Study Desk

When Bil`am saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Yisra'el, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Bil`am lifted up his eyes, and he saw Yisra'el dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

He took up his parable, and said, Bil`am the son of Be'or says, The man whose eye was closed says;

Balak's anger was kindled against Bil`am, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Bil`am, I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

Bil`am said to Balak, Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

He took up his parable, and said, Bil`am the son of Be'or says, The man whose eye was closed says;

Bil`am rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

They killed the kings of Midyan with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Tzur, and Hur, and Reva, the five kings of Midyan: Bil`am also the son of Be'or they killed with the sword.

Behold, these caused the children of Yisra'el, through the counsel of Bil`am, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Pe`or, and so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.

I spoke to you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

The LORD said to me, Tell them, Don't go up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest you be struck before your enemies.

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Mitzrayim, out of the house of bondage.

you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me;

because they didn't meet you with bread and with water in the way, when you came forth out of Mitzrayim, and because they hired against you Bil`am the son of Be'or from Petor of Aram-Naharayim, to curse you.

Nevertheless the LORD your God wouldn't listen to Bil`am; but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you.

You shall come to the Kohen who shall be in those days, and tell him, I profess this day to the LORD your God, that I am come to the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.

You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine or strong drink; that you may know that I am the LORD your God.

He said to them, I am one hundred twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: and the LORD has said to me, You shall not go over this Yarden.

For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

See now that I, even I, am he, There is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; There is none who can deliver out of my hand.