Numbers 22:21

21 So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey, and he went with the princes of Moab.

Numbers 22:21 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:21

And Balaam rose up in the morning
Early, not waiting for the call of the princes, which showed how eager he was to be gone, and how intent upon the journey:

and saddled his ass;
which, if he did himself, as Jarchi suggests, this is a further proof of the haste he was in; though, as he had two servants with him, it is more likely that they did it by his order: the same is said of Abraham, ( Genesis 22:3 ) , it was usual for persons of note and figure, in those times and countries, to ride on asses, ( Judges 5:10 ) and went with the princes of Moab; in company with them, and with as good a will as they, his heart and theirs being alike, as Jarchi notes; though it seems by what follows that by some means or another they soon parted company; for when the affair of the ass happened, Balaam was alone, only attended by his two servants.

Numbers 22:21 In-Context

19 And now please, {you also stay here} the night, and {let me find out} again what Yahweh will say with me."

20 And God came to Balaam [at] night, and he said to him, "If the men have come to call you, get up [and] go with them; but only the word that I will speak to you, you will do."

21 So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey, and he went with the princes of Moab.

22 But {God became angry} because he was going, and the angel of Yahweh stood in the road as an adversary to him; he [was] riding on his donkey, and two servants were with him.

23 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, and the donkey turned aside from the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back [to] the road.