1
Then the
sons of
Israel journeyed, and
camped in the
plains of
Moab beyond * the
Jordan opposite
Jericho.
b'aw{m tw{b.r;[.B .Wn]x;Y;w lea'r.fIy yen.B .W[.siY;w ? w{xer.y !eD.r;y.l r,be[em
2
Now
Balak the
son of
Zippor saw all that
Israel had
done to the
Amorites.
h'f'[ -r,v]a -l'K tea rw{Pic -n,B q'l'B a.r;Y;w ? yir{m/a'l lea'r.fIy
3
So
Moab was in
great fear because * of the
people, for they were
numerous; and
Moab was in
dread of the
sons of
Israel.
a.Wh -b;r yiK d{a.m ~'['h yen.Pim b'aw{m r'g'Y;w ? lea'r.fIy yen.B yen.Pim b'aw{m #'q'Y;w
4
Moab said to the
elders of
Midian,
"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.
.Wk]x;l.y h'T;[ !'y.dim yen.qiz -l,a b'aw{m r,ma{Y;w ? rw{V;h .${x.liK .Wnyet{byib.s -l'K -t,a l'h'Q;h ? b'aw{m.l .$,l,m rw{Pic -n,B q'l'b.W h,d'F;h q,r,y tea ? awih;h te['B
5
So he
sent messengers to
Balaam the
son of
Beor, at
Pethor,
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.
rw{[.B -n,B ~'[.liB -l,a ~yik'a.l;m x;l.viY;w ? w{M;[ -yen.B #,r,a r'h'N;h -l;[ r,v]a h'rw{t.P ? ~Iy;r.ciMim a'c'y ~;[ heNih r{mael w{l -a{r.qil ? yilUMim bev{y a.Wh.w #,r'a'h !ye[ -t,a h'Sik heNih
6
"Now, therefore,
please come,
curse 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."
h,Z;h ~'['h -t,a yiL -h'r'a a'N -h'k.l h'T;[.w ? w{B -h,K;n l;k.Wa y;l.Wa yiN,Mim a.Wh ~.Wc'[ -yiK ? .$er'b.T -r,v]a tea yiT.[;d'y yiK #,r'a'h -nim .WN,v.r'g]a;w ? r'a.Wy r{a'T r,v]a;w .$'r{b.m
7
So the
elders of
Moab and the
elders of
Midian departed with the fees for
divination in their
hand; and they
came to
Balaam and
repeated Balak's words to him.
~yim's.q.W !'y.dim yen.qiz.w b'aw{m yen.qiz .Wk.leY;w ? wy'lea .Wr.B;d.y;w ~'[.liB -l,a .Wa{b'Y;w ~'d'y.B ? q'l'b yer.biD
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.
yit{biv]h;w h'l.y;L;h h{p .Wnyil ~,hyel]a r,ma{Y;w ? .Wb.veY;w y'lea h'wh.y reB;d.y r,v]a;K r'b'D ~,k.t,a ? ~'[.liB -mi[ b'aw{m -yer'f
9
Then
God came to
Balaam and
said,
"Who are
these men with you?"
~yiv'n]a'h yim r,ma{Y;w ~'[.liB -l,a ~yih{l/a a{b'Y;w ? .$'Mi[ h,Lea'h
10
Balaam said to
God,
"Balak the
son of
Zippor,
king of
Moab, has
sent word to me,
r{Pic -n,B q'l'B ~yih{l/a'h -l,a ~'[.liB r,ma{Y;w ? y'lea x;l'v b'aw{m .$,l,m
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.' "
!ye[ -t,a s;k.y;w ~Iy;r.ciMim aec{Y;h ~'['h heNih ? l;k.Wa y;l.Wa w{t{a yiL -h'b'q h'k.l h'T;[ #,r'a'h ? wyiT.v;reg.w w{B ~,x'Lih.l
12
God said to
Balaam, "Do not
go with them; you shall not
curse the
people, for they are
blessed."
~,h'Mi[ .$elet a{l ~'[.liB -l,a ~yih{l/a r,ma{Y;w ? a.Wh .$.Wr'b yiK ~'['h -t,a r{a't a{l
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."
q'l'b yer'f -l,a r,ma{Y;w r,q{B;B ~'[.liB ~'q'Y;w ? yiTit.l h'wh.y !eaem yiK ~,k.c.r;a -l,a .Wk.l ? ~,k'Mi[ .${l]h;l
14
The
leaders of
Moab arose and
went to
Balak and
said,
"Balaam refused to
come with us."
.Wr.ma{Y;w q'l'B -l,a .Wa{b'Y;w b'aw{m yer'f .Wm.Wq'Y;w ? .Wn'Mi[ .${l]h ~'[.liB !eaem
15
Then
Balak again * sent leaders,
more numerous and
more distinguished than the
former.
~yid'B.kin.w ~yiB;r ~yir'f ;x{l.v q'l'B dw{[ @,s{Y;w ? h,Leaem
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;
r;m'a h{K w{l .Wr.ma{Y;w ~'[.liB -l,a .Wa{b'Y;w ? y'lea .${l]hem [;n'Mit a'n -l;a rw{Pic -n,B q'l'B
17
for I will
indeed honor you
richly, and I will
do whatever * you
say to me.
