Numbers 24:10-14·~1 min

Balak Dismisses Balaam

Balak erupts in anger, accuses Balaam of blessing Israel three times, and sends him away. The promised reward disappears with the failed attempt to curse.

T¹⁰hen Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times. ¹¹Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

Balaam repeats that he cannot go beyond the LORD’s word, no matter what Balak offers. As he prepares to leave, he promises one more warning about what Israel will do later to Moab.

¹²Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me ¹³that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I must speak whatever the LORD says. ¹⁴Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Section summaryBalak’s anger finally breaks open when Balaam blesses Israel again instead of cursing them. Balaam answers that he can only say what the LORD commands, then adds that before leaving he will tell Balak what Israel will do in days to come.

Role in the chapterThis section ends the struggle between Balak’s demand and Balaam’s obedience. It clears the way for one last set of oracles by turning Balaam from hired diviner into an unwilling herald of Israel’s future.