Balaam’s First Oracle

Balaam orders seven altars and repeated offerings, then goes apart in hope of a divine meeting. The LORD gives him a message and sends him back to Balak, who waits with the princes of Moab beside the sacrifice.

T¹hen Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.” ²So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. ³“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.” ⁴So Balaam went off to a barren height, and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” ⁵Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.” ⁶So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.

Balaam begins his oracle by asking how he could curse a people God has not cursed. From the heights he sees Israel set apart and beyond numbering, a people whose end he envies.

⁷And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: ⁸How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? ⁹For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, ¹⁰Who can count the dust of Jacob

Balak objects that Balaam has blessed the very people he was hired to curse. Balaam answers that he can only speak the words the LORD puts in his mouth.

¹¹Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!” ¹²But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”