Study Desk

Balaam was riding his donkey to Moab, and two of his servants were with him. But God was angry that Balaam had gone, so one of the Lord 's angels stood in the road to stop him.

When the donkey saw the angel, it walked so close to one of the walls that Balaam's foot scraped against the wall. Balaam beat the donkey again.

The angel moved once more and stood in a spot so narrow that there was no room for the donkey to go around.

So it just lay down. Balaam lost his temper, then picked up a stick and smacked the donkey.

"It's all right for you to go," the Lord 's angel answered. "But you must say only what I tell you." So Balaam went on with Balak's officials.

So he took Balaam to a field on top of Mount Pisgah where lookouts were stationed. Then he built seven altars there and sacrificed a bull and a ram on each one.

So he took Balaam to Mount Peor overlooking the desert north of the Dead Sea.

Balaam was sure that the Lord would tell him to bless Israel again. So he did not use any magic to find out what the Lord wanted him to do, as he had the first two times. Instead, he looked out toward the desert

and Balaam said: "I am the son of Beor, and my words are true, so listen to my message!

When Balak heard this, he was so furious that he pounded his fist against his hand and said, "I called you here to place a curse on my enemies, and you've blessed them three times.

So I'm going back home, but I'm leaving you with a warning about what the Israelites will someday do to your nation."

Balaam said: "I am the son of Beor, and my words are true, so listen to my message!

So he said to Moses, "Take the Israelite leaders who are responsible for this and have them killed in front of my sacred tent where everyone can see. Maybe then I will stop being angry with the Israelites."

But instead of punishing them, I forgave them. So because of the loyalty that Phinehas showed, I solemnly promise that he and his descendants will always be my priests."

"The Midianites are now enemies of Israel, so attack and defeat them! They tricked the people of Israel into worshiping their god at Peor, and they are responsible for the death of Cozbi, the daughter of one of their own leaders."

so the larger tribes have more land than the smaller ones.

to carry on his family name. But why should his name die out for that reason? Give us some land like the rest of his relatives in our clan, so our father's name can live on.

"You are the Lord God, and you know what is in everyone's heart. So I ask you to appoint a leader for Israel.

to say to the people of Israel: Offer sacrifices to me at the appointed times of worship, so that I will smell the smoke and be pleased.

For the next six days of the festival, you will sacrifice one less bull than the day before, so that on the seventh day, seven bulls will be sacrificed. The other sacrifices and offerings must remain the same for each of these days.