Chapter 22
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Balaam arose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the chiefs of Moab.
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God's anger burned because he was going, and the angel of the LORD stationed himself in the way as an adversary to him. He was riding on his donkey, and his two young men were with him.
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And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand, and the donkey turned aside from the way and went into the field, and he struck the donkey to turn her back to the way.
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And the angel of the LORD stood in the path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
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The donkey saw the angel of the LORD, pressed against the wall, and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. She continued to strike her.
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The angel of the LORD went on and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either right or left.
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And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and lay down under Balaam, and anger burned in Balaam and he struck the donkey with the staff.
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The LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?"
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And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me! I have a sword in my hand. For now I would have killed you."
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The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I been accustomed to do this to you?" He said, "No."
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And the LORD uncovered the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed low and prostrated himself to the ground.
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And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have gone out as an adversary because your way is turning aside before me."
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The donkey saw me and turned aside from before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would have killed you by now, but her I would have let live.
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Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way to meet me. And now, if it is evil in your eyes, I will return."
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The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but do not go beyond the word that I speak to you; speak only that." And Balaam went with the chiefs of Balak.
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Balak heard that Balaam had come and went out to meet him at a city of Moab on the border of Arnon, at the edge of the border.
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And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send to you to call for you? Why did you not go to me? Am I really not able to honor you?"
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Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you. Now, can I say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I will speak."
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Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-Huzoth.
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And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep and sent them to Balaam and to the chiefs who were with him.
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In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and from there he saw the edge of the people.