Numbers 22:30–41

³⁰But the donkey said, “Am I not the donkey you’ve ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?”

“No,” he replied.

³¹Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the path with a drawn sword in His hand. Balaam knelt and bowed with his face to the ground. ³²The Angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing is evil in My sight. ³³The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.”

³⁴Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in Your sight, I will go back.”

³⁵Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

³⁶When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city ^kon the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. ³⁷Balak asked Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”

³⁸Balaam said to him, “Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth.” ³⁹So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. ^l40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him.

⁴¹In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him to Bamoth-baal. ^mFrom there he saw the outskirts of the people’s camp.