4. The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This mob will take everything around us. It will be like an ox eating grass.”Balak son of Zippor was the king of Moab at this time.
5. He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor. It was near the Euphrates River in the land of Amaw. Balak said, “A nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the land. They have camped next to me.
6. They are too powerful for me. So come and put a curse on them. Maybe then I can defeat them and make them leave the area. I know that if you bless someone, the blessings happen. And if you put a curse on someone, it happens.”
7. The elders of Moab and Midian went with payment in their hands. They found Balaam. Then they told him what Balak had said.
8. Balaam said to them, “Stay here for the night. I will tell you what the Lord tells me.” So the Moabite leaders stayed with him.
9. God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10. Balaam said to God, “The king of Moab, Balak son of Zippor, sent them. He sent me this message:
11. ‘A nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the land. So come and put a curse on them. Then maybe I can fight them and force them out of my land.’”
12. But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. Don’t put a curse on those people. I have blessed them.”
13. The next morning Balaam awoke and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your own country. The Lord will not let me go with you.”
14. So the Moabite leaders went back to Balak. They said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15. So Balak sent other leaders. He sent more leaders this time. And they were more important.
16. They went to Balaam and said, “Balak son of Zippor says this: Please don’t let anything stop you from coming to me.