Numbers 22:24-34

24 Later, the angel of the Lord stood on a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides.

25 Again the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, and she walked close to one wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he hit her again.

26 The angel of the Lord went ahead again and stood at a narrow place, too narrow to turn left or right.

27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. This made him so angry that he hit her with his stick.

28 Then the Lord made the donkey talk, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to make you hit me three times?"

29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made me look foolish! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!"

30 But the donkey said to Balaam, "I am your very own donkey, which you have ridden for years. Have I ever done this to you before?" "No," Balaam said.

31 Then the Lord let Balaam see the angel of the Lord, who was standing in the road with his sword drawn. Then Balaam bowed facedown on the ground.

32 The angel of the Lord asked Balaam, "Why have you hit your donkey three times? I have stood here to stop you, because what you are doing is wrong.

33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me three times. If she had not turned away, I would have killed you by now, but I would have let her live."

34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned; I did not know you were standing in the road to stop me. If I am wrong, I will go back."

Numbers 22:24-34 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.