Balak

B'midbar 22:2-25:9
Num 22:2 Now Balak the son of Tzippor saw all that Yisra’el had done to the Emori.
Num 22:3 Mo'av was very afraid of the people, because there were so many of them; Mo'av was overcome with dread because of the people of Yisra’el.
Num 22:4 So Mo'av said to the leaders of Midyan, "This horde will lick up everything around us, the way an ox licks up grass in the field." Balak the son of Tzippor was melech of Mo'av at that time.
Num 22:5 He sent messengers to Bil`am the son of B`or, at P'tor by the [Euphrates] River in his native land, to tell him, "Listen, a people has come out of Mitsrayim, spread over all the land and settled down next to me.
Num 22:6 Therefore, please come, and curse this people for me, because they are stronger than I am. Maybe I will be able to strike them down and drive them out of the land, for I know that whomever you bless is in fact blessed, and whomever you curse is in fact cursed."
Num 22:7 The leaders of Mo'av and Midyan left, taking with them the payment for divining, came to Bil`am and spoke to him the words of Balak.
Num 22:8 He said to them, "Stay here tonight, and I will bring you back whatever answer YHVH tells me." So the princes of Mo'av stayed with Bil`am.
Num 22:9 Elohim came to Bil`am and said, "Who are these men with you?"
Num 22:10 Bil`am said to Elohim, "Balak the son of Tzippor, melech of Mo'av, has sent me this message:
Num 22:11 'The people who came out of Mitsrayim have spread over the land; now, come and curse them for me; maybe I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.' "
Num 22:12 Elohim answered Bil`am, "You are not to go with them; you are not to curse the people, because they are blessed."
Num 22:13 Bil`am got up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Return to your own land, because YHVH refuses to give me permission to go with you."
Num 22:14 The princes of Mo'av got up, returned to Balak and said, "Bil`am refuses to come with us."
Num 22:15 Balak again sent princes, more of them and of higher status than the first group.
Num 22:16 They went to Bil`am and said to him, "Here is what Balak the son of Tzippor says: 'Please don't let anything keep you from coming to me.
Num 22:17 I will reward you very well, and whatever you say to me I will do. So please come, and curse this people for me.' "
Num 22:18 Bil`am answered the servants of Balak, "Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of YHVH my Elohim to do anything, great or small.
Num 22:19 Now, please, you too, stay here tonight; so that I may find out what else YHVH will say to me."
Num 22:20 Elohim came to Bil`am during the night and said to him, "If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but do only what I tell you."
Num 22:21 So Bil`am got up in the morning, saddled his ass and went with the princes of Mo'av.
Num 22:22 But Elohim's anger flared up because he went, and the malachei of YHVH stationed himself on the path to bar his way. He was riding on his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:23 The ass saw the malachei of YHVH standing on the road, drawn sword in hand; so the ass turned off the road into the field; and Bil`am had to beat the ass to get it back on the road.
Num 22:24 Then the malachei of YHVH stood on the road where it became narrow as it passed among the vineyards and had stone walls on both sides.
Num 22:25 The ass saw the malachei of YHVH and pushed up against the wall, crushing Bil`am's foot against the wall. So he beat it again.
Num 22:26 The malachei of YHVH moved ahead and stood in a place so tight that there was no room to turn either right or left.
Num 22:27 Again the ass saw the malachei of YHVH and lay down under Bil`am, which made him so angry that he hit the ass with his stick.
Num 22:28 But YHVH enabled the ass to speak, and it said to Bil`am, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
Num 22:29 Bil`am said to the ass, "It's because you've been making a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand; I would kill you on the spot!"
Num 22:30 The ass said to Bil`am, "I'm your ass, right? You've ridden me all your life, right? Have I ever treated you like this before?" "No," he admitted.
Num 22:31 Then YHVH opened Bil`am's eyes, so that he could see the malachei of YHVH standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, and he bowed his head and fell on his face.
Num 22:32 The malachei of YHVH said to him, "Why did you hit your ass three times like that? I have come out here to bar your way, because you are rushing to oppose me.
Num 22:33 The ass saw me and turned aside these three times; and indeed, if she hadn't turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and saved it alive!"
Num 22:34 Bil`am said to the malachei of YHVH, "I have sinned. I didn't know that you were standing on the road to block me. Now, therefore, if what I am doing displeases you, I will go back."
