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MARCH 12
to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and
go with them; but only the word which I speak
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to you—that you shall do.” So Balaam rose in
22:5 Balaam. Balaam was from Pethor, a city the morning, saddled his donkey, and went
on the Euphrates River, perhaps near Mari, with the princes of Moab.
where the existence of a cult of prophets 22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he
whose activities resembled those of Balaam went, and the Angel of the LORD took His
have been found.Balaam practiced magic and stand in the way as an adversary against him.
divination (24:1) and eventually led Israel into And he was riding on his donkey, and his two
apostasy (31:16). Later Scripture identifies servants were with him. Now the donkey saw
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Balaam as a false prophet (Deut. 23:3–6; Josh. the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with
13:22; 24:9,10; Neh. 13:1–3; Mic. 6:5; 2 Pet. His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey
2:15,16; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14).
turned aside out of the way and went into the
field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her
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drive them out of the land, for I know that he back onto the road. Then the Angel of the
whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you LORD stood in a narrow path between the vine-
curse is cursed.” yards, with a wall on this side and a wall on
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So the elders of Moab and the elders of that side. And when the donkey saw the
Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their Angel of the LORD, she pushed herself against
hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the
him the words of Balak. And he said to them, wall; so he struck her again. Then the Angel
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“Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow
word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the place where there was no way to turn either to
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princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. the right hand or to the left. And when the
Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay
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are these men with you?” down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was
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So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of aroused, and he struck the donkey with his
Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, staff.
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‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and Then the LORD opened the mouth of the
they cover the face of the earth. Come now, donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I
curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to done to you, that you have struck me these
overpower them and drive them out.’ ” three times?”
And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because
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with them; you shall not curse the people, for you have abused me. I wish there were a
they are blessed.” sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”
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So Balaam rose in the morning and said to So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not
the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, your donkey on which you have ridden, ever
for the LORD has refused to give me permis- since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever
sion to go with you.” disposed to do this to you?”
And the princes of Moab rose and went to And he said, “No.”
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Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and
us.” he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the
Then Balak again sent princes, more way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he
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numerous and more honorable than they. bowed his head and fell flat on his face. And
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And they came to Balaam and said to him, the Angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have
“Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let you struck your donkey these three times?
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nothing hinder you from coming to me; for I Behold, I have come out to stand against you,
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will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do because your way is perverse before Me. The
whatever you say to me. Therefore please donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me
come, curse this people for me.’ ” these three times. If she had not turned aside
Then Balaam answered and said to the ser- from Me, surely I would also have killed you
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vants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me by now, and let her live.”
his house full of silver and gold, I could not go 34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD,
beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in
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less or more. Now therefore, please, you also the way against me. Now therefore, if it dis-
stay here tonight, that I may know what more pleases You, I will turn back.”
the LORD will say to me.” 35 Then the Angel of the LORD said to
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And God came to Balaam at night and said Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word
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