The Israelites camped in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan from Jericho. When Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, saw how Israel had crushed the Amorites, fear filled his heart. Moab trembled at the sight of Israel's countless numbers and said to the elders of Midian, "This horde will lick up everything around us, just as an ox licks up the grass of the field."
So Balak sent messengers to Balaam, son of Beor, a well-known diviner who lived in Pethor, near the Euphrates River. The king's message was clear:
"A people has come out of Egypt—they cover the face of the land and now camp beside me. Come, curse them for me, for they are too powerful. Perhaps I can defeat them and drive them away. For I know this about you: whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed."
The elders of Moab and Midian set out with gifts of payment for divination and came to Balaam with Balak's words. Balaam told them, "Stay the night here, and I will bring back the answer the LORD gives me."
That night, God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"
Balaam replied, "Balak son of Zippor sent this message: 'A people who came out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Come now, curse them for me so I can drive them away.'"
But God said firmly, "Do not go with them. Do not curse these people, for they are blessed."
In the morning, Balaam told the princes, "Go back to your land. The LORD refuses to let me go with you." They returned to Balak and reported his refusal.
But Balak persisted. He sent a second delegation, more numerous and honorable than the first, saying, "Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, for I will greatly reward you. Come, curse these people for me."
Balaam answered, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God to do anything great or small. Stay the night again, and I will see what more the LORD says."
That night, God came to Balaam again and said, "Since these men have come to call you, go with them—but only do what I tell you."
At dawn, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God's anger burned because Balaam went with the Moabite princes without being called in the morning by Him. God then sent his angel and the angel, stood in the road to oppose Balaam.
Balaam rode on his donkey, accompanied by his two servants. When the donkey saw the angel standing in the road with a drawn sword, she turned aside into a field. Balaam struck her to force her back on the road.
Then the angel moved ahead and stood in a narrow path between two vineyard walls. The donkey pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot. He struck her again.
The angel moved on once more and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn. Seeing the angel, the donkey lay down under Balaam, who angrily beat her with his staff.
Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she spoke:
"What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
Balaam shouted back, "You've made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I'd kill you right now!"
The donkey replied, "Am I not your own donkey, which you've always ridden to this day? Have I ever behaved like this before?"
"No," Balaam admitted.
Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. Terrified, Balaam bowed low, face to the ground.
The angel said, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I came to oppose you because your way is reckless before me. The donkey saw me and turned away three times. If she hadn't, I would have killed you and spared her."
Balaam said, "I have sinned. I did not know you stood in the way to oppose me. If you are displeased, I will go back."
But the angel replied, "Go with these men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
When Balak heard Balaam was coming, he went to meet him at a Moabite town on the Arnon border. "Didn't I send urgent messengers to you?" he demanded. "Why didn't you come sooner? Am I not able to reward you?"
Balaam answered, "I have come now, but I can only speak the words God puts in my mouth."
Balak then took Balaam to Kiriath Huzoth, where he sacrificed cattle and sheep and offered some to Balaam and the officials. The next morning, Balak led Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, from where Balaam could see part of the Israelite camp spread across the plains.