Numbers 22:11-21

11 dicens ecce populus qui egressus est de Aegypto operuit superficiem terrae veni et maledic ei si quo modo possim pugnans abicere eum

12 dixitque Deus ad Balaam noli ire cum eis neque maledicas populo quia benedictus est

13 qui mane consurgens dixit ad principes ite in terram vestram quia prohibuit me Deus venire vobiscum

14 reversi principes dixerunt ad Balac noluit Balaam venire nobiscum

15 rursum ille multo plures et nobiliores quam ante miserat misit

16 qui cum venissent ad Balaam dixerunt sic dicit Balac filius Sepphor ne cuncteris venire ad me

17 paratum honorare te et quicquid volueris dare veni et maledic populo isti

18 respondit Balaam si dederit mihi Balac plenam domum suam argenti et auri non potero inmutare verbum Domini Dei mei ut vel plus vel minus loquar

19 obsecro ut hic maneatis etiam hac nocte et scire queam quid mihi rursum respondeat Dominus

20 venit ergo Deus ad Balaam nocte et ait ei si vocare te venerunt homines isti surge et vade cum eis ita dumtaxat ut quod tibi praecepero facias

21 surrexit Balaam mane et strata asina profectus est cum eis

Numbers 22:11-21 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.