And the sonsוַ בְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלset outיִּסְעוּand campedוַיַּחֲנוּin the plainsבְּעַרְבוֹתof Moab,מוֹאָבbeyondמֵעֵבֶרthe Jordanלְיַרְדֵּןat Jericho.יְרֵחוֹ
And Balakוַ בָּלָקsonבֶּןof Zipporצִפּוֹרsawיַּרְאallאֵת כָּלthatאֲשֶׁרIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלhad doneעָשָׂהto the Amorite.לָאֱמֹרִי
And Moabוַ מוֹאָבwas veryמְאֹדafraidיָּגָרofמִפְּנֵיthe people,הָעָםbecauseכִּיtheyהוּאwere many;רַבand Moabוַ מוֹאָבdreadedיָּקָץthe sonsמִפְּנֵי בְּנֵיof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
And Moabוַ מוֹאָבsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Midian,מִדְיָן“Nowעַתָּהthis assemblyהַקָּהָלwill lick upיְלַחֲכוּallאֶת כָּלthat is around us,סְבִיבֹתֵינוּas the oxכִּ הַשּׁוֹרlicks upלְחֹךְthe green growthאֵת יֶרֶקof the field.”הַשָּׂדֶהAnd Balakוּבָלָקsonבֶּןof Zipporצִפּוֹרwas kingמֶלֶךְof Moabלְמוֹאָבat thatבָּ הַהִואtime.עֵת
And he sentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלBalaamבִּלְעָםsonבֶּןof Beorבְּעוֹרat Pethor,פְּתוֹרָהwhichאֲשֶׁרis byעַלthe River,הַנָּהָרin the landאֶרֶץof the sonsבְּנֵיof his people,עַמּוֹto callלִקְרֹאhim,לוֹsaying,לֵאמֹר“Look,הִנֵּהa peopleעַםhas come outיָצָאof Egypt;מִמִּצְרַיִםlook,הִנֵּהthey coverכִסָּהthe faceאֶת עֵיןof the earth,הָאָרֶץandוְtheyהוּאare settlingיֹשֵׁבopposite me.מִמֻּלִי
And now,וְעַתָּהcome,לְכָהplease,נָּאcurseאָרָהthisהַזֶּהpeopleאֶת הָעָםfor me,לִּיforכִּיtheyהוּאare mightierעָצוּםthan I.מִמֶּנִּיPerhapsאוּלַיI will be ableאוּכַלto strikeנַכֶּהthemבּוֹand drive them outוַאֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּofמִןthe land;הָאָרֶץforכִּיI knowיָדַעְתִּיthatאֵת אֲשֶׁרwhom you blessתְּבָרֵךְis blessed,מְבֹרָךְandוַwhomאֲשֶׁרyou curseתָּאֹרis cursed.”יוּאָר
So the eldersוַ זִקְנֵיof Moabמוֹאָבandוְthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Midianמִדְיָןwent,יֵּלְכוּwithוּthe fees for divinationקְסָמִיםin their hand;בְּיָדָםand they cameוַיָּבֹאוּtoאֶלBalaamבִּלְעָםand spokeוַיְדַבְּרוּto himאֵלָיוthe wordsדִּבְרֵיof Balak.בָלָק
And he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵיהֶם“Spend the nightלִינוּhereפֹהtonight,הַלַּיְלָהand I will bring backוַהֲשִׁבֹתִיto youאֶתְכֶםword,דָּבָרasכַּאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהspeaksיְדַבֵּרto me.”אֵלָיSo the princesוַ שָׂרֵיof MoabמוֹאָבstayedיֵּשְׁבוּwithעִםBalaam.בִּלְעָם
And Elohimוַ אֱלֹהִיםcameיָּבֹאtoאֶלBalaamבִּלְעָםand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whoמִיare theseהָאֵלֶּהmenהָאֲנָשִׁיםwith you?”עִמָּךְ
And Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלElohim,הָאֱלֹהִים“Balakבָּלָקsonבֶּןof Zippor,צִפֹּרkingמֶלֶךְof Moab,מוֹאָבhas sentשָׁלַחto me:אֵלָי
