21:1And the Canaanite -- king Arad -- dwelling in the south, heareth that Israel hath come the way of the Atharim, and he fighteth against Israel, and taketh some of them captive.
21:2And Israel voweth a vow to Jehovah, and saith, `If Thou dost certainly give this people into my hand, then I have devoted their cities;'
21:3and Jehovah hearkeneth to the voice of Israel, and giveth up the Canaanite, and he devoteth them and their cities, and calleth the name of the place Hormah.
21:4And they journey from mount Hor, the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom, and the soul of the people is short in the way,
21:5and the people speak against God, and against Moses, `Why hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to die in a wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water, and our soul hath been weary of this light bread.'
21:6And Jehovah sendeth among the people the burning serpents, and they bite the people, and much people of Israel die;
21:7and the people come in unto Moses and say, `We have sinned, for we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, and He doth turn aside from us the serpent;' and Moses prayeth in behalf of the people.
21:8And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Make for thee a burning serpent, and set it on an ensign; and it hath been, every one who is bitten and hath seen it -- he hath lived.
21:9And Moses maketh a serpent of brass, and setteth it on the ensign, and it hath been, if the serpent hath bitten any man, and he hath looked expectingly unto the serpent of brass -- he hath lived.
21:10And the sons of Israel journey, and encamp in Oboth.
21:11And they journey from Oboth, and encamp in Ije-Abarim, in the wilderness that is on the front of Moab, at the rising of the sun.
21:12From thence they have journeyed, and encamp in the valley of Zared.
21:13From thence they have journeyed, and encamp beyond Arnon, which is in the wilderness which is coming out of the border of the Amorite, for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorite;
21:14therefore it is said in a book, `The wars of Jehovah,' -- `Waheb in Suphah, And the brooks of Arnon;
21:15And the spring of the brooks, Which turned aside to the dwelling of Ar, And hath leaned to the border of Moab.'
21:16And from thence they journeyed to Beer; it is the well concerning which Jehovah said to Moses, `Gather the people, and I give to them -- water.'
21:17Then singeth Israel this song, concerning the well -- they have answered to it:
21:18`A well -- digged it have princes, Prepared it have nobles of the people, With the lawgiver, with their staves.' And from the wilderness they journeyed to Mattanah,
21:19and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
21:20and from Bamoth in the valley which is in the field of Moab to the top of Pisgah, which hath looked on the front of the wilderness.
21:21And Israel sendeth messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorite, saying,
21:22`Let me pass through thy land, we do not turn aside into a field, or into a vineyard, we do not drink waters of a well; in the king's way we go, till that we pass over thy border.'
21:23And Sihon hath not suffered Israel to pass through his border, and Sihon gathereth all his people, and cometh out to meet Israel into the wilderness, and cometh in to Jahaz, and fighteth against Israel.
21:24And Israel smiteth him by the mouth of the sword, and possesseth his land from Arnon unto Jabbok -- unto the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon is strong.
21:25And Israel taketh all these cities, and Israel dwelleth in all the cities of the Amorite, in Heshbon, and in all its villages;
21:26for Heshbon is a city of Sihon king of the Amorite, and he hath fought against the former king of Moab, and taketh all his land out of his hand, unto Arnon;
21:27therefore those using similes say -- `Enter ye Heshbon, Let the city of Sihon be built and ready,
21:28For fire hath gone out from Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon, It hath consumed Ar of Moab, Owners of the high places of Arnon.
21:29Wo to thee, O Moab, Thou hast perished, O people of Chemosh, He hath given his sons who escape -- Also his daughters -- Into captivity, to a king of the Amorite -- Sihon!
21:30And we shoot them, Perished hath Heshbon unto Dibon, And we make desolate unto Nophah, Which is unto Medeba.'
21:31And Israel dwelleth in the land of the Amorite,
21:32and Moses sendeth to spy out Jaazer, and they capture its villages, and dispossess the Amorite who is there,
21:33and turn and go up the way of Bashan, and Og king of Bashan cometh out to meet them, he and all his people, to battle, at Edrei.
