Numbers 22:7

“So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.”
Numbers 22:7 · direct translation from the Hebrew

Study it in the app

With the Hebrew beneath

So the eldersוַ זִקְנֵיof Moabמוֹאָבandוְthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Midianמִדְיָןwent,יֵּלְכוּwithוּthe fees for divinationקְסָמִיםin their hand;בְּיָדָםand they cameוַיָּבֹאוּtoאֶלBalaamבִּלְעָםand spokeוַיְדַבְּרוּto himאֵלָיוthe wordsדִּבְרֵיof Balak.בָלָק

Theme · Jude 1:11

Go to Jude 1:11

Jude speaks of the “error of Balaam” for wages; in Numbers 22:7 the elders of Moab and Midian go to Balaam with the fee for divination.

The same term appears in both passages.

בִּלְעָםbilamH1109ΒαλαὰμBalaamG903“Balaam”

Numbers 22:7, word by word

So the eldersזִקְנֵיzikne

elder

The senior men who led a city or the people.

Where else “zikne” appears

of Moabמוֹאָבmoav

Moab

See it on the map Where else “moav” appears

of Midianמִדְיָןmidyan

Midian

See it on the map Where else “midyan” appears

wentיֵּלְכוּyelchu

To head for a place, to leave where one is in order to reach another.

Where else “yelchu” appears

the fees for divinationקְסָמִיםkesamim

diviner's fee

The payment to the diviner.

Where else “kesamim” appears

in their handיָדָyada

power

Literally "the hand": the strength and control someone has.

Where else “yada” appears

and they cameיָּבֹאוּyavou

come

To come, arrive: "days are coming".

Where else “yavou” appears

Balaamבִּלְעָםbilam

Balaam

Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia whom the king of Moab called to curse Israel. The name perhaps means "not of the people," that is, a foreigner.

Where else “bilam” appears

and spokeיְדַבְּרוּyedabru

speak

To speak, say something; above all God to his people.

Where else “yedabru” appears

the wordsדִּבְרֵיdivre

word

What someone says or announces, above all what YHWH says.

Where else “divre” appears

of Balakבָלָקvalak

Balak

Balak, king of Moab in the time of Moses. The name means "devastator."

Where else “valak” appears

Translation note

Word for word: “and divinations in their hand.” It is understood that they carried what was paid to the diviner.

Places in this verse

Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.

1Moab
Today: western Jordan, east of the Dead Sea
The land east of the Dead Sea, in present-day Jordan.
The Moabites came from a son of Lot (Gen 19:37). Ruth came from Moab (Ruth 1:1-4), and Moses died in its territory (Deut 34:5).
Genesis 19:37 Ruth 1:1 Numbers 22:1 Deuteronomy 34:5
2Midian ?
Today: northwest Saudi Arabia, southern Jordan; debated
A region east of the Gulf of Aqaba, in what is now northwest Saudi Arabia; its borders are not certain.
Moses fled to Midian, married there and tended sheep (Exod 2:15-21). Centuries later the Midianites oppressed Israel until Gideon defeated them (Judg 6:1; 7:21).
Exodus 2:15 Exodus 3:1 Judges 6:1 Exodus 18:1

The context

6And now, come, please, curse this people for me, for they are mightier than I. Perhaps I will be able to strike them and drive them out of the land; for I know that whom you bless is blessed, and whom you curse is cursed.”

7 · This verse (above)

8And he said to them, “Spend the night here tonight, and I will bring back to you word, as YHWH speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Read all of Numbers 22

How to use it