Numbers 22:21

21 Balaam got up the next morning and put a saddle on his donkey. Then he went with the Moabite leaders.

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 You stay here tonight as the other men did, and I will find out what more the Lord tells me."

20 That night God came to Balaam and said, "These men have come to ask you to go with them. Go, but only do what I tell you."

21 Balaam got up the next morning and put a saddle on his donkey. Then he went with the Moabite leaders.

22 But God became angry because Balaam went, so the angel of the Lord stood in the road to stop Balaam. Balaam was riding his donkey, and he had two servants with him.

23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a sword in his hand, the donkey left the road and went into the field. Balaam hit the donkey to force her back on the road.