21:34And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Fear him not, for into thy hand I have given him, and all his people, and his land, and thou hast done to him as thou hast done to Sihon king of the Amorite, who is dwelling in Heshbon.'
21:35And they smite him, and his sons, and all his people, until he hath not left to him a remnant, and they possess his land.
22:1And the sons of Israel journey and encamp in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan, by Jericho.
22:2And Balak son of Zippor seeth all that Israel hath done to the Amorite,
22:3and Moab is exceedingly afraid of the presence of the people, for it is numerous; and Moab is vexed by the presence of the sons of Israel,
22:4and Moab saith unto the elders of Midian, `Now doth the assembly lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the green thing of the field.' And Balak son of Zippor is king of Moab at that time,
22:5and he sendeth messengers unto Balaam son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River of the land of the sons of his people, to call for him, saying, `Lo, a people hath come out of Egypt; lo, it hath covered the eye of the land, and it is abiding over-against me;
22:6and now, come, I pray thee, curse for me this people, for it is mightier than I; it may be I prevail -- we smite it -- and I cast it out from the land; for I have known -- that which thou blessest is blessed, and that which thou cursest is cursed.'
22:7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian go, and divinations in their hand, and they come in unto Balaam, and speak unto him the words of Balak,
22:8and he saith unto them, `Lodge here to-night, and I have brought you back word, as Jehovah speaketh unto me;' and the princes of Moab abide with Balaam.
22:9And God cometh in unto Balaam, and saith, `Who are these men with thee?'
22:10And Balaam saith unto God, `Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me:
22:11Lo, the people that is coming out from Egypt and covereth the eye of the land, -- now come, pierce it for me; it may be I am able to fight against it, and have cast it out;'
22:12and God saith unto Balaam, `Thou dost not go with them; thou dost not curse the people; for it is blessed.'
22:13And Balaam riseth in the morning, and saith unto the princes of Balak, `Go unto your land, for Jehovah is refusing to suffer me to go with you;'
22:14and the princes of Moab rise, and come in unto Balak, and say, `Balaam is refusing to come with us.'
22:15And Balak addeth yet to send princes, more numerous and honoured than these,
22:16and they come in unto Balaam, and say to him, `Thus said Balak son of Zippor, Be not, I pray thee, withheld from coming unto me,
22:17for very greatly I honour thee, and all that thou sayest unto me I do; and come, I pray thee, pierce for me this people.'
22:18And Balaam answereth and saith unto the servants of Balak, `If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah my God, to do a little or a great thing;
22:19and, now, abide, I pray you, in this place, you also, to-night; and I know what Jehovah is adding to speak with me.'
22:20And God cometh in unto Balaam, by night, and saith to him, `If to call for thee the men have come, rise, go with them, and only the thing which I speak unto thee -- it thou dost do.'
22:21And Balaam riseth in the morning, and saddleth his ass, and goeth with the princes of Moab,
22:22and the anger of God burneth because he is going, and a messenger of Jehovah stationeth himself in the way for an adversary to him, and he is riding on his ass, and two of his servants are with him,
22:23and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and the ass turneth aside out of the way, and goeth into a field, and Balaam smiteth the ass to turn it aside into the way.
22:24And the messenger of Jehovah standeth in a narrow path of the vineyards -- a wall on this side and a wall on that --
22:25and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and is pressed unto the wall, and presseth Balaam's foot unto the wall, and he addeth to smite her;
22:26and the messenger of Jehovah addeth to pass over, and standeth in a strait place where there is no way to turn aside -- right or left --
22:27and the ass seeth the messenger of Jehovah, and croucheth under Balaam, and the anger of Balaam burneth, and he smiteth the ass with a staff.
22:28And Jehovah openeth the mouth of the ass, and she saith to Balaam, `What have I done to thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?'
22:29and Balaam saith to the ass, `Because thou hast rolled thyself against me; oh that there were a sword in my hand, for now I had slain thee;'
22:30and the ass saith unto Balaam, `Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden since I was thine unto this day? have I at all been accustomed to do to thee thus?' and he saith, `No.'
