Study Desk

He and Aaron assembled the whole community in front of the rock, and Moses said, "Listen, you rebels! Do we have to get water out of this rock for you?"

and we cried to the Lord for help. He heard our cry and sent an angel, who led us out of Egypt. Now we are at Kadesh, a town at the border of your territory.

The people of Israel said, "We will stay on the main road, and if we or our animals drink any of your water, we will pay for it—all we want is to pass through."

The whole community learned that Aaron had died, and they all mourned for him for thirty days.

The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Now pray to the Lord to take these snakes away." So Moses prayed for the people.

How terrible for you, people of Moab! You worshipers of Chemosh are brought to ruin! Your god let the men become refugees, And the women became captives of the Amorite king.

They outnumber us, so please come and put a curse on them for me. Then perhaps we will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. I know that when you pronounce a blessing, people are blessed, and when you pronounce a curse, they are placed under a curse."

So the Moabite and Midianite leaders took with them the payment for the curse, went to Balaam, and gave him Balak's message.

that a people who came from Egypt has spread out over the whole land. He wants me to curse them for him, so that he can fight them and drive them out."

I will reward you richly and do anything you say. Please come and curse these people for me."

Balaam replied, "I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me; but now if you think it is wrong for me to go on, I will return home."

Balak said to him, "Why didn't you come when I sent for you the first time? Did you think I wasn't able to reward you enough?"

He said to Balak, "Build seven altars here for me, and bring me seven bulls and seven rams."

Balaam uttered this prophecy: "Balak king of Moab has brought me From Syria, from the eastern mountains. ‘Come speak for me,' he said. ‘Put a curse on the people of Israel.'

Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come with me to another place from which you can see only some of the Israelites. Curse them for me from there."

God has brought them out of Egypt; He fights for them like a wild ox.

Balak said, "Come with me, and I will take you to another place. Perhaps God will be willing to let you curse them for me from there."

Balaam said to him, "Build seven altars for me here and bring me seven bulls and seven rams."

By now Balaam knew that the Lord wanted him to bless the people of Israel, so he did not go to look for omens, as he had done before. He turned toward the desert

God brought them out of Egypt; He fights for them like a wild ox. They devour their enemies, Crush their bones, smash their arrows.