‘Look,הִנֵּהthe peopleהָעָםthat has come outהַיֹּצֵאof Egyptמִמִּצְרַיִםcoversוַיְכַסthe faceאֶת עֵיןof the earth;הָאָרֶץnow,עַתָּהcome,לְכָהcurseקָבָהthemאֹתוֹfor me;לִּיperhapsאוּלַיI will be ableאוּכַלto fightלְהִלָּחֶםagainst themבּוֹand drive them out.’”וְגֵרַשְׁתִּיו
And Elohimוַ אֱלֹהִיםsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלBalaam,בִּלְעָם“You shall notלֹאgoתֵלֵךְwith them;עִמָּהֶםyou shall notלֹאcurseתָאֹרthe people,אֶת הָעָםforכִּיtheyהוּאare blessed.”בָרוּךְ
So Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםroseיָּקָםin the morningבַּבֹּקֶרand saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe princesשָׂרֵיof Balak,בָלָק“Goלְכוּtoאֶלyour land,אַרְצְכֶםforכִּיYHWHיְהוָהhas refusedמֵאֵןto let meלְתִתִּיgoלַהֲלֹךְwith you.”עִמָּכֶם
And the princesוַ שָׂרֵיof Moabמוֹאָבroseיָּקוּמוּand cameוַיָּבֹאוּtoאֶלBalakבָּלָקand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Balaamבִּלְעָםrefusedמֵאֵןto comeהֲלֹךְwith us.”עִמָּנוּ
And Balakוַ בָּלָקsentשְׁלֹחַagainיֹּסֶף עוֹדprinces,שָׂרִיםmore numerousרַבִּיםandוְmore honoredנִכְבָּדִיםthan these.מֵאֵלֶּה
And they cameוַיָּבֹאוּtoאֶלBalaamבִּלְעָםand saidוַיֹּאמְרוּto him,לוֹ“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרBalakבָּלָקsonבֶּןof Zippor:צִפּוֹר‘Pleaseנָאdo notאַלlet anything hold you backתִמָּנַעfrom comingמֵהֲלֹךְto me;אֵלָי
forכִּיI will honorכַבֵּדyouךָgreatly,אֲכַבֶּדְ מְאֹדandוְallכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרyou sayתֹּאמַרto meאֵלַיI will do.אֶעֱשֶׂהSo come,וּלְכָהplease,נָּאcurseקָבָהthisהַזֶּהpeopleאֵת הָעָםfor me.’”לִּי
But Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםansweredיַּעַןand saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe servantsעַבְדֵיof Balak,בָלָק“IfאִםBalakבָלָקwere to giveיִתֶּןmeלִיhis houseבֵיתוֹfullמְלֹאof silverכֶּסֶףand gold,וְזָהָבI could notלֹא אוּכַלgo beyondלַעֲבֹרthe commandאֶת פִּיof YHWHיְהוָהmy Elohim,אֱלֹהָיto doלַעֲשׂוֹתanything smallקְטַנָּהorאוֹgreat.גְדוֹלָה
And now,וְעַתָּהpleaseנָאstayשְׁבוּhere,בָזֶהyouאַתֶּםalso,גַּםtonight,הַלָּיְלָהandוְI will knowאֵדְעָהwhatמַהmoreיֹּסֵףYHWHיְהוָהwill speakדַּבֵּרto me.”עִמִּי
And Elohimוַ אֱלֹהִיםcameיָּבֹאtoאֶלBalaamבִּלְעָםat nightלַיְלָהand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Ifאִםthe menהָאֲנָשִׁיםhave comeבָּאוּto callלִקְרֹאyou,לְךָrise,קוּםgoלֵךְwith them;אִתָּםbutוְonlyאַךְthe wordאֶת הַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרI speakאֲדַבֵּרto you,אֵלֶיךָthatאֹתוֹyou shall do.”תַעֲשֶׂה
So Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםroseיָּקָםin the morningבַּבֹּקֶרand saddledוַיַּחֲבֹשׁhis donkeyאֶת אֲתֹנוֹand wentוַיֵּלֶךְwithעִםthe princesשָׂרֵיof Moab.מוֹאָב
