Min Shu Ji_Chapter 22

The Israelites set out and camped in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, facing Jericho.

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

The Moabites were greatly afraid and their hearts were troubled because of the multitude of the people of Israel,

And he said to the elders of Midian, Now these people will lick up everything around us, just as an ox licks up the grass in the field. At that time, Baal, the son of Zippor, became the king of Moab.

He sent messengers to the town of Balaam, the son of Beor, by the Great River, and called Balaam, saying, There is a people who have come out of Egypt and covered the ground, living against me.

This people are stronger than me. Now come and curse them for me, perhaps I can overcome them, attack them, and drive them out of this place. Because I know that whoever you bless will be blessed. Whoever you curse will be cursed.

The elders of Moab and Midian, holding divination gold in their hands, came to Balaam and told him all of Balak’s words.

Balaam said, Stay here tonight, and I will repay you as the Lord has spoken to me. The envoys of Moab stayed with Balaam.

God came to Balaam and said, “Who are all the people here with you?”?

Balaam replied, “Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent someone to me, saying, ‘,

The people who came out of Egypt covered the ground, come and curse them for me, maybe I can fight against them and drive them out.

God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them, and do not curse that people, for they are blessed.”.

Balaam woke up in the morning and said to the envoys of Balak, “Go back to your own land, because the Lord will not allow me to go with you.”.

The envoys of Moab got up and returned to Balak, saying, Balaam refused to come with us.

Balak also sent envoys, who were more numerous and honored than before.

They arrived at Balaam and said to him, Balak, the son of Zippor, said, ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming to me.’,

Because I will bring you great honor. I’ll give you whatever you ask me. I only ask you to curse this people for me.

Balaam answered Balak’s servants, saying, Even if Balak gives me his house full of gold and silver, I will not go beyond the command of the Lord my God in any great or small act.

Now I invite you to stay here tonight until I know what the Lord will say to me again.

That night, God came to Balaam and said, “If these people come to call you, get up and go with them. Just do what I say to you.”.

Balaam got up in the morning, prepared his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.

God was angry because he went away. The angel of the Lord stood on the road to resist him. He rode a donkey with two servants following him.

The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing on the road with a drawn sword in his hand, and crossed into the field from the road. Balaam then beat the donkey to make it turn back and go on the road.

The angel of the Lord stood on the narrow path of the vineyard. There are walls here and there are also walls over there.

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it leaned against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot. Balan is beating donkeys again.

The angel of the Lord went forward again and stood in a narrow place, with no turning point on either side.

The donkey saw the angel of the Lord and lay down under Balaam. Balaam was angry and beat the donkey with his staff.

The Lord opened the donkey’s mouth and said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”?

Balan said to the donkey, “Because you’re teasing me, I wish I had a knife in my hand and killed you.”.

The donkey said to Balaam, Am I not the donkey you have ridden since childhood until today? Have I ever done this to you before? Balan said, no.

At that time, the Lord made Balaam’s eyes bright, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing on the road with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam then lowered his head and fell to the ground.

The angel of the Lord said to him, Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come out to resist you, because your actions are far from me.

The donkey turned past me three times when it saw me. If the donkey hadn’t turned over, I would have killed you long ago and kept it alive.

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned. I didn’t know you were standing on the road blocking me. If you don’t like me going, I’ll turn back.

The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with these people.”. You just need to say what I said to you. So Balaam went with the envoys of Balak.

When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went to the capital of Moab to meet him. This city is on the border, by the Arnon River.

Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I urgently send someone to your place to call you?”? Why don’t you come to me? Can’t I give you honor?

Balan said, I have already come to your place. How can I say anything without authorization now? I will say whatever God sends to me.

Balaam and Balak traveled together and came to Gilead Huzor.

Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and gave them to Balaam and his accompanying envoys.

In the morning, Balak led Balaam to the heights of Baal. Balaam looked at the border of the Israeli camp from there.