Numbers 22:4-21 - King Balak Of Moab Hires Balaam To Curse Israel
4 So the Moabites said to the leaders of Midian: All those people will eventually eat up everything around us the same way cattle eat up the grass in a field. At that time Balak, son of Zippor, was king of Moab. 5 He sent messengers to summon Balaam, son of Beor, who was at Pethor, on the Euphrates River, in the land where his people lived. Balak's message was: A nation has just come here from Egypt. They have spread out all over the countryside and are setting up their camp here in front of me. 6 They outnumber us, so please come and put a curse on them for me. Then maybe we will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. I know that when you pronounce a blessing, people are blessed, and when you pronounce a curse, they are placed under a curse.
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left. They took money with them to pay for Balaam's services. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said. 8 Spend the night here, Balaam said to them, and I will report to you what Jehovah tells me. So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 God came to Balaam and asked: Who are these men with you?
10 Balaam answered: Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, sent them with this message: 11 Some people came from Egypt and are spreading out all over the countryside. Now come and curse them for me. Maybe I will be able to fight them and force them out.
12 God said to Balaam: Do not go with them! Do not curse these people. They are blessed!
13 When Balaam got up in the morning, he said to Balak's princes: Go back to your own country. Jehovah has refused to let me go with you.
14 The Moabite princes went back to Balak and said: Balaam refused to come with us.
15 Balak sent a larger group of more highly respected princes. 16 When they came to Balaam they said to him: This is what Balak son of Zippor says: 'Do not let anything keep you from coming to me. 17 I will make sure you are richly rewarded. I will do whatever you ask. Please, come and curse (execrate) these people for me.'
18 Balaam answered Balak's servants: Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not disobey the command of Jehovah my God no matter whether the request was important or not. 19 Now, please stay here tonight, as the others did, and I will find out what else Jehovah may have to tell me.
20 That night God came to Balaam and said: If these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you. 21 Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey and left with the Moabite princes.