1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
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.
12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
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.
14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.
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:
17 For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
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.
19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
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.
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 honor?
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.
39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
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.
The Book of Numbers is the fourth book in the Old Testament of the KJV Holy Bible. It is a continuation of the story of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The book is divided into three main sections: the first part covers the census and organization of the Israelites, the second part focuses on their journey through the wilderness, and the third part recounts their preparations for entering the Promised Land.
Chapter 22 of the Book of Numbers is a pivotal chapter in the story of the Israelites. It marks a turning point in their journey and introduces a new character, Balaam, who plays a significant role in the narrative. In this chapter, we see the Israelites facing new challenges as they continue their journey towards the Promised Land.
There are several themes that can be found in Chapter 22 of the Book of Numbers. These themes include obedience to God, the power of divination, and God's protection and provision for His people.
The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for many years, and they were on the brink of entering the Promised Land. However, before they could enter, they had to face the Moabites, who were a powerful enemy. In this chapter, we see the Moabite king, Balak, seeking the help of Balaam, a diviner, to curse the Israelites and prevent them from entering the Promised Land.
However, God had already made a promise to the Israelites that He would protect and bless them. He had also given them clear instructions not to make any treaties or alliances with the surrounding nations. But Balak and Balaam were determined to go against God's will and harm the Israelites. This disobedience to God's commands ultimately leads to their downfall and serves as a warning to us about the consequences of disobeying God.
Balaam was a diviner, someone who practiced the art of divination, which is the act of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown through supernatural means. In this chapter, we see Balaam being approached by Balak to curse the Israelites. Balaam initially refuses, saying that he can only speak the words that God puts in his mouth. However, he is enticed by the promise of great rewards, and he eventually agrees to curse the Israelites.
Through this narrative, we see the power of divination and how it can be used for personal gain. Balaam's actions also serve as a warning against seeking knowledge or guidance from supernatural sources rather than relying on God.
Despite the disobedience and attempts to harm them, God remains faithful to His promise to protect and provide for the Israelites. In this chapter, we see God intervening and preventing Balaam from cursing the Israelites. He also uses Balaam to bless the Israelites instead, foiling Balak's plans.
This theme highlights God's sovereignty and His unwavering love for His people. It serves as a reminder to us that no matter what challenges we may face, God is always with us, and He will protect and provide for us.
Chapter 22 of the Book of Numbers holds several meanings and lessons for us as readers.
One of the main messages of this chapter is the sovereignty of God. Despite the plans of Balak and Balaam to harm the Israelites, God remains in control. He uses Balaam to bless the Israelites instead of cursing them, and He ultimately foils Balak's plans. This serves as a reminder that no matter what may come against us, God is ultimately in control, and His plans will prevail.
The disobedience of Balak and Balaam in this chapter ultimately leads to their downfall. Balak's attempts to harm the Israelites result in his defeat, and Balaam's greed leads to his death later in the narrative. This serves as a warning to us about the consequences of disobeying God's commands. It also highlights the importance of staying true to God's will and not being swayed by temptation or personal gain.
In this chapter, we see the power of God's word over the words of a diviner. Balaam, who was known for his ability to curse people, is unable to do so when God intervenes and speaks through him. This serves as a reminder of the power of God's word and its ability to overcome any other words or forces that may come against us.
Despite the challenges and enemies that the Israelites faced, God remained faithful to His promise to protect and provide for them. This serves as a reminder of God's unwavering love for His people and His faithfulness in keeping His promises. It also encourages us to trust in God's protection and provision, even in the face of adversity.
Chapter 22 of the Book of Numbers is a significant chapter in the story of the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land. It introduces new challenges and characters, and it highlights important themes and lessons for us as readers. Through this chapter, we see the consequences of disobedience to God's commands, the power of divination, and God's faithfulness and protection for His people. Ultimately, it reminds us of God's sovereignty and the importance of staying true to His will. May we learn from the mistakes of Balak and Balaam and trust in God's plans and protection for our lives.
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