Page 160 - Bible History

THE WANDERINGS OF THE ISRAELITES
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they might take his body and adore it, for they were easily t pted to idolatry. The Israelites mourned for Moses for thirty days.
Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan, Balac, king The story
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of the Moab1tes, sent presents to a prophet named Balaam, who lived far away in Mesopotamia, and begged him to come and curse the Children of Israel. God spoke to Balaam and said, ''Thou shalt not go with these men and thou shalt not curse this people, because it is blessed.'' So Balaam refused to go to the land of Moab with the messengers of King Balac.
But Balac was not discouraged. Again he sent mes­ sengers to Balaam begging him to come and curse the Israelites. This time God told Balaam to go with them and to do what He commanded him.
So Balaam sad ed his ass and, with two of his servants, accompanied the messengers to the land of
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