Num 22:35 But the malachei of YHVH said to Bil`am, "No, go on with the men; but you are to say only what I tell you to say." So Bil`am went along with the princes of Balak.
Num 22:36 When Balak heard that Bil`am had come, he went out to meet him in the city of Mo'av at the Arnon border, in the farthest reaches of the territory.
Num 22:37 Balak said to Bil`am, "I sent more than once to summon you! Why didn't you come to me? Did you think I couldn't pay you enough?"
Num 22:38 Bil`am replied to Balak, "Here, I've come to you! But I have no power of my own to say anything. The word that Elohim puts in my mouth is what I will say."
Num 22:39 Bil`am went with Balak. When they arrived at Kiryat-Hutzot,
Num 22:40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, then sent to Bil`am and the princes with him.
Num 22:41 In the morning Balak took Bil`am and brought him up to the high places of Ba`al; from there he could see a portion of the people.
Num 23:1 Bil`am said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams here."
Num 23:2 Balak did as Bil`am said; then Balak and Bil`am offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Num 23:3 Bil`am said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering while I go off; maybe YHVH will come and meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you." He went off to a bare hill.
Num 23:4 Elohim met Bil`am, who said to him, "I prepared the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar."
Num 23:5 Then YHVH put a word in Bil`am's mouth and said, "Go on back to Balak, and speak as I tell you."
Num 23:6 He went back to him, and there, standing by his burnt offering, he with all the princes of Mo'av,
Num 23:7 he made his pronouncement: "Balak, the melech of Mo'av, brings me from Aram, from the eastern hills, saying, 'Come, curse Ya`akov for me; come and denounce Yisra’el.'
Num 23:8 "How am I to curse those whom Elohim has not cursed? How am I to denounce those whom YHVH has not denounced?
Num 23:9 "From the top of the rocks I see them, from the hills I behold them — yes, a people that will dwell alone and not think itself one of the nations.
Num 23:10 "Who has counted the dust of Ya`akov or numbered the ashes of Yisra’el? May I die as the righteous die! May my end be like theirs!"
Num 23:11 Balak said to Bil`am, "What have you done to me?! To curse my enemies is why I brought you; and, here, you have totally blessed them!"
Num 23:12 He answered, "Mustn't I take care to say just what YHVH puts in my mouth?"
Num 23:13 Balak said to him, "All right, come with me to another place where you can see them. You will see only some of them, not all; but you can curse them for me from there."
Num 23:14 He took him through the field of Tzofim to the top of the Pisgah Range, built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Num 23:15 Bil`am said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I go over there for a meeting."
Num 23:16 YHVH met Bil`am, put a word in his mouth and said, "Go on back to Balak, and speak as I tell you."
Num 23:17 He came to him and stood by his burnt offering, with all the princes of Mo'av. Balak asked him, "What did YHVH say?"
Num 23:18 Then Bil`am made his pronouncement: "Get up, Balak, and listen! Turn your ears to me, son of Tzippor!
Num 23:19 "Elohim is not a human who lies or a mortal who changes his mind. When he says something, he will do it; when he makes a promise, he will fulfill it.
Num 23:20 Look, I am ordered to bless; when he blesses, I can't reverse it.
Num 23:21 "No one has seen guilt in Ya`akov, or perceived perversity in Yisra’el; YHVH their Elohim is with them and acclaimed as melech among them.
Num 23:22 "Elohim, who brought them out of Mitsrayim, gives them the strength of a wild ox;
Num 23:23 thus one can't put a spell on Ya`akov, no magic will work against Yisra’el. It can now be said of Ya`akov and Yisra’el, 'What is this that Elohim has done?!'
Num 23:24 "Here is a people rising up like a lioness; like a lion he rears himself up — he will not lie down till he eats up the prey and drinks the blood of the slain."
Num 23:25 Balak said to Bil`am, "Obviously, you won't curse them. But at least don't bless them!"
Num 23:26 However, Bil`am answered Balak, "Didn't I warn you that I must do everything YHVH says?"
Num 23:27 Balak said to Bil`am, "Come, I will take you now to another place; maybe it will please Elohim for you to curse them for me from there."
Num 23:28 Balak took Bil`am to the top of P`or, overlooking the desert.
Num 23:29 Bil`am said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams."