22:31And Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam, and he seeeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and he boweth and doth obeisance, to his face;
22:32and the messenger of Jehovah saith unto him, `Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? lo, I -- I have come out for an adversary, for thy way hath been perverse before me,
22:33and the ass seeth me, and turneth aside at my presence these three times; unless she had turned aside from my presence, surely now also, thee I had slain, and her kept alive.'
22:34And Balaam saith unto the messenger of Jehovah, `I have sinned, for I did not know that thou art standing to meet me in the way; and now, if evil in thine eyes -- I turn back by myself.'
22:35And the messenger of Jehovah saith unto Balaam, `Go with the men; and only the word which I speak unto thee -- it thou dost speak;' and Balaam goeth with the princes of Balak.
22:36And Balak heareth that Balaam hath come, and goeth out to meet him, unto a city of Moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is in the extremity of the border;
22:37and Balak saith unto Balaam, `Did I not diligently sent unto thee to call for thee? why didst thou not come unto me? am I not truly able to honour thee?'
22:38And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Lo, I have come unto thee; now -- am I at all able to speak anything? the word which God setteth in my mouth -- it I do speak.'
22:39And Balaam goeth with Balak, and they come to Kirjath-Huzoth,
22:40and Balak sacrificeth oxen and sheep, and sendeth to Balaam, and to the princes who are with him;
22:41and it cometh to pass in the morning, that Balak taketh Balaam, and causeth him to go up the high places of Baal, and he seeth from thence the extremity of the people.
23:1And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Build for me in this place seven altars, and make ready for me in this place seven bullocks and seven rams.'
23:2And Balak doth as Balaam hath spoken, and Balak -- Balaam also -- offereth a bullock and a ram on the altar,
23:3and Balaam saith to Balak, `Station thyself by thy burnt-offering and I go on, it may be Jehovah doth come to meet me, and the thing which He sheweth me -- I have declared to thee;' and he goeth to a high place.
23:4And God cometh unto Balaam, and he saith unto Him, `The seven altars I have arranged, and I offer a bullock and a ram on the altar;'
23:5and Jehovah putteth a word in the mouth of Balaam, and saith, `Turn back unto Balak, and thus thou dost speak.'
23:6And he turneth back unto him, and lo, he is standing by his burnt-offering, he and all the princes of Moab.
23:7And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `From Aram he doth lead me -- Balak king of Moab; From mountains of the east: Come -- curse for me Jacob, And come -- be indignant with Israel.
23:8What -- do I pierce? -- God hath not pierced! And what -- am I indignant? -- Jehovah hath not been indignant!
23:9For from the top of rocks I see it, And from heights I behold it; Lo a people! alone it doth tabernacle, And among nations doth not reckon itself.
23:10Who hath counted the dust of Jacob, And the number of the fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of upright ones, And let my last end be like his!'
23:11And Balak saith unto Balaam, `What hast thou done to me? to pierce mine enemies I have taken thee -- and lo, thou hast certainly blessed;'
23:12and he answereth and saith, `That which Jehovah doth put in my mouth -- it do I not take heed to speak?'
23:13And Balak saith unto him, `Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, whence thou dost see it, only its extremity thou dost see, and all of it thou dost not see, and pierce it for me thence;'
23:14and he taketh him to the field of Zophim, unto the top of Pisgah, and buildeth seven altars, and offereth a bullock and a ram on the altar.
23:15And he saith unto Balak, `Station thyself here by thy burnt-offering, and I -- I meet Him there;'
23:16and Jehovah cometh unto Balaam, and setteth a word in his mouth, and saith, `Turn back unto Balak, and thus thou dost speak.'
23:17And he cometh unto him, and lo, he is standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him, and Balak saith to him: `What hath Jehovah spoken?'
23:18And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `Rise, Balak, and hear; Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!
23:19God is not a man -- and lieth, And a son of man -- and repenteth! Hath He said -- and doth He not do it? And spoken -- and doth He not confirm it?
23:20Lo, to bless I have received: Yea, He blesseth, and I cannot reverse it.
23:21He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, Nor hath He seen perverseness in Israel; Jehovah his God is with him, And a shout of a king is in him.
