Balak in the Bible

Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. Balak said to him: “Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land and are living right across from me.

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.

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

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."

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

Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?"

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."

Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.

Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.

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.

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

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

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.

Yahweh put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak."

So he returned to Balak, who was standing there by his burnt offering with all the officials of Moab.

He took up his parable, and said, "From Aram has Balak brought me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, defy Israel.

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

Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place, where you may see them; you shall see but the utmost part of them, and shall not see them all: and curse me them from there."

So Balak took him to Lookout Field on top of Pisgah, built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

He said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet [Yahweh] yonder."

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

He came to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak said to him, "What has Yahweh spoken?"

He took up his parable, and said, "Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, you son of Zippor.

Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all."

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

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."

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."

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

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.

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

'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of Yahweh, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what Yahweh says'?

Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.