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Balak Sends for Balaam |
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| Numbers 22:1 |
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Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped
in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho. |
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| Numbers 22:2 |
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Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel
had done to the Amorites. |
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| Numbers 22:3 |
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So Moab was in great fear because of the people,
for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel. |
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| Numbers 22:4 |
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Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this
horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the
field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. |
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| Numbers 22:5 |
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So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of
Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people,
to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the
surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. |
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| Numbers 22:6 |
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Now, therefore, please come, curse this people
for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them
and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed,
and he whom you curse is cursed." |
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| Numbers 22:7 |
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So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian
departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and
repeated Balak's words to him. |
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| Numbers 22:8 |
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He said to them, "Spend the night here, and
I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me." And the leaders of
Moab stayed with Balaam. |
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| Numbers 22:9 |
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Then God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these
men with you?" |
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| Numbers 22:10 |
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Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor,
king of Moab, has sent word to me, |
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| Numbers 22:11 |
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'Behold, there is a people who came out of
Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps
I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.'" |
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| Numbers 22:12 |
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God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you
shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." |
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| Numbers 22:13 |
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So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's
leaders, "Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." |
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| Numbers 22:14 |
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The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak
and said, "Balaam refused to come with us." |
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| Numbers 22:15 |
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Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous
and more distinguished than the former. |
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| Numbers 22:16 |
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They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says
Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; |
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| Numbers 22:17 |
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for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will
do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.'" |
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| Numbers 22:18 |
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Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though
Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything,
either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God. |
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| Numbers 22:19 |
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Now please, you also stay here tonight, and
I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me." |
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| Numbers 22:20 |
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God came to Balaam at night and said to him,
"If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word
which I speak to you shall you do." |
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| Numbers 22:21 |
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So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled
his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab. |
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The Angel and Balaam |
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| Numbers 22:22 |
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But God was angry because he was going, and
the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now
he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. |
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| Numbers 22:23 |
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When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing
in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way
and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the
way. |
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| Numbers 22:24 |
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Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow
path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. |
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| Numbers 22:25 |
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When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she
pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he
struck her again. |
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| Numbers 22:26 |
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The angel of the LORD went further, and stood
in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. |
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| Numbers 22:27 |
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When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she
lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. |
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| Numbers 22:28 |
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And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey,
and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these
three times?" |
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| Numbers 22:29 |
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Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you
have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have
killed you by now." |
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| Numbers 22:30 |
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The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey
on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed
to do so to you?" And he said, "No." |
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| Numbers 22:31 |
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Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and
he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand;
and he bowed all the way to the ground. |
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| Numbers 22:32 |
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The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have
you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary,
because your way was contrary to me. |
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| Numbers 22:33 |
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But the donkey saw me and turned aside from
me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have
killed you just now, and let her live." |
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| Numbers 22:34 |
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Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have
sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then,
if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." |
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| Numbers 22:35 |
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But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go
with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you." So Balaam went
along with the leaders of Balak. |
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| Numbers 22:36 |
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When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he
went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the
extreme end of the border. |
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| Numbers 22:37 |
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Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not urgently
send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor
you?" |
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| Numbers 22:38 |
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So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come
now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth,
that I shall speak." |
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| Numbers 22:39 |
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And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to
Kiriath-huzoth. |
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| Numbers 22:40 |
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Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some
to Balaam and the leaders who were with him. |
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| Numbers 22:41 |
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Then it came about in the morning that Balak
took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there
a portion of the people. |
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