Please come then,
curse this people for me.' "
r;ma{T -r,v]a l{k.w d{a.m '$.d,B;k]a deB;k -yiK ? ~'['h tea yiL -h'b'q a'N -h'k.l.W h,f/[,a y;lea ? h,Z;h
18
Balaam replied to the
servants of
Balak,
"Though 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.
-n,TIy -mia q'l'b yed.b;[ -l,a r,ma{Y;w ~'[.liB !;[;Y;w ? l;k.Wa a{l b'h'z.w @,s,K w{tyeb a{l.m q'l'b yil ? h'N;j.q tw{f][;l y'h{l/a h'wh.y yiP -t,a r{b][;l ? h'lw{d.g w{a
19
"Now please, you
also stay here tonight, and I will
find out
what else the
LORD will
speak to me."
h'[.dea.w h'l.y'L;h ~,T;a -m;G h,z'b a'n .Wb.v h'T;[.w ? yiMi[ reB;D h'wh.y @es{Y -h;m
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
only the
word which I
speak to you shall you
do."
r,ma{Y;w h'l.y;l ~'[.liB -l,a ~yih{l/a a{b'Y;w ? .$el ~.Wq ~yiv'n]a'h .Wa'B '$.l a{r.qil -mia w{l ? '$y,lea reB;d]a -r,v]a r'b'D;h -t,a .$;a.w ~'Tia ? h,f][;t w{t{a
21
So
Balaam arose in the
morning, and
saddled his
donkey and
went with the
leaders of
Moab.
.$,leY;w w{n{t]a -t,a v{b]x;Y;w r,q{B;B ~'[.liB ~'q'Y;w ? b'aw{m yer'f -mi[
22
But
God was
angry * because he was
going, and the
angel of the
LORD took his
stand in the
way as an
adversary against him. Now he was
riding on his
donkey and his
two servants were with him.
beC;y.tiY;w a.Wh .$elw{h -yiK ~yih{l/a @;a -r;xiY;w ? bek{r a.Wh.w w{l !'j'f.l .$,r,D;B h'wh.y .$;a.l;m ? w{Mi[ wy'r'[.n yen.v.W w{n{t]a -l;[
23
When the
donkey saw the
angel of the
LORD standing in the
way with his
drawn sword in his
hand, the
donkey turned off from the
way and
went into the
field; but
Balaam struck the
donkey to
turn her
back into the
way.
.$,r,D;B b'Cin h'wh.y .$;a.l;m -t,a !w{t'a'h a,reT;w ? .$,r,D;h -nim !w{t'a'h jeT;w w{d'y.B h'p.Wl.v w{B.r;x.w ? H't{J;h.l !w{t'a'h -t,a ~'[.liB .$;Y;w h,d'F;B .$,leT;w ? .$,r'D;h
24
Then the
angel of the
LORD stood in a
narrow path of the
vineyards, with a
wall on
this side and a
wall on that
side.
red'G ~yim'r.K;h lw{[.vim.B h'wh.y .$;a.l;m d{m][;Y;w ? h,Zim red'g.w h,Zim
25
When the
donkey saw the
angel of the
LORD, she
pressed herself to the
wall and
pressed Balaam's foot against the
wall, so he
struck her
again.
#ex'LiT;w h'wh.y .$;a.l;m -t,a !w{t'a'h a,reT;w ? ryiQ;h -l,a ~'[.liB l,g,r -t,a #;x.liT;w ryiQ;h -l,a ? H't{K;h.l @,s{Y;w
26
The
angel of the
LORD went further, and
stood in a
narrow place where there was
no way to
turn to the
right hand or the
left.
~w{q'm.B d{m][;Y;w rw{b][ h'wh.y -.k;a.l;m @,sw{Y;w ? lwa{m.f.W !yim'y tw{j.nil .$,r,D -nyea r,v]a r'c
27
When the
donkey saw the
angel of the
LORD, she
lay down under Balaam; so
Balaam was
angry * and
struck the
donkey with his
stick.
#;B.riT;w h'wh.y .$;a.l;m -t,a !w{t'a'h a,reT;w ? !w{t'a'h -t,a .$;Y;w ~'[.liB @;a -r;xiY;w ~'[.liB t;x;T ? leQ;M;B
28
And the
LORD opened the
mouth of the
donkey, and she
said to
Balaam,
"What have I
done to you, that you have
struck me
these three times?"
~'[.lib.l r,ma{T;w !w{t'a'h yiP -t,a h'wh.y x;T.piY;w ? ~yil'g.r v{l'v h,z yin;tyiKih yiK '$.l yityif'[ -h,m
29
Then
Balaam said to the
donkey,
"Because you have
made a
mockery of me!
If there had been a
sword in my
hand, I would have
killed you by
now."
