Numbers 23

Balaam's First Oracle

1 And Balaam said to Balak, i "Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." 2 Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam j offered on each altar a bull and a ram. 3 And Balaam said to Balak, k "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come l to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a bare height, 4 m and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, "I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram." 5 And the Lord n put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." 6 And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering.

7 And Balaam o took up his discourse and said,
"From p Aram Balak has brought me,
the king of Moab q from the eastern mountains:
'Come, r curse Jacob for me,
and come, denounce Israel!'
8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?
9 For from the top of the crags s I see him,
from the hills I behold him;
behold, t a people dwelling alone,
and u not counting itself among the nations!
10 v Who can count the dust of Jacob
or number the fourth part 1 of Israel?
Let me die w the death of the upright,
and let my end be like his!"

11 And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? x I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them." 12 And he answered and said, y "Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?"

Balaam's Second Oracle

13 And Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there." 14 And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, z and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Balaam said to Balak, a "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there." 16 And the Lord met Balaam and b put a word in his mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak." 17 And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the Lord spoken?"

18 And Balaam took up his discourse and said,
"Rise, Balak, and hear;
give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
19 c God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
20 Behold, I received a command to bless:
d he has blessed, and e I cannot revoke it.
21 f He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob,
nor has he seen trouble in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them,
and the shout of a king is among them.
22 g God brings them out of Egypt
and is for them like h the horns of the wild ox.
23 For there is no enchantment against Jacob,
no i divination against Israel;
now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
j 'What has God wrought!'
24 Behold, a people! k As a lioness it rises up
and as a lion it lifts itself;
l it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey
and drunk the blood of the slain."

25 And Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all." 26 But Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell you, m 'All that the Lord says, that I must do'?" 27 And Balak said to Balaam, n "Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there." 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of o Peor, which overlooks p the desert. 2 29 And Balaam said to Balak, q "Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." 30 r And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

  1. Cross References
    Numbers 23:29
    And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.
  2. Cross References
    Numbers 23:14
    And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
    Numbers 23:30
    And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
  3. Cross References
    Numbers 23:15
    Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.
  4. Cross References
    Numbers 24:1
    When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.
  5. Cross References
    Numbers 23:16
    And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.
  6. Cross References
    Numbers 23:12
    And he answered and said, "Must I not take care...
    Numbers 23:16
    And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his m...
    Numbers 22:38
    Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to y...
    Deuteronomy 18:18
    I will raise up for them a prophet like you fro...
    Isaiah 51:16
    And I have put my words in your mouth and cover...
    Isaiah 59:21
    "And as for me, this is my covenant with them,"...
    Jeremiah 1:9
    Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my m...
  7. Cross References
    Numbers 23:18
    And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "Ris...
    Numbers 24:3
    And he took up his discourse and said, "The ora...
    Numbers 24:15
    And he took up his discourse and said, "The ora...
    Numbers 24:20 - 21
    Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discou...
    Numbers 24:23
    And he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, w...
    Job 27:1
    And Job again took up his discourse, and said:
    Job 29:1
    And Job again took up his discourse, and said:
    Psalms 49:4
    I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solv...
    Psalms 78:2
    I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter...
    Isaiah 14:4
    You will take up this taunt against the king of...
    Micah 2:4
    In that day they shall take up a taunt song aga...
    Numbers 21:27
    Therefore the ballad singers say, "Come to Hesh...
  8. Cross References
    Numbers 22:5
    Sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 29:1
    Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 22:6
    Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.
  11. Cross References
    Numbers 24:17
    I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
  12. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:28
    For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them.
  13. Cross References
    Exodus 33:16
    For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?
    Ezra 9:2
    For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.
    Esther 3:8
    Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them.
    Ephesians 2:14
    For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 13:16
    I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 37:37
    Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
    Psalms 116:15
    Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
    Revelation 14:13
    And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!
  16. Cross References
    Numbers 22:11
    'Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"
    Numbers 24:10
    And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.
    Deuteronomy 23:5
    But the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.
    Nehemiah 13:2
    For they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them - yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
  17. Cross References
    Numbers 23:5
    And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.
  18. Cross References
    Numbers 23:1 - 2
    And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.
  19. Cross References
    Numbers 23:3
    And 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." And he went to a bare height.
  20. Cross References
    Numbers 23:5
    And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.
    Numbers 23:12
    And he answered and said, "Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?
  21. Cross References
    1 Samuel 15:29
    And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or ha...
    Malachi 3:6
    For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O ...
    Romans 11:29
    For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevo...
    Titus 1:2
    In hope of eternal life, which God, who never l...
    Hebrews 6:18
    So that by two unchangeable things, in which it...
    James 1:17
    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from ...
  22. Cross References
    Numbers 22:12
    God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.
    Genesis 12:2
    And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
    Genesis 22:17
    I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies.
  23. Cross References
    Numbers 22:18
    But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more.
  24. Cross References
    Jeremiah 50:20
    In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.
  25. Cross References
    Numbers 24:8
    God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows.
  26. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:17
    A firstborn bull - he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
    Job 39:9 - 12
    Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger?
    Psalms 22:21
    Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!
    Psalms 92:10
    But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil.
  27. Cross References
    Numbers 22:7
    So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message.
  28. Cross References
    Psalms 44:1
    O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:
  29. Cross References
    Genesis 49:9
    Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
  30. Cross References
    Genesis 49:27
    "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil."
  31. Cross References
    Numbers 22:18
    But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more.
  32. Cross References
    Numbers 23:13
    And Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.
  33. Cross References
    Numbers 25:18
    For they have harassed you with their wiles, wi...
    Numbers 31:16
    Behold, these, on Balaam's advice, caused the p...
    Joshua 22:17
    Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from ...
    Psalms 106:28 - 29
    Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,...
    Hosea 9:10
    Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. ...
    Numbers 25:3
    So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And th...
    Numbers 25:5
    And Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each o...
  34. Cross References
    Numbers 21:20
    And from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that looks down on the desert.
  35. Cross References
    Numbers 23:1
    And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.
  36. Cross References
    Numbers 23:2
    Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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