Study Desk

So Moab was terrified because of the people, for they were numerous. Moab was overcome with fear because of the sons of Israel.

So he sent messengers to Balaam [a famous prophet-diviner] the son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the [Euphrates] River, in the land of the descendants of his people, to call for him, saying, "There is a people who have come out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.

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.

Balaam said to them, "Spend the night here and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me." So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam [that night].

'For I will give you a very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so please come, curse these people [of Israel] for me.'"

So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.

When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, so Balaam was angry and he struck the donkey [a third time] with his staff.

The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No."

The Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you shall speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.

So Balaam said to Balak, "Indeed I have come to you now, but am I able to say anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."

Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me; and whatever He shows me I will tell you." So he went to a desolate hill.

So he took Balaam to the field of Zophim to the top of [Mount] Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

So Balak brought Balaam to the top of [Mount] Peor, that overlooks the wasteland.

"But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And shall afflict Asshur (Assyria) and Eber; So they (the victors) also will come to destruction."

So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor [in worship]. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people [who have committed sin with the Moabites], and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel."

So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each one of you must kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor [in worship]."

"Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites because he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in My jealousy.

So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with the people in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, so that they became a [warning] sign.