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.