UST NUM Chapter 23

Balaam blessed the Israelite people

23 Then Balaam told King Balak, “Have people construct seven altars for me here. Then have people get seven bulls and seven rams ready for me here to sacrifice.” 2 So Balak did exactly what Balaam told him to do. Then the two of them offered one bull and one ram on each altar.

3 Then Balaam told Balak, “You stand here close to your wholly burned sacrifice. I will walk somewhere else. Hopefully Yahweh will make himself present to me. I will tell you whatever he shows me.” Then Balaam walked to a hill with nothing on it.

4 Then God made himself present to Balaam. Balaam told him, “I had people prepare seven altars. Then, I offered one bull and one ram on each altar.” 5 Then Yahweh told Balaam what to say. Then Yahweh said, “Go back to Balak. Tell him that message.”

6 So Balaam went back to Balak. He found Balak standing close to his wholly burned sacrifice. All the Moabite officials were with him.

7 Then Balaam began to speak his prophetic message:

“King Balak, who rules Moab, brought me here

from the hills to the east in the region of Aram.

He had me travel here to call upon God

to do bad things to the Israelite people.

8 I cannot call upon God to do bad things to these people!

That is because Yahweh does not intend to do bad things to them.

9 I can see them from here,

from the top of this hilly and rocky area.

I see that they separate themselves

from all other people groups.

10 There are too many Israelites to count,

even if someone tried to count just one quarter of them!

I wish that, when I die, I will be like

one of these people who have done what is right.”

11 Then Balak told Balaam, “You have acted against me! I had you come here to call on God to do bad things to those who oppose me. Instead, you have called on God to do good things to them!”

12 Balaam replied, “I must be careful to say only what Yahweh tells me to say!”

Balaam prophesied about the Israelites again

13 After that, King Balak told Balaam, “I ask that you travel with me to a different place. You cannot see all the Israelites from there. You can see just the edge of their campsite. From there you must call on God to do bad things to them for my sake.” 14 So Balak took Balaam to part of the open country that people called Zophim. It was at the top of the hilly area that people called Pisgah. There Balak had people construct seven altars. He offered one bull and one ram on each altar.

15 Then Balaam told Balak, “You stand here close to your wholly burned sacrifice. I will wait for Yahweh to make himself present to me over there.”

16 Then, Yahweh made himself present to Balaam and told him what to say. Then Yahweh said, “Go back to Balak. Tell him that message.”

17 So Balaam went back to Balak. He found Balak standing close to his wholly burned sacrifice. The Moabite officials were with him. Balak asked him, “What did Yahweh say?”

18 Then Balaam began to speak his prophetic message:

“King Balak, Zippor’s son,

pay attention to what I say!

19 God is not a human.

So, he does not speak falsely, like humans do.

He always does

whatever he has said he will do.

20 Listen! God told me to call on him to do good things for the Israelites.

He intends to do good things for them, and I cannot change that.

21 Nothing bad or unfortunate

will happen to the Israelites.

Yahweh their God rules over them,

and they rejoice about that.

22 God led them out of Egypt.

God is as strong as any wild ox.

23 In fact, no one can harm the Israelites

by using magic or curses.

Right now, people will say about the Israelites,

‘Look at the amazing things that God has done!’

24 Listen! This people group is powerful,

like a pouncing lion.

As a lion does not stop hunting until it catches something to eat,

so they will not stop fighting until they completely defeat their enemies.”

25 Then Balak told Balaam, “I see that you are not calling on God to do bad things to the Israelites. You should be silent instead of calling on God to do good things to them!”

26 Balaam replied, “I already told you that I must do whatever Yahweh tells me to do!”

27 Then Balak told Balaam, “I ask that you travel with me to a different place. Maybe in that place God will consider it acceptable for you to call on him to do bad things to the Israelites for my sake.” 28 So Balak had Balaam travel with him to the top of the hilly area that people called Peor. From there, people could look down into the desolate area north of the Dead Sea.

29 Then Balaam told King Balak, “Have people construct seven altars for me here. Then have people get seven bulls and seven rams ready for me here to sacrifice.” 30 So Balak did what Balaam told him to do. He offered one bull and one ram on each altar.