1. Israel moved from there to the hills of Moab, where they camped across the River Jordan from the town of Jericho.
2-3. When King Balak of Moab and his people heard how many Israelites there were and what they had done to the Amorites, he and the Moabites were terrified and panicked.
4. They said to the Midianite leaders, “Those Israelites will wipe out everything in sight, like a bull eating grass in a field.”So King Balak
5. sent a message to Balaam son of Beor who lived among his relatives in the town of Pethor near the River Euphrates. It said:I need your help. A huge group of people has come here from Egypt and settled near my territory.
6. They are too powerful for us to defeat, so would you come and place a curse on them? Perhaps then we can drive them out. I know that anyone you bless will be successful, but anyone you curse will fail.
7. The leaders of Moab and Midian left and took along money to pay Balaam for his work. When they got to his house, they gave him Balak's message.
8. “Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and tomorrow I will tell you the Lord's answer.” So the officials stayed at his house.
9. During the night, God asked Balaam, “Who are these people at your house?”
10. “They are messengers from King Balak of Moab,” Balaam answered. “He sent them
11. to ask me to go to Moab and place a curse on the people who have come there from Egypt. They have settled everywhere around him, and he wants to drive them out.”
12. But God replied, “Don't go with Balak's messengers. I have blessed those people who have come from Egypt, so don't curse them.”
13. The next morning, Balaam said to Balak's officials, “Go back home. The Lord says I cannot go with you.”
14. The officials left and told Balak that Balaam refused to come.
15. Then Balak sent a larger group of officials, who were even more important than the first ones.
16. They went to Balaam and told him that Balak had said, “Balaam, if you come to Moab,
17. I'll pay you very well and do whatever you ask. Just come and place a curse on these people.”
18. Balaam answered, “Even if Balak offered me a palace full of silver or gold, I wouldn't do anything to disobey the Lord my God.