23:22God is bringing them out from Egypt, As the swiftness of a Reem is to him;
23:23For no enchantment is against Jacob, Nor divination against Israel, At the time it is said of Jacob and Israel, What hath God wrought!
23:24Lo, the people as a lioness riseth, And as a lion he lifteth himself up, He lieth not down till he eateth prey, And blood of pierced ones doth drink.'
23:25And Balak saith unto Balaam, `Neither pierce it at all, nor bless it at all;'
23:26and Balaam answereth and saith unto Balak, `Have I not spoken unto thee, saying, All that Jehovah speaketh -- it I do?'
23:27And Balak saith unto Balaam, `Come, I pray thee, I take thee unto another place; it may be it is right in the eyes of God -- to pierce it for me from thence.'
23:28And Balak taketh Balaam to the top of Peor, which is looking on the front of the wilderness,
23:29and Balaam saith unto Balak, `Build for me in this place seven altars, and make ready for me in this place seven bullocks and seven rams;'
23:30and Balak doth as Balaam said, and he offereth a bullock and a ram on an altar.
24:1And Balaam seeth that it is good in the eyes of Jehovah to bless Israel, and he hath not gone as time by time to meet enchantments, and he setteth towards the wilderness his face;
24:2and Balaam lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Israel tabernacling, by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is upon him,
24:3and he taketh up his simile, and saith: `An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut --
24:4An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- Who a vision of the Almighty seeth, Falling -- and eyes uncovered:
24:5How good have been thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel;
24:6As valleys they have been stretched out, As gardens by a river; As aloes Jehovah hath planted, As cedars by waters;
24:7He maketh water flow from his buckets, And his seed is in many waters; And higher than Agag is his king, And exalted is his kingdom.
24:8God is bringing him out of Egypt; As the swiftness of a Reem is to him, He eateth up nations his adversaries, And their bones he breaketh, And with his arrows he smiteth,
24:9He hath bent, he hath lain down as a lion, And as a lioness: who doth raise him up? He who is blessing thee is blessed, And he who is cursing thee is cursed.'
24:10And the anger of Balak burneth against Balaam, and he striketh his hands; and Balak saith unto Balaam, `To pierce mine enemies I called thee, and lo, thou hast certainly blessed -- these three times;
24:11and now, flee for thyself unto thy place; I have said, I do greatly honour thee, and lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honour.'
24:12And Balaam saith unto Balak, `Did I not also unto thy messengers whom thou hast sent unto me, speak, saying,
24:13If Balak doth give to me the fulness of his house of silver and gold, I am not able to pass over the command of Jehovah, to do good or evil of mine own heart -- that which Jehovah speaketh -- it I speak?
24:14and, now, lo, I am going to my people; come, I counsel thee concerning that which this people doth to thy people, in the latter end of the days.'
24:15And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut --
24:16An affirmation of him who is hearing sayings of God -- And knowing knowledge of the Most High; A vision of the Almighty he seeth, Falling -- and eyes uncovered:
24:17I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not near; A star hath proceeded from Jacob, And a sceptre hath risen from Israel, And hath smitten corners of Moab, And hath destroyed all sons of Sheth.
24:18And Edom hath been a possession, And Seir hath been a possession, for its enemies, And Israel is doing valiantly;
24:19And one doth rule out of Jacob, And hath destroyed a remnant from Ar.'
24:20And he seeth Amalek, and taketh up his simile, and saith: `A beginning of the Goyim is Amalek; And his latter end -- for ever he perisheth.'
24:21And he seeth the Kenite, and taketh up his simile, and saith: `Enduring is thy dwelling, And setting in a rock thy nest,
24:22But the Kenite is for a burning; Till when doth Asshur keep thee captive?'
24:23And he taketh up his simile, and saith: `Alas! who doth live when God doth this?
24:24And -- ships are from the side of Chittim, And they have humbled Asshur, And they have humbled Eber, And it also for ever is perishing.'
24:25And Balaam riseth, and goeth, and turneth back to his place, and Balak also hath gone on his way.