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.