Balaam and the Talking Donkey

Numbers 22:5-41

Bible Stories

 

Numbers 22:5 Therefore, he sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, a seer who lived above the river of the land of the sons of Ammon, to call him, and to say: “Behold, a people has gone forth from Egypt, which has covered the face of the earth. They are encamped opposite me.

Numbers 22:6 Therefore, come and curse this people, for they are stronger than I am. If only, in some way, I might be able to strike them and to drive them from my land. For I know that he whom you bless shall be blessed, and he whom you curse shall be cursed.”

Numbers 22:7 And the elders of Moab, and those greater by birth of Midian, continued on, holding the price of divination in their hands. And when they had come to Balaam, and had explained to him all the words of Balak,

Numbers 22:8 he responded, “Remain for this night, and I will answer with whatever the Lord will say to me.” And while they stayed with Balaam, God came and said to him,

Numbers 22:9 “What do these men want with you?”

Numbers 22:10 He responded, “Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of the Moabites has sent to me,

Numbers 22:11 saying: ‘Behold, a people, which has gone forth from Egypt, has covered the face of the earth. Come and curse them, so that, in some way, I may be able to fight them and drive them away.’ ”

Numbers 22:12 And God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them, and do not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

Numbers 22:13 And he, rising up in the morning, said to the leaders, “Go into your own land, for the Lord has prohibited me from going with you.”

Numbers 22:14 Returning, the leaders said to Balak, “Balaam was not willing to come with us.”

Numbers 22:15 Again, he sent many more persons, and these were more noble than those he had sent before.

#Numbers 22:16 And when these had come to Balaam, they said: “So says Balak, the son of Zippor. Do not hesitate to come to me.

Numbers 22:17 For I am ready to honor you, and whatever you would want, I shall give to you. Come and curse this people.”

Numbers 22:18 Balaam responded: “Even if Balak were to give to me his own house, filled with silver and gold, I still would not be able to change the word of the Lord my God, neither to say more, nor to say less.

Numbers 22:19 I beg you to remain for this night also, so that I may know what the Lord will answer me again.”

Numbers 22:20 Therefore, God came to Balaam in the night, and said to him: “If these men have arrived to call you, then rise up and go with them; yet only in so far as you shall do what I will command you.”

Numbers 22:21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddling his donkey, he set out with them.

Numbers 22:22 And God was angry. And an Angel of the Lord stood in the way opposite Balaam, who was sitting on the donkey, and he had two servants with him.

Numbers 22:23 The donkey, discerning that the Angel was standing in the way with a drawn sword, turned herself from the road and went through a field. And when Balaam beat her and intended to return her to the path,

Numbers 22:24 the Angel stood in a narrow place between the two walls, with which the vineyards were enclosed.

Numbers 22:25 And the donkey, seeing this, drew herself close to the wall and scraped the foot of the rider. So he beat her again.

Numbers 22:26 And, nevertheless, the Angel passing on to a narrow place, where one would not be able to deviate either to the right or to the left, stood to meet him.

Numbers 22:27 And when the donkey had seen the Angel standing there, she fell under the feet of the rider, who, being angry, struck her sides more vehemently with a club.

Numbers 22:28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said: “What have I done to you? Why do strike you me, behold now, for the third time?”

Numbers 22:29 Balaam responded, “Because you have deserved it, and you have mistreated me. If only I had a sword, so that I might pierce you.”

Numbers 22:30 The donkey said: “Am not I your animal, on which you have always been accustomed to sit, even until this present day? Tell me, when did I ever do the same thing to you.” But he said, “Never.”

Numbers 22:31 Immediately, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel standing in the way with a drawn sword, and he reverenced him prone on the ground.

Numbers 22:32 And the Angel said to him: “Why did you beat your donkey three times? I have come to be an adversary to you, because your way is perverse and contrary to me.

Numbers 22:33 And unless the donkey had turned aside from the way, allowing a place for my opposition, I would have killed you, and she would have lived.”

Numbers 22:34 Balaam said: “I have sinned, not knowing that you stood against me. And now, if it displeases you for me to continue on, I will return.”

Numbers 22:35 The Angel said, “Go with them, but be careful not to speak anything other than what I shall instruct you.” And so, he went with the leaders.

Numbers 22:36 And when Balak had heard it, he went out to meet him in a town of the Moabites, which is situated at the furthest borders of Arnon.

Numbers 22:37 And he said to Balaam: “I sent messengers to call you. Why did you not come to me immediately? Was it because I am not able to pay the cost for your arrival?”

Numbers 22:38 He answered him: “Behold, here I am. Am I able to speak anything other than what God will put into my mouth?”

Numbers 22:39 Therefore, they continued on together, and they arrived at a city, which was at the furthest borders of his kingdom.

Numbers 22:40 And after Balak had killed oxen and sheep, he sent the gifts to Balaam, and to the leaders who were with him.

Numbers 22:41 Then, when morning arrived, he led him to the heights of Baal, and he gazed upon the most distant portions of the population.