Bemiḏbar (Numbers) 22

Num 22:1 And the children of Yisra’ĕl set out and camped in the desert
plains of Mo’aḇ beyond the Yardĕn of Yeriḥo.
Num 22:2 And Balaq son of Tsippor saw all that Yisra’ĕl had done to the
Amorites.
Num 22:3 And Mo’aḇ was exceedingly afraid of the people because they
were many, and Mo’aḇ was in dread because of the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Num 22:4 And Mo’aḇ said to the elders of Miḏyan, “Now this company is
licking up all that is around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Now
Balaq son of Tsippor was sovereign of the Mo’aḇites at that time,
Num 22:5 and he sent messengers to Bil‛am son of Be‛or at Pethor, which is
near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “See,
a people has come from Mitsrayim. See, they have covered the surface of the
land, and are settling next to me!
Num 22:6 “And now, please come at once, curse this people for me, for they
are too strong for me. It might be that I smite them and drive them out of the
land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse
is cursed.”
Num 22:7 And the elders of Mo’aḇ and the elders of Miḏyan left with the
fees for divination in their hand, and they came to Bil‛am and spoke the
words of Balaq to him.
Num 22:8 And he said to them, “Spend the night here, and I shall bring back
word to you, as יהוה speaks to me.” So the heads of Mo’aḇ stayed with
Bil‛am.
Num 22:9 And Elohim came to Bil‛am and said, “Who are these men with
you?”
Num 22:10 And Bil‛am said to Elohim, “Balaq, son of Tsippor, sovereign of
Mo’aḇ, has sent to me, saying,
Num 22:11 ‘See, a people has come out of Mitsrayim and cover the surface
of the land. Come now, curse them for me. It might be that I am able to fight
against them and drive them out.’ ”
Num 22:12 And Elohim said to Bil‛am, “Do not go with them. You do not
curse the people, for they are blessed.”
Num 22:13 And Bil‛am rose in the morning and said to the heads of Balaq,
“Go back to your land, for יהוה has refused to allow me to go with you.”
Num 22:14 And the heads of Mo’aḇ arose and went to Balaq, and said,
“Bil‛am refuses to come with us.”
Num 22:15 Then Balaq again sent heads, more numerous and more esteemed
than they.
Num 22:16 And they came to Bil‛am and said to him, “This is what Balaq
son of Tsippor said: ‘Do not be withheld from coming to me, please,
Num 22:17 for I esteem you very greatly, and whatever you say to me, I do.
Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’ ”
Num 22:18 And Bil‛am answered and said to the servants of Balaq,
“Though Balaq were to give me his house filled with silver and gold, I am
unable to go beyond the word of יהוה my Elohim, to do less or more.
Num 22:19 “And now, please, you also stay here tonight, and let me find out
what more יהוה says to me.”
Num 22:20 And Elohim came to Bil‛am at night and said to him, “If the men
come to call you, rise and go with them, but only the word which I speak to
you that you do.”
Num 22:21 And Bil‛am rose in the morning and saddled his donkey, and
went with the heads of Mo’aḇ.
Num 22:22 But the displeasure of Elohim burned because he went, and the
Messenger of יהוה stationed Himself in the way as an adversary against him.
And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:23 And the donkey saw the Messenger of יהוה standing in the way
with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the
way and went into the field. So Bil‛am beat the donkey to turn her back onto
the way.
Num 22:24 Then the Messenger of יהוה stood in a narrow passage between
the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
Num 22:25 And when the donkey saw the Messenger of יהוה, she pushed
herself against the wall and crushed Bil‛am’s foot against the wall, so he beat
her again.
Num 22:26 And the Messenger of יהוה went further, and stood in a narrow
place where there was no way to turn aside, right or left.
Num 22:27 And when the donkey saw the Messenger of יהוה, she lay down
under Bil‛am. So Bil‛am’s displeasure burned, and he beat the donkey with
his staff.
Num 22:28 Then יהוה opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to
Bil‛am, “What have I done to you, that you have beaten me these three
times?”
Num 22:29 And Bil‛am said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me. I
wish there were a sword in my hand, for I would have killed you by now!”
Num 22:30 And the donkey said to Bil‛am, “Am I not your donkey on which
you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever known to
do so to you?” And he said, “No.”
Num 22:31 Then יהוה opened Bil‛am’s eyes, and he saw the Messenger of
יהוה standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand. And he bowed
his head and fell on his face.
Num 22:32 And the Messenger of יהוה said to him, “Why have you beaten
your donkey these three times? See, I have come out to stand against you,
because your way is reckless before Me.
Num 22:33 “And the donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three
times. If she had not turned aside from Me, I certainly would have killed you
by now, and let her live.”
Num 22:34 And Bil‛am said to the Messenger of יהוה, “I have sinned, for I
did not know You stood in the way against me. And now, if evil is in Your
eyes, let me turn back.”
Num 22:35 And the Messenger of יהוה said to Bil‛am, “Go with the men, but
only the word that I speak to you, that you speak.” Bil‛am then went with the
heads of Balaq.
Num 22:36 And when Balaq heard that Bil‛am was coming, he went out to
meet him at the city of Mo’aḇ, which is on the border at the Arnon, which
was in the extremity of the border.
Num 22:37 And Balaq said to Bil‛am, “Did I not urgently send to you,
calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to esteem you?”
Num 22:38 And Bil‛am said to Balaq, “See, I have come to you! Now, am I
at all able to say somewhat? The word that Elohim puts in my mouth, that I
speak.”
Num 22:39 And Bil‛am went with Balaq, and they came to Qiryath Ḥutsoth.
Num 22:40 And Balaq slaughtered cattle and sheep, and he sent some to
Bil‛am and to the heads who were with him.
Num 22:41 And it came to be the next day, that Balaq took Bil‛am and
brought him up to the high places of Ba‛al, and from there he saw the
extremity of the camp.