^22:5And he sent messengers to Balaam⁶ son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates River⁷ in the land of Amaw,⁸ to summon him, saying, “Look, a nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the face⁹ of the earth, and they are settling next to me.

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Footnotes

6 There is much literature on pagan diviners and especially prophecy in places in the east like Mari (see, for example, H. B. Huffmon, “Prophecy in the Mari Letters,” 31 [1968]: 101–24). Balaam appears to be a pagan diviner who was of some reputation; he was called to curse the Israelites, but God intervened and gave him blessings only. The passage forms a nice complement to texts that deal with blessings and curses. It shows that no one can curse someone whom God has blessed.
7 Heb “by the river”; in most contexts this expression refers to the Euphrates River (cf. , , , , , ).
8 Heb “in the land of Amaw” (cf. , , ); traditionally “in the land of the sons of his people.” The has “by the river of the land.”
9 Heb “eye.” So also in v. 11.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:

“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. Balak said to him, “Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land and are living right across from me.

NLTNew Living Translation

sent messengers to call Balaam son of Beor, who was living in his native land of Pethor near the Euphrates River. His message said:

“Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and are threatening me.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the river, in the land of the children of his people, to summon him, saying, “Look! A people went out from Egypt. Look! They cover the surface of the land; they are about to dwell opposite me.

KJV 1900King James Version

He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

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