Balaam's First Oracle

Numbers 23

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?"

  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.
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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