But the angerוַ אַףof Elohimאֱלֹהִיםburnedיִּחַרbecauseכִּיheהוּאwas going,הוֹלֵךְand the angelוַ מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהtook his standיִּתְיַצֵּבin the roadבַּדֶּרֶךְas an opponentלְשָׂטָןto him.לוֹNowוְheהוּאwas ridingרֹכֵבonעַלhis donkey,אֲתֹנוֹandוּhis twoשְׁנֵיyoung menנְעָרָיוwere with him.עִמּוֹ
And the donkeyוַ הָאָתוֹןsawתֵּרֶאthe angelאֶת מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהstandingנִצָּבin the road,בַּדֶּרֶךְwith his swordוְחַרְבּוֹdrawnשְׁלוּפָהin his hand;בְּיָדוֹand the donkeyוַ הָאָתוֹןturned asideתֵּטfromמִןthe roadהַדֶּרֶךְand wentוַתֵּלֶךְinto the field.בַּשָּׂדֶהAnd Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםstruckיַּךְthe donkeyאֶת הָאָתוֹןto turn herלְהַטֹּתָהּback to the road.הַדָּרֶךְ
Then the angelוַ מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהstoodיַּעֲמֹדin a narrow pathבְּמִשְׁעוֹלbetween the vineyards,הַכְּרָמִיםwith a wallגָּדֵרon this sideמִזֶּהandוְa wallגָדֵרon that side.מִזֶּה
And the donkeyוַ הָאָתוֹןsawתֵּרֶאthe angelאֶת מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהand pressed herselfוַתִּלָּחֵץagainstאֶלthe wallהַקִּירand pressedוַתִּלְחַץBalaam’sבִּלְעָםfootאֶת רֶגֶלagainstאֶלthe wall;הַקִּירand he struck herוַ לְהַכֹּתָהּagain.יֹּסֶף
And the angelוַ מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהwentעֲבוֹרahead againיּוֹסֶףand stoodוַיַּעֲמֹדin a narrowצָרplace,בְּמָקוֹםwhereאֲשֶׁרthere was noאֵיןwayדֶּרֶךְto turnלִנְטוֹתto the rightיָמִיןorוּto the left.שְׂמֹאול
And the donkeyוַ הָאָתוֹןsawתֵּרֶאthe angelאֶת מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהand lay downוַתִּרְבַּץunderתַּחַתBalaam;בִּלְעָםand Balaam’sבִּלְעָםangerאַףburned,וַיִּחַרand he struckוַיַּךְthe donkeyאֶת הָאָתוֹןwith the stick.בַּמַּקֵּל
Then YHWHוַ יְהוָהopenedיִּפְתַּחthe mouthאֶת פִּיof the donkey,הָאָתוֹןand she saidוַתֹּאמֶרto Balaam,לְבִלְעָם“Whatמֶהhave I doneעָשִׂיתִיto you,לְךָthatכִּיyou have struck meהִכִּיתַנִיtheseזֶהthreeשָׁלֹשׁtimes?”רְגָלִים
And Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםsaidיֹּאמֶרto the donkey,לָאָתוֹן“Becauseכִּיyou have made a foolהִתְעַלַּלְתְּof me!בִּיIf onlyלוּthere wereיֶשׁa swordחֶרֶבin my hand,בְּיָדִיforכִּיnowעַתָּהI would have killed you!”הֲרַגְתִּיךְ
And the donkeyוַ הָאָתוֹןsaidתֹּאמֶרtoאֶלBalaam,בִּלְעָם“AmהֲלוֹאIאָנֹכִיnot your donkey,אֲתֹנְךָon whichאֲשֶׁר עָלַיyou have riddenרָכַבְתָּall your lifeמֵעוֹדְךָuntilעַדthisהַזֶּהday?הַיּוֹםHave I ever been accustomedהַהַסְכֵּן הִסְכַּנְתִּיto doלַעֲשׂוֹתsoכֹּהto you?”לְךָAnd he said,וַיֹּאמֶר“No.”לֹא
Then YHWHוַ יְהוָהuncoveredיְגַלthe eyesאֶת עֵינֵיof Balaam,בִלְעָםand he sawוַיַּרְאthe angelאֶת מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהstandingנִצָּבin the road,בַּדֶּרֶךְwith his swordוְחַרְבּוֹdrawnשְׁלֻפָהin his hand;בְּיָדוֹand he bowedוַיִּקֹּדand prostrated himselfוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּon his face.לְאַפָּיו
