Numbers 23:27-24:14

Balaam’s Third Message 27Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.”

28And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland. 29Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him

3and he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,

4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16 who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

5“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel!

6“Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.

7Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. “Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.

8“God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.

9Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them? “May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!” 10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.

11Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded.” 12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD —and I must say only what the LORD says’?

14Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”