Balaam in the Bible

Meaning: the ancient of the people; the destruction of the people

Exact Match

He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, there is a people who came out from Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyMessengers Sent Out

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.

Verse ConceptsOld Age, Attitudes ToReward, HumanDivination

He said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me." The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyPrincesOvercoming Adversity

Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, [saying],

God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed."

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyGod BlessesGod Forbidding

Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your land; for Yahweh refuses to permit me to go with you."

Verse ConceptsGod Forbidding

The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."

They came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me:

Verse ConceptsAvoid Being Hindered

Balaam answered the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyGoldPalacesSilverSupplied With Money

God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do."

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyGoing Together

But God was incensed that Balaam was going, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand on the path to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyConfrontationOpposition, To Sin And EvilGod As EnemyTwo Other Men

The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyStandingBeating AnimalsAnimals Going AstraySeeing AngelsGod's Sword

The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck her again.

Verse ConceptsAccidentsInjury To FeetBeating AnimalsPressingSeeing Angelscrushes

Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyAnimal LifeRebukeActing Three TimesThe Dumb Speaking

Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you."

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyKilling Domesticated Animals

The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?" He said, "No."

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyRiding DonkeysPeople Possessing Other Things

Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyBowingProstrationReceiving SightSeeing AngelsGod's Sword

Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again."

Verse ConceptsAcknowledge, SinIndividuals going homeIgnorant Of FactsWe Have Sinned

The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Verse ConceptsAngel of the LordGoing TogetherSpeaking The Word God Gives

When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyMeeting PeopleArnonSpoken Greetings

Balak said to Balaam, "Didn't I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn't you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?"

Verse ConceptsImportunity, Towards PeopleUrgencyWhy Do You Do This?

Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you: have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak."

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyMouthsOraclesOracles Of BalaamSpeaking The Word God Gives

It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there the utmost part of the people.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyBaal Worship, HistorySeeing People

Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.

Verse ConceptsRams

Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go: perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you." He went to a bare height.

Verse ConceptsHeightKnowing God, Nature OfSpeaking The Word God Gives

God met Balaam: and he said to him, "I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar."

Verse ConceptsSeven AnimalsSeven ThingsMeeting GodSacrificing Cattle Sheep And Goats

So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by all the Moabite officials.

Balaam proclaimed his poem:

Balak brought me from Aram;
the king of Moab, from the eastern mountains:
“Come, put a curse on Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel!”

Verse ConceptsInvitationsJacob, The PatriarchCrude LanguageCursing IsraelWise Proverbs

Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether."

Verse ConceptsWhat Do You Do?Blessing And CurseBlessed By Godcurses

But in response, Balaam asked, "Shouldn't I be careful to communicate only what the LORD puts in my mouth?"

Verse ConceptsSpeaking The Word God Gives

So he took Balaam to the field of Zophim to the top of [Mount] Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Verse ConceptsSeven AnimalsSeven ThingsSacrificing Cattle Sheep And Goats

Balaam said to Balak, "Station yourself here at the burnt offering while I myself meet with [Yahweh] there."

Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and say this."

Verse ConceptsSpeaking The Word God Gives

So Balaam returned to where Balak had been standing, that is, next to his offerings, accompanied by the Moabite officials. "What did the LORD say?" Balak asked him.

Balaam proclaimed his poem:

Balak, get up and listen;
son of Zippor, pay attention to what I say!

Verse ConceptsPay Attention To People!Wise Proverbs

But Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I tell you, saying, 'All that Yahweh speaks, that I must do?'"

Verse ConceptsSpeaking The Word God Gives

Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse me them from there."

Verse ConceptsAmbiguityCursing Israel

Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.

Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams."

Verse ConceptsSeven AnimalsSeven Things

Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Verse ConceptsGod Blesses

Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

Verse ConceptsThe Spirit Of GodCamping During The ExodusSeeing People

Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

Verse ConceptsAnger, HumanCommunicating Three TimesClappingBlessing And CurseCursing IsraelNamed People Angry With Others

Balaam said to Balak, "Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

He took up his parable, and said, "Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eye was closed says;

Verse ConceptsReceiving SightWise Proverbs

Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem:

Amalek was first among the nations,
but his future is destruction.

Verse ConceptsBeing FirstPeople BeginningWise Proverbs

Balaam also uttered this prophetic statement about the Kenites: "Your dwelling places are stable, because your nest is carved in solid rock.

Verse ConceptsNestsWise Proverbs

And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

Verse ConceptsFive PeopleKilling KingsKilling ProphetsNamed Gentile Rulers

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyadvisersMan's Counsel

Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

Verse ConceptsHiringMoney, Attitudes ToUnkindnessInhospitalityNo FoodCursing Israel

Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

Verse ConceptsPeople Of God, In OtBlessing And CurseCursing IsraelGod Turning Bad Things Into Goodcurses

Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyKilling Named Individuals

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:

Verse ConceptsCursing Israel

But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Verse ConceptsHiringBlessing And CurseCursing Israel

O My people, remember, I pray you, What counsel did Balak king of Moab, What answer him did Balaam son of Beor, (From Shittim unto Gilgal,) In order to know the righteous acts of Jehovah.'

Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyGod, Righteousness OfHistoryPast, TheAnswering PeopleGod Doing RightDoing RightMan's Counsel

Thematic Bible



Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”

So he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”


When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick.


But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. read more.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again. The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No." Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. "But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live."


When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the extreme end of the border.

So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.

So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.

God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord.

“My people, remember now
What Balak king of Moab counseled
And what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
And from Shittim to Gilgal,
So that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;


“My people, remember now
What Balak king of Moab counseled
And what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
And from Shittim to Gilgal,
So that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. "Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat 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." So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him.

Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel, and he sent and summoned Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.

because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.


And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened; The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered, read more.
How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel! "Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters. "Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. "God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows. "He crouches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you."

forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.


but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.

But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. read more.
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again. The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No." Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. "But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live." Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.


'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 'So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord.


forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.


They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner, with the sword among the rest of their slain.


God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us." read more.
Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former. They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.'" Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God. "Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me." God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do." So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.


So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. "Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat 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."


Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!


But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.”


Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord.


forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;


The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner, with the sword among the rest of their slain.


because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.


forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.

Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God.

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor you?" So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."

How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?
And how can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?

He replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”

Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 'Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord What the LORD speaks, that I will speak'? "And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come."


Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God.

How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?
And how can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?

He replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”

Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 'Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord What the LORD speaks, that I will speak'? "And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come."

So Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.”


Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”


Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former. They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.'" read more.
Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.


forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;


forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;




And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.


And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.


And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.


but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.


He replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”

Then the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”


So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.


And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.


He replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”

Then the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”


So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.


So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.


Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.”


but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.


And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.


forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former. They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.'" read more.
Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God. "Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me." God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do." So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.


for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.’”


forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.


References

Hastings

Easton

American

Fausets

Morish

Smith

Watsons