Balak

He came to him and stood by his burnt offering, with all the princes of Mo'av. Balak asked him, "What did ADONAI say?"

Then Bil'am made his pronouncement: "Get up, Balak, and listen! Turn your ears to me, son of Tzippor!

Balak said to Bil'am, "Obviously, you won't curse them. But at least don't bless them!"

However, Bil'am answered Balak, "Didn't I warn you that I must do everything ADONAI says?"

Balak said to Bil'am, "Come, I will take you now to another place; maybe it will please God for you to curse them for me from there."

Balak took Bil'am to the top of P'or, overlooking the desert.

Bil'am said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams."

Balak did as Bil'am said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balak blazed with fury against Bil'am. He struck his hands together and said to Bil'am, "I summoned you to curse my enemies. But here, you have done nothing but bless them - three times already!

Bil'am answered Balak, "Didn't I tell the messengers you sent me

that even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not of my own accord go beyond the word of ADONAI to do either good or bad? that what ADONAI said is what I would say?

Then Bil'am got up, left and returned to his home; and Balak too went his way.

Then Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo'av, rose up and fought against Isra'el. He sent and summoned Bil'am the son of B'or to put a curse on you.

Really, are you better than Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo'av? Did he ever pick a quarrel with Isra'el or fight with us?

My people, just remember what Balak the king of Mo'av had planned, what Bil'am the son of B'or answered him, [and what happened] between Sheetim and Gilgal - so that you will understand the saving deeds of ADONAI."

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people who hold to the teaching of Bil‘am, who taught Balak to set a trap for the people of Isra’el, so that they would eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and commit sexual sin.