The Wilderness Years

He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me

that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.

Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.

A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”

Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”

Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?

Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”

Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab,

who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods.

So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”

So Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.”

Just then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and the whole congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,

followed the Israelite into his tent, and drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and on through the belly of the woman. So the plague against the Israelites was halted,