Num 23:30 Balak did as Bil`am said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Num 24:1 When Bil`am saw that it pleased YHVH to bless Yisra’el, he didn't go, as at the other times, to make use of divination, but looked out toward the desert.
Num 24:2 Bil`am raised his eyes and saw Yisra’el encamped tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of Elohim came upon him,
Num 24:3 and he made his pronouncement: "This is the speech of Bil`am, son of B`or; the speech of the man whose eyes have been opened;
Num 24:4 the speech of him who hears Elohim's words; who sees what Shaddai sees, who has fallen, yet has open eyes:
Num 24:5 "How lovely are your tents, Ya`akov; your encampments, Yisra’el!
Num 24:6 They spread out like valleys, like gardens by the riverside, like succulent aloes planted by YHVH, like cedar trees next to the water.
Num 24:7 "Water will flow from their branches, their seed will have water aplenty. Their melech will be higher than Agag and his kingdom lifted high.
Num 24:8 Elohim, who brought them out of Mitsrayim, gives them the strength of a wild ox. They will devour the nations opposing them, break their bones, pierce them with their arrows.
Num 24:9 "When they lie down they crouch like a lion, or like a lioness — who dares to rouse it? Blessed be all who bless you! Cursed be all who curse you!"
Num 24:10 Balak blazed with fury against Bil`am. He struck his hands together and said to Bil`am, "I summoned you to curse my enemies. But here, you have done nothing but bless them — three times already!
Num 24:11 Now you had better escape to your own place! I had planned to reward you very well, but now YHVH has deprived you of payment."
Num 24:12 Bil`am answered Balak, "Didn't I tell the messengers you sent me
Num 24:13 that even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord go beyond the word of YHVH to do either good or bad? that what YHVH said is what I would say?
Num 24:14 But now that I am going back to my own people, come, I will warn you what this people will do to your people in the acharit-hayamim.
Num 24:15 So he made his pronouncement: "This is the speech of Bil`am, son of B`or; the speech of the man whose eyes have been opened;
Num 24:16 the speech of him who hears Elohim's words; who knows what `Elyon knows, who sees what Shaddai sees, who has fallen, yet has open eyes:
Num 24:17 "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not soon — a star will step forth from Ya`akov, a scepter will arise from Yisra’el, to crush the corners of Mo'av and destroy all descendants of Shet.
Num 24:18 His enemies will be his possessions — Edom and Se`ir, possessions. Yisra’el will do valiantly,
Num 24:19 From Ya`akov will come someone who will rule, and he will destroy what is left of the city."
Num 24:20 He saw `Amalek and made this pronouncement: "First among nations was `Amalek, but destruction will be its end."
Num 24:21 He saw the Keini and made this pronouncement: "Though your dwelling is firm, your nest set on rock,
Num 24:22 Kayin will be wasted while captive to Ashur."
Num 24:23 Finally, he made this pronouncement: "Oh no! Who can live when Elohim does this?
Num 24:24 But ships will come from the coast of Kittim to subdue Ashur and subdue `Ever, but they too will come to destruction."
Num 24:25 Then Bil`am got up, left and returned to his home; and Balak too went his way.
Num 25:1 Yisra’el stayed at Sheetim, and there the people began whoring with the women of Mo'av.
Num 25:2 These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their Elohim, where the people ate and bowed down to their Elohim.
Num 25:3 With Yisra’el thus joined to Ba`al-P`or, the anger of YHVH blazed up against Yisra’el.
Num 25:4 YHVH said to Moshe, "Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them facing the sun before YHVH, so that the raging fury of YHVH will turn away from Yisra’el."
Num 25:5 Moshe said to the judges of Yisra’el, "Each of you is to put to death those in his tribe who have joined themselves to Ba`al-P`or."
Num 25:6 Just then, in the sight of Moshe and the whole community of Yisra’el, as they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting, a man from Yisra’el came by, bringing to his family a woman from Midyan.
Num 25:7 When Pinchas the son of El`azar, the son of Aharon the kohen, saw it, he got up from the middle of the crowd, took a spear in his hand,
Num 25:8 and pursued the man from Yisra’el right into the inner part of the tent, where he thrust his spear through both of them — the man from Yisra’el and the woman through her stomach. Thus was the plague among the people of Yisra’el stopped;
Num 25:9 nevertheless, 24,000 died in the plague.