Numbers 22:13

13 And he rose in the morning and said to the princes: Go into your country, because the Lord hath forbid me to come with you.

Numbers 22:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:13

And Balaam rose up in the morning
With the impression of the dream upon his mind, and of what had passed between God and him in it:

and said unto the princes of Balak;
which shows what the elders were that were sent, of what honour and dignity, and may include both those of Moab and of Midian:

get you into your land;
as soon as you can; set forward on your journey, it is to no purpose to stay here:

for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you;
he only relates one part of the answer he had from the Lord, respecting his going with them, but says not a word of his being forbid to curse Israel, and of the reason given why he should not; had he reported this, in all probability it would have prevented any further application to him, and so any attempt to get this done, which Balaam seemed aware of; and therefore, by concealing this, hoped for fresh solicitations and entreaties, and that in time the Lord might be prevailed on to let him go and curse them; he having a covetous desire of riches, honour, and preferment, in Balak's court.

Numbers 22:13 In-Context

11 Saying: Behold a people that is come out of Egypt, hath covered the face of the land: come and curse them, if by any means I may fight with them and drive them away.

12 And God said to Balaam: Thou shalt not go with them, nor shalt thou curse the people: because it is blessed.

13 And he rose in the morning and said to the princes: Go into your country, because the Lord hath forbid me to come with you.

14 The princes returning, said to Balac: Balaam would not come with us.

15 Then he sent many more and more noble than he had sent before: