In the plains of Moab, Balaam stood with Balak as seven altars were built. On each altar, they placed a bull and a ram as an offering. Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your sacrifice while I go to meet the Lord. Whatever He tells me, I will speak."
God met Balaam, and Balaam said, "I have prepared seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each." The Lord placed a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak and deliver these words."
When Balaam came back, Balak was standing beside the offerings, with the princes of Moab around him. Then Balaam spoke the word God had given him:
"Balak, king of Moab, brought me from Aram, saying, 'Come, curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.'
But how can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those the Lord has not condemned?
From the mountaintops I see them — a people set apart, not counted among the nations.
Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like theirs."
Balak was furious. "What have you done to me?" he cried. "I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them instead!"
Balaam replied calmly, "Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?"
Balak, determined, said, "Come with me to another place. You will see only part of them there. From there, curse them for me."
So they went to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah. Again, Balaam told him to build seven altars and offer a bull and a ram on each. Balak did so. Then Balaam said, "Stay here beside your offering while I meet with the Lord."
The Lord came again to Balaam and placed another message in his mouth. When Balaam returned, Balak and the Moabite princes were waiting. Balak asked eagerly, "What did the Lord say?"
Balaam lifted his voice:
"Rise up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor:
God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind.
Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
I have received His command to bless — He has blessed, and I cannot change it.
No trouble is seen in Jacob, no misery in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of a King is among them.
God brought them out of Egypt; their strength is like that of a wild ox.
No spell can work against Jacob, no divination against Israel. People will say, 'See what God has done!'
They rise like a lioness, like a lion ready to devour its prey and drink the blood of its victims."
Balak, defeated once again, said, "If you will not curse them, then do not bless them either!"
But Balaam answered, "Did I not tell you that I must do only what the Lord says?"
Still unwilling to give up, Balak said, "Come with me to yet another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there."
So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wilderness. Once again, Balaam said, "Build seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams." Balak did as Balaam said, offering a bull and a ram on each altar.
And there they stood — Balak still hoping for a curse, and Balaam waiting for the word of the Lord.