📖 Numbers — Chapter 22 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Numbers 22:1 And Rthe children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
Numbers 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Numbers 22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
Numbers 22:4 And Moab said unto the Relders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
Numbers 22:5 He Rsent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the Tface of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Numbers 22:6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, Rcurse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
Numbers 22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the Rrewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Numbers 22:8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
Numbers 22:9 And RGod came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
Numbers 22:10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
Numbers 22:11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure TI shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
Numbers 22:12 And God said unto RBalaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
Numbers 22:13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: Rfor the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
Numbers 22:14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, RBalaam refuseth to come with us.
Numbers 22:15 And Balak sent yet again Rprinces, more, and more honourable than they.
Numbers 22:16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, TLet nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
Numbers 22:17 For RI will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
Numbers 22:18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, RIf Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
Numbers 22:19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
Numbers 22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, RIf the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
Numbers 22:21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Numbers 22:22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: Rand the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Numbers 22:23 And Rthe ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
Numbers 22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
Numbers 22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
Numbers 22:26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, Rwhere was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
Numbers 22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
Numbers 22:28 And Rthe LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
Numbers 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, Rfor now would I kill thee.
Numbers 22:30 And Rthe ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, Tupon which thou hast ridden Tever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Numbers 22:31 Then the LORD Ropened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and Tfell flat on his face.
Numbers 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, RWherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out Tto withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
Numbers 22:33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, Rsurely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
Numbers 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, RI have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it Tdisplease thee, I will get me back again.
Numbers 22:35 And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that RI shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Numbers 22:36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he Rwent out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
Numbers 22:37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
Numbers 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: Rhave I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Numbers 22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto TKirjathhuzoth.
Numbers 22:40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
Numbers 22:41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the Rhigh places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 22:1–14 — Balak Sends for Balaam
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Balak sees Israel's victories and seeks Balaam's help to curse the people. Elders of Moab and Midian bring rewards of divination. God tells Balaam not to go with them or curse Israel because the people are blessed.
Key Truth: God's stated blessing governs Balaam's response to the first request.
Check What You Remember
1. Who sent for Balaam? (Numbers 22:2–5)
Find it in Numbers 22:2–5 (KJV).
2. Whose son was Balaam? (Numbers 22:5)
Find it in Numbers 22:5 (KJV).
3. Why must Israel not be cursed in verse 12? (Numbers 22:12)
Find it in Numbers 22:12 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 22:15–21 — Another Request
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Balak sends more honourable princes and promises honour. Balaam says even a house full of silver and gold cannot authorize him to go beyond the LORD's word. God gives a conditional instruction concerning the men's call and requires Balaam to do only what he says; Balaam sets out.
Key Truth: Balaam is bound by the LORD's word rather than the promised reward.
Check What You Remember
1. Name both metals in Balak's imagined houseful of wealth. (Numbers 22:18)
Find it in Numbers 22:18 (KJV).
2. Could Balaam go beyond the LORD's word for that wealth? (Numbers 22:18)
Find it in Numbers 22:18 (KJV).
3. Whose word was Balaam required to do? (Numbers 22:20)
Find it in Numbers 22:20 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 22:22–41 — The Angel and the Ass
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
God's anger is kindled as Balaam goes. The ass sees the angel before Balaam does and turns aside; Balaam strikes her. The LORD opens her mouth, then opens Balaam's eyes. The angel warns him, and he continues with the command to speak only the given word before meeting Balak.
Key Truth: The LORD exposes Balaam's blindness and restricts what he may speak.
Check What You Remember
1. Who stood in the way with a drawn sword? (Numbers 22:23)
Find it in Numbers 22:23 (KJV).
2. What animal's mouth did the LORD open? (Numbers 22:28)
Find it in Numbers 22:28 (KJV).
3. Whose eyes did the LORD open in verse 31? (Numbers 22:31)
Find it in Numbers 22:31 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the reason against cursing Israel undermine Balak’s request?
2. How does Balaam’s stated limit on wealth relate to his message?
3. How does the ass’s perception differ from Balaam’s before his eyes are opened?
4. How does the angel reinterpret the ass’s repeated turning?
5. How does the final permission to proceed constrain Balaam’s speech?
Notes
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