J. Failure with the Moabites............................... 22:1-25:18
Num 22:1
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.Num 22:2
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.Num 22:3
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.Num 22:4
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.Num 22:5
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:Num 22:6
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.Num 22:7
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.Num 22:8
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.Num 22:9
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?Num 22:10
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,Num 22:11
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.Num 22:12
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.Num 22:13
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.Num 22:14
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.Num 22:15
And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.Num 22:16
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:Num 22:17
For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.Num 22:18
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.Num 22:19
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.Num 22:20
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.Num 22:21
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.Num 22:22
And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.Num 22:23
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.Num 22:24
But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.Num 22:25
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.Num 22:26
And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.Num 22:27
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.Num 22:28
And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?Num 22:29
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.Num 22:30
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.Num 22:31
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.Num 22:32
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:Num 22:33
And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.Num 22:34
And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.Num 22:35
And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.Num 22:36
And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.Num 22:37
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?Num 22:38
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.Num 22:39
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.Num 22:40
And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.Num 22:41
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.Num 23:1
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.Num 23:2
And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.Num 23:3
And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.Num 23:4
And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.Num 23:5
And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.Num 23:6
And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.Num 23:7
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.Num 23:8
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?Num 23:9
For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.Num 23:10
Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!Num 23:11
And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.Num 23:12
And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?Num 23:13
And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.Num 23:14
And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.Num 23:15
And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.Num 23:16
And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.Num 23:17
And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?Num 23:18
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:Num 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?Num 23:20
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.Num 23:21
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.Num 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.Num 23:23
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!Num 23:24
Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.Num 23:25
And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.Num 23:26
But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?Num 23:27
And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.Num 23:28
And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.Num 23:29
And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.Num 23:30
And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.Num 24:1
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.Num 24:2
And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.Num 24:3
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:Num 24:4
He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:Num 24:5
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!Num 24:6
As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.Num 24:7
He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.Num 24:8
God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.Num 24:9
He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.Num 24:10
And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.Num 24:11
Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.Num 24:12
And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,Num 24:13
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?Num 24:14
And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.Num 24:15
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:Num 24:16
He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:Num 24:17
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.Num 24:18
And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.Num 24:19
Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.Num 24:20
And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.Num 24:21
And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.Num 24:22
Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.Num 24:23
And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!Num 24:24
And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.Num 24:25
And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.Num 25:1
And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.Num 25:2
And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.Num 25:3
And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.Num 25:4
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.Num 25:5
And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.Num 25:6
And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.Num 25:7
And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;Num 25:8
And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.Num 25:9
And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.Num 25:10
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,Num 25:11
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.Num 25:12
Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:Num 25:13
And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.Num 25:14
Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.Num 25:15
And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.Num 25:16
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,Num 25:17
Vex the Midianites, and smite them:Num 25:18
For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.