Numbers 22:25-35

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.

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.

27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so ¹Balaam was angry * and struck the donkey with his stick.

28 And ²the 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?"

29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, ³I would have killed you by now."

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."

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw ⁴the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.

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 ⁵contrary to me.

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."

34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "⁶I 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."

35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but ⁷you shall speak only the word which I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.

Numbers 22:25-35 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. James 1:19
• 2. 2 Peter 2:16
• 3. Proverbs 12:10; Matthew 15:19
• 4. Joshua 5:13-15
• 5. 2 Peter 2:15
• 6. Numbers 14:40
• 7. Numbers 22:20

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "and prostrated himself to his face"
• [b] Lit "reckless"
• [c] Or "speak to"