.Wl yiB .T.l;L;[.tih yiK !w{t'a'l ~'[.liB r,ma{Y;w ? .$yiT.g;r]h h'T;[ yiK yid'y.B b,r,x -v,y
30
The
donkey said to
Balaam, "Am I not your
donkey on
which you have
ridden all * your
life to
this day? Have I
ever been
accustomed to
do so to you?" And he
said,
"No."
yik{n'a aw{l]h ~'[.liB -l,a !w{t'a'h r,ma{T;w ? ~w{Y;h -d;[ '$.dw{[em y;l'[ 'T.b;k'r -r,v]a '$.n{t]a ? r,ma{Y;w h{K '$.l tw{f][;l yiT.n;K.sih !eK.s;h;h h,Z;h ? a{l
31
Then the
LORD opened the
eyes of
Balaam, and he
saw the
angel of the
LORD standing in the
way with his
drawn sword in his
hand; and he
bowed all the
way to the
ground.
.$;a.l;m -t,a a.r;Y;w ~'[.lib yenye[ -t,a h'wh.y l;g.y;w ? d{QiY;w w{d'y.B h'pUl.v w{B.r;x.w .$,r,D;B b'Cin h'wh.y ? wy'P;a.l .Wx;T.viY;w
32
The
angel of the
LORD said to him,
"Why * have you
struck your
donkey these three times?
Behold, I have
come out as an
adversary,
because your
way was
contrary to me.
'tyiKih h'm -l;[ h'wh.y .$;a.l;m wy'lea r,ma{Y;w ? yik{n'a heNih ~yil'g.r vw{l'v h,z '$.n{t]a -t,a ? yiD.g,n.l .$,r,D;h j;r'y -yiK !'j'f.l yita'c'y
33
"But the
donkey saw me and
turned aside from me
these three times.
If she had not
turned aside from me, I would
surely have
killed you just
now, and let her
live."
~yil'g.r v{l'v h,z y;n'p.l jeT;w !w{t'a'h yin;a.riT;w ? h'k.t{a -m;G h'T;[ yiK y;n'Pim h't.j'n y;l.Wa ? yityey/x,h H'tw{a.w yiT.g;r'h
34
Balaam said to the
angel of the
LORD, "I have
sinned, for I did not
know that you were
standing in the
way against me.
Now then,
if it is
displeasing to you, I will
turn back."
yita'j'x h'wh.y .$;a.l;m -l,a ~'[.liB r,ma{Y;w ? .$,r'D;B yita'r.qil b'Cin h'T;a yiK yiT.[;d'y a{l yiK ? yiL h'b.Wv'a '$y,nye[.B [;r -mia h'T;[.w
35
But the
angel of the
LORD said to
Balaam,
"Go with the
men, but you shall
speak only the
word which I
tell you." So
Balaam went along with the
leaders of
Balak.
~yiv'n]a'h -mi[ .$el ~'[.liB -l,a h'wh.y .$;a.l;m r,ma{Y;w ? w{t{a '$y,lea reB;d]a -r,v]a r'b'D;h -t,a s,p,a.w ? q'l'b yer'f -mi[ ~'[.liB .$,leY;w reB;d.t
36
When
Balak heard that
Balaam was
coming, he
went out to
meet him at the
city of
Moab,
which is on the
Arnon border, at the
extreme end of the
border.
w{ta'r.qil aeceY;w ~'[.lib a'b yiK q'l'B [;m.viY;w ? !{n.r;a l.Wb.G -l;[ r,v]a b'aw{m ryi[ -l,a ? l.Wb.G;h hec.qiB r,v]a
37
Then
Balak said to
Balaam, "Did I not
urgently send to you to
call you?
Why did you not
come to me? Am I
really unable * to
honor you?"
yiT.x;l'v ;x{l'v a{l]h ~'[.liB -l,a q'l'B r,ma{Y;w ? y'lea 'T.k;l'h -a{l h'M'l .$'l -a{r.qil '$y,lea ? '$,d.B;K l;k.Wa a{l ~'n.mUa;h
38
So
Balaam said to
Balak,
"Behold, I have
come now to you! Am I
able to
speak anything at all? The
word that
God puts in my
mouth, that I shall
speak."
'$y,lea yita'b -heNih q'l'B -l,a ~'[.liB r,ma{Y;w ? r,v]a r'b'D;h h'm.Wa.m reB;D l;k.Wa lw{k'y]h h'T;[ ? reB;d]a w{t{a yip.B ~yih{l/a ~yif'y
39
And
Balaam went with
Balak, and they
came to
Kiriath-huzoth.
tw{cUx t;y.riq .Wa{b'Y;w q'l'B -mi[ ~'[.liB .$,leY;w
40
Balak sacrificed oxen and
sheep, and
sent some to
Balaam and the
leaders who were with him.
~'[.lib.l x;L;v.y;w !a{c'w r'q'B q'l'B x;B.ziY;w ? w{Tia r,v]a ~yir'F;l.w
41
Then it
came about in the
morning that
Balak took Balaam and
brought him up to the
high places of
Baal, and he
saw from
there a
portion of the
people.
.Whel][;Y;w ~'[.liB -t,a q'l'B x;QiY;w r,q{B;b yih.y;w ? ~'['h hec.q ~'Vim a.r;Y;w l;['B tw{m'B