And the angelמַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Whyעַל מָהhave you struckהִכִּיתָyour donkeyאֶת אֲתֹנְךָtheseזֶהthreeשָׁלוֹשׁtimes?רְגָלִיםLook,הִנֵּהIאָנֹכִיhave come outיָצָאתִיas an opponent,לְשָׂטָןbecauseכִּיyour wayהַדֶּרֶךְis recklessיָרַטbefore me.לְנֶגְדִּי
And the donkeyהָאָתוֹןsaw meוַתִּרְאַנִיand turned asideוַתֵּטbefore meלְפָנַיtheseזֶהthreeשָׁלֹשׁtimes.רְגָלִיםIfאוּלַיshe had not turned asideנָטְתָהfrom me,מִפָּנַיsurelyכִּיby nowעַתָּהI would have killedהָרַגְתִּיevenגַּםyouאֹתְכָהand let herוְאוֹתָהּlive.”הֶחֱיֵיתִי
And Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe angelמַלְאַךְof YHWH,יְהוָה“I have sinned,חָטָאתִיforכִּיI did notלֹאknowיָדַעְתִּיthatכִּיyouאַתָּהwere standingנִצָּבin the roadבַּדָּרֶךְagainst me.לִקְרָאתִיAnd now,וְעַתָּהifאִםit is displeasingרַעin your eyes,בְּעֵינֶיךָI will turn back.”אָשׁוּבָה לִּי
And the angelוַ מַלְאַךְof YHWHיְהוָהsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלBalaam,בִּלְעָם“Goלֵךְwithעִםthe men,הָאֲנָשִׁיםbutוְonlyאֶפֶסthe wordאֶת הַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרI speakאֲדַבֵּרto you,אֵלֶיךָthatאֹתוֹyou shall speak.”תְדַבֵּרSo Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםwentיֵּלֶךְwithעִםthe princesשָׂרֵיof Balak.בָלָק
When Balakוַ בָּלָקheardיִּשְׁמַעthatכִּיBalaamבִלְעָםhad come,בָאhe went outוַיֵּצֵאto meet himלִקְרָאתוֹatאֶלthe cityעִירof Moab,מוֹאָבwhichאֲשֶׁרis onעַלthe borderגְּבוּלof the Arnon,אַרְנֹןwhichאֲשֶׁרis at the edgeבִּקְצֵהof the territory.הַגְּבוּל
And Balakוַ בָּלָקsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלBalaam,בִּלְעָם“Did I notהֲלֹאsendשָׁלֹחַurgentlyשָׁלַחְתִּיto youאֵלֶיךָto callלִקְרֹאyou?לָךְWhyלָמָּהdid you notלֹאcomeהָלַכְתָּto me?אֵלָיAm I notהַ לֹאtrulyאֻמְנָםableאוּכַלto honor you?”כַּבְּדֶךָ
And Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלBalak,בָּלָק“Look,הִנֵּהI have comeבָאתִיto youאֵלֶיךָnow.עַתָּהAm I at all ableהֲיָכוֹל אוּכַלto speakדַּבֵּרanything?מְאוּמָהThe wordהַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרElohimאֱלֹהִיםputsיָשִׂיםin my mouth,בְּפִיthatאֹתוֹI will speak.”אֲדַבֵּר
And Balaamוַ בִּלְעָםwentיֵּלֶךְwithעִםBalak,בָּלָקand they cameוַיָּבֹאוּto Kiriath-huzoth.קִרְיַת חֻצוֹת
And Balakוַ בָּלָקsacrificedיִּזְבַּחoxenבָּקָרand sheepוָצֹאןand sent someוַיְשַׁלַּחto Balaamלְבִלְעָםandוְto the princesלַשָּׂרִיםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with him.אִתּוֹ
And it happenedוַיְהִיin the morningבַבֹּקֶרthat Balakוַ בָּלָקtookיִּקַּחBalaamאֶת בִּלְעָםand brought him upוַיַּעֲלֵהוּto Bamoth-baal,בָּמוֹת בָּעַלand he sawוַיַּרְאfrom thereמִשָּׁםthe edgeקְצֵהof the people.הָעָם