Study Desk

But God became angry because Balaam went, so the angel of the Lord stood in the road to stop Balaam. Balaam was riding his donkey, and he had two servants with him.

But the donkey said to Balaam, "I am your very own donkey, which you have ridden for years. Have I ever done this to you before?" "No," Balaam said.

The donkey saw me and turned away from me three times. If she had not turned away, I would have killed you by now, but I would have let her live."

The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with these men, but say only what I tell you." So Balaam went with Balak's leaders.

But Balaam answered, "I have come to you now, but I can't say just anything. I can only say what God tells me to say."

But God has not cursed them, so I cannot curse them. The Lord has not called down evil on them, so I cannot call down evil on them.

Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but you have only blessed them!"

But Balaam answered, "I must say what the Lord tells me to say."

Then Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place, where you can also see the people. But you can only see part of them, not all of them. Curse them for me from there."

Balaam saw that the Lord wanted to bless Israel, so he did not try to use any magic but looked toward the desert.

Then Balak was angry with Balaam, and he pounded his fist. He said to Balaam, "I called you here to curse my enemies, but you have continued to bless them three times.

Now go home! I said I would pay you well, but the Lord has made you lose your reward."

‘Balak could give me his palace filled with silver and gold, but I still cannot go against the Lord 's commands. I could not do anything, good or bad, on my own, but I must say what the Lord says.'

Now I am going back to my own people, but I will tell you what these people will do to your people in the future."

I see someone who will come someday, someone who will come, but not soon. A star will come from Jacob; a ruler will rise from Israel. He will crush the heads of the Moabites and smash the skulls of the sons of Sheth.

Edom will be conquered; his enemy Edom will be conquered, but Israel will grow wealthy.

Then Balaam saw Amalek and gave this message: "Amalek was the most important nation, but Amalek will be destroyed at last."

But you Kenites will be burned up; Assyria will keep you captive."

Ships will sail from the shores of Cyprus and defeat Assyria and Eber, but they will also be destroyed."

but the children of Korah did not die.