Numbers 22:32-41

32 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.

33 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."

34 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."

35 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.

36 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.

37 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."

38 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."

39 Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.

40 Balak offered cattle and sheep as a sacrifice and gave some meat to Balaam and the leaders with him.

41 The next morning Balak took Balaam to Bamoth Baal; from there he could see the edge of the Israelite camp.

Numbers 22:32-41 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.