Luke Ford's Torah - Balak IV

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Balak

son of Zippor,

king

of

Moab

, grew alarmed at the

Israelites

’ military victories among the

Amorites

. (

Numbers 22:2–4.

) He consulted with the elders of

Midian

and sent elders of Moab and Midian to the land by the

Euphrates

to invite the

prophet Balaam

to come and curse the Israelites for him. (

Numbers 22:4–7.

) Balaam told them: “Spend the night here, and I shall reply to you as the Lord may instruct me.” (

Numbers 22:8.

)

God

came to Balaam and said: “You must not curse that people, for they are blessed.” (

Numbers 22:9–12.

) In the morning, Balaam asked Balak’s dignitaries to leave, as God would not let him go with them, and they left and reported Balaam’s answer to Balak. (

Numbers 22:13–14.

) Then Balak sent more numerous and distinguished dignitaries, who offered Balaam rich rewards in return for damning the Israelites. (

Numbers 22:15–17.

) But Balaam replied: “Though Balak were to give me his house full of

silver

and

gold

, I could not do anything, big or little, contrary to the command of the Lord my God.” (

Numbers 22:18.

) Nonetheless, Balaam invited the dignitaries to stay overnight to let Balaam find out what else God might say to him, and that night God told Balaam: “If these men have come to invite you, you may go with them.” (

Numbers 22:19–20.

)

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