Balak Summons Balaam

5

He sent messengers to Bil'am the son of B'or, at P'tor by the [Euphrates] River in his native land, to tell him, "Listen, a people has come out of Egypt, spread over all the land and settled down next to me.

6

Therefore, please come, and curse this people for me, because they are stronger than I am. Maybe I will be able to strike them down and drive them out of the land, for I know that whomever you bless is in fact blessed, and whomever you curse is in fact cursed."

7

The leaders of Mo'av and Midyan left, taking with them the payment for divining, came to Bil'am and spoke to him the words of Balak.

8

He said to them, "Stay here tonight, and I will bring you back whatever answer ADONAI tells me." So the princes of Mo'av stayed with Bil'am.

9

God came to Bil'am and said, "Who are these men with you?"

10

Bil'am said to God, "Balak the son of Tzippor, king of Mo'av, has sent me this message:

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'The people who came out of Egypt have spread over the land; now, come and curse them for me; maybe I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"

12

God answered Bil'am, "You are not to go with them; you are not to curse the people, because they are blessed."

13

Bil'am got up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Return to your own land, because ADONAI refuses to give me permission to go with you."

14

The princes of Mo'av got up, returned to Balak and said, "Bil'am refuses to come with us."

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