13 So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."

14 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

15 Then Balak again * sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.

16 They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me;

17 for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever * you say to me. ¹³Please come then, curse this people for me.' "

18 Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "¹⁴Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.

19 "Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me."

20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but ¹⁵only the word which I speak to you shall you do."

21 ¹⁶So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.

Numbers 22:1-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 22

The children of Israel being come into the plains of Moab, put the king of Moab into a panic, who expressed his fears to the elders of Midian, Nu 22:1-4 and sent for Balaam the soothsayer to curse the people of Israel, but he, upon consulting the Lord refused to come, Nu 22:5-14, on which the king of Moab sent to him a second time, making large promises of preferment to him, and who at this time got leave from the Lord to go with the messengers, Nu 22:15-21, but was met with in the way by an angel of the Lord, who would have slain him had it not been for his ass, of which a very wonderful revelation is given, Nu 22:22-35, and the chapter is closed with the interview between Balak king of Moab and Balaam, and an account of what passed between them, and what was done by them, Nu 22:36-41.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 33:48, 49
• 2. Judges 11:25
• 3. Exodus 15:15
• 4. Numbers 25:15-18; Numbers 31:1-3
• 5. Joshua 24:9; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11
• 6. Deuteronomy 23:4
• 7. Numbers 22:17; Numbers 23:7, 8
• 8. Numbers 22:12; Numbers 24:9
• 9. Numbers 23:23; Numbers 24:1; Joshua 13:22
• 10. Genesis 20:3
• 11. Numbers 23:8; Numbers 24:9
• 12. Genesis 12:2; Genesis 22:17
• 13. Numbers 22:6
• 14. Numbers 22:38; Numbers 24:13; 1 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 18:13
• 15. Numbers 22:35; Numbers 23:5, 12, 16, 26; Numbers 24:13
• 16. 2 Peter 2:15

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "assembly"
• [b]. I.e. Euphrates
• [c]. Or "numerous"
• [d]. Lit "smite"
• [e]. Lit "spoke"
• [f]. Lit "these"
• [g]. Lit "mouth"