After
this the children of Israel pitched their camp near Moab. And the king of Moab
was afraid of them because they were stronger than his people.
So
he sent messengers to Balaam, the false prophet, to come and curse the Israelites.
But God would not let Balaam go.
Then
the king of Moab sent again, three times, and offered Balaam gold and silver to
curse God’s people, the Israelites. And the third time, Balaam disobeyed God,
and went, so that he might have the money the king promised him.
God
was angry because Balaam went. And He sent His angel with a drawn sword, to
stand in Balaam’s way, to kill him. But the ass on which Balaam rode saw the
angel, and turned aside, and saved Balaam’s life.
The
Balaam was afraid when he saw the angel of the Lord, but he did not want to
turn back. God allowed him to go on, but said, “Only the word that I shall
speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak.”
Balaam
came therefore to Moab. And the king took him up on the high places, where he
could see the children of Israel, who were in the valley.
Balaam
made sacrifices on seven altars, but God only allowed him to bless the people.
Then the king was angry, and took Balaam to another place, but still God would
not let him curse His people.
Num. 22