Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Read the Bible

English Revised Version

Numbers 22:7

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Balaam;   Balak;   Government;   Prayer;   Thompson Chain Reference - Divination;   Earthly;   Magic;   Reward;   Reward-Punishment;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Divination;   Midianites;   Moabites;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Midianites;   Moabites;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Balaam;   Midian;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Age, Old (the Aged);   Elder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Midianite;   Moab;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Avith;   Balaam;   Epistle;   Midian;   Zalmunna;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Transjordan;   Wages;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Balaam;   Balak;   Government;   Magic, Divination, and Sorcery;   Midian, Mtdianites;   Moab, Moabites;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Soothsaying;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Elders;   Midian, Midianites ;   Zippor ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Balak;   Midian;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elder;   Moab;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Elder;   Magic, Magicians;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Midian;   Sinai;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Divination;   Elder;   Hafá¹­arah;   Joshua, the Samaritan Book of;   Korah;   Midian and Midianites;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The Zakenim of Mo'av and the Zakenim of Midyan departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Bil`am, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
King James Version
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Lexham English Bible
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went with a fee for divination in their hand; they came to Balaam and spoke the words of Balak to him.
English Standard Version
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message.
New Century Version
The elders of Moab and Midian went with payment in their hands. When they found Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
New English Translation
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported to him the words of Balak.
Amplified Bible
So the elders of Moab and of Midian departed with fees for divination (foretelling) in hand; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.
New American Standard Bible
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left with the fees for divination in their hands; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Elders of Moab, and the Elders of Midian departed, hauing the reward of the soothsaying in their hande, and they came vnto Balaam, and tolde him the wordes of Balak.
Legacy Standard Bible
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went away with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and spoke Balak's words to him.
Contemporary English Version
The leaders of Moab and Midian left and took along money to pay Balaam for his work. When they got to his house, they gave him Balak's message.
Complete Jewish Bible
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.
Darby Translation
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed, having the rewards of divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
Easy-to-Read Version
The leaders of Moab and Midian left. They went to talk to Balaam. They carried with them money to pay him for his service. Then they told him what Balak had said.
George Lamsa Translation
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with gifts for divination in their hands; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.
Good News Translation
So the Moabite and Midianite leaders took with them the payment for the curse, went to Balaam, and gave him Balak's message.
Christian Standard Bible®
The elders of Moab and Midian departed with fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and reported Balak’s words to him.
Literal Translation
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left with the rewards of the seer in their hand. And they came to Balaam and spoke the words of Balak to him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the Elders of the Moabites wente on with ye Elders of the Madianites, and had the rewarde of ye soyth sayenge in their handes, and they came vnto Balaam, & tolde him the wordes of Balaac.
American Standard Version
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Bible in Basic English
So the responsible men of Moab and Midian went away, taking in their hands rewards for the prophet; and they came to Balaam and said to him what Balak had given them orders to say.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the elders of Moab, and the elders of Madian departed, hauyng the [rewarde] of the southsaying in their hande: And they came vnto Balaam, and tolde hym the wordes of Balac.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.
King James Version (1611)
And the elders of Moab, and the elders of Midian departed, with the rewards of diuination in their hand; and they came vnto Balaam, and spake vnto him the words of Balak.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the elders of Moab went, and the elders of Madiam, and their divining instruments were in their hands; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balac.
Berean Standard Bible
The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The eldere men of Moab and the grettere men in birthe of Madian yeden forth, hauynge in hondis the prijs of fals dyuynyng; and whanne thei hadden come to Balaam, and hadden teld to hym alle the wordis of Balaach, he answeride,
Young's Literal Translation
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian go, and divinations in their hand, and they come in unto Balaam, and speak unto him the words of Balak,
Update Bible Version
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of fortune-telling in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
World English Bible
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
New King James Version
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner's fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.
New Living Translation
Balak's messengers, who were elders of Moab and Midian, set out with money to pay Balaam to place a curse upon Israel. They went to Balaam and delivered Balak's message to him.
New Life Bible
So the leaders of Moab and the leaders of Midian left with the pay in their hand for the one who tells what will happen in the future. When they came to Balaam, they told him Balak's words.
New Revised Standard
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and gave him Balak's message.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went their way, with the rewards of divination in their hand, - so they came in unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the ancients of Moab, and the elders of Madian, went with the price of divination in their hands. And where they were come to Balaam, and had told him all the words of Balac:
Revised Standard Version
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Mid'ian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and gave him Balak's message.
THE MESSAGE
The leaders of Moab and Midian were soon on their way, with the fee for the cursing tucked safely in their wallets. When they got to Balaam, they gave him Balak's message. "Stay here for the night," Balaam said. "In the morning I'll deliver the answer that God gives me." The Moabite nobles stayed with him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him.

Contextual Overview

1 And the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to 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: 6 come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. 7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. 8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? 10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

rewards of divination: 1 Samuel 9:7, 1 Samuel 9:8, Isaiah 56:11, Ezekiel 13:19, Micah 3:11, Romans 16:18, 1 Timothy 6:9, 1 Timothy 6:10, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:4 - elders Numbers 22:15 - princes Numbers 22:19 - General Deuteronomy 23:4 - because they hired Judges 16:18 - brought money 1 Kings 11:18 - Midian 2 Kings 5:5 - and took Daniel 2:6 - ye shall Daniel 5:7 - be clothed Acts 1:18 - with

Cross-References

Genesis 8:20
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Genesis 22:2
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Genesis 22:4
On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
Exodus 12:3
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for an household:
Matthew 26:39
And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Matthew 26:42
Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.
John 18:11
Jesus therefore said unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Romans 8:15
For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the elders of Moab, and the elders of Midian, departed,.... By which it appears that they were princes and nobles; for such the elders were, that were sent on this errand to Balaam; and that they were some of both people, Midian and Moab, that went upon it, see

Numbers 22:14 which shows, that if they were not one people, under one king, which yet seems likely, nevertheless they made a common cause of it, and joined in this expedient to save their country:

with the rewards of divination in their hands; not that diviners were sent along with them to Balsam, as Aben Ezra interprets it, that he might not deceive them, and put them off, by saying it was not a fit and proper day or hour to go out and curse, which these men would be able to refute; but if they were skilled in the art of divination as well as he, what need was there to send to him, when they had such at hand? nor instruments of divination, as Jarchi, which so famous a soothsayer could not be thought to be without; but, as we rightly render it, the rewards of divination, which were either fixed or left to the generosity of those that had recourse to such persons, and were presents which they brought them, in order to engage them to use the utmost of their art for them; and this sense is confirmed by the Apostles Peter and Jude, see 2 Peter 2:15:

and they came unto Balaam; at Pethor:

and spake unto him the words of Balak: told him the errand they were sent on to him by the king of Moab.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rewards of divination - Rightly interpreted in 2 Peter 2:15 as “the wages of unrighteousness.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 22:7. The rewards of divination — Whoever went to consult a prophet took with him a present, as it was on such gratuitous offerings the prophets lived; but here more than a mere present is intended, perhaps every thing necessary to provide materials for the incantation. The drugs, c., used on such occasions were often very expensive. It appears that Balaam was very covetous, and that he loved the wages of unrighteousness, and probably lived by it see 2 Peter 2:15.


 
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