Numbers 22:11

22:11 “Look, a nation has come out ¹  of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Come now and put a curse on them for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them ²  and drive them out.” ³ 

Numbers 22:33

22:33 The donkey saw me and turned from me these three times. If ⁴  she had not turned from me, I would have killed you but saved her alive.”

Numbers 23:3

23:3 Balaam said to Balak, “Station yourself ⁵  by your burnt offering, and I will go off; perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he reveals to me ⁶  I will tell you.” ⁷  Then he went to a deserted height. ⁸ 

Numbers 23:27

23:27 Balak said to Balaam, “Come, please; I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God ⁹  to let you curse them for me from there.” ¹⁰ 

Numbers 22:6

22:6 So ¹¹  now, please come and curse this nation ¹²  for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them ¹³  and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, ¹⁴  and whoever you curse is cursed.”

¹ tn In this passage the text differs slightly; here it is “the nation that comes out,” using the article on the noun, and the active participle in the attributive adjective usage.

² tn Here the infinitive construct is used to express the object or complement of the verb “to be able” (it answers the question of what he will be able to do).

³ tn The verb is the Piel perfect with vav (ו) consecutive. It either carries the force of an imperfect tense, or it may be subordinated to the preceding verbs.

⁴ tc Many commentators consider אוּלַי (’ulay, “perhaps”) to be a misspelling in the MT in place of לוּלֵי (luley, “if not”).

⁷ tn The verb הִתְיַצֵּב (hityatsev) means “to take a stand, station oneself.” It is more intentional than simply standing by something. He was to position himself by the sacrifice as Balaam withdrew to seek the oracle.

⁸ tn Heb “and the word of what he shows me.” The noun is in construct, and so the clause that follows functions as a noun clause in the genitive. The point is that the word will consist of divine revelation.

⁹ tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive. This clause is dependent on the clause that precedes it.

¹⁰ sn He went up to a bald spot, to a barren height. The statement underscores the general belief that such tops were the closest things to the gods. On such heights people built their shrines and temples.

¹⁰ tn Heb “be pleasing in the eyes of God.”

¹¹ sn Balak is stubborn, as indeed Balaam is persistent. But Balak still thinks that if another location were used it just might work. Balaam had actually told Balak in the prophecy that other attempts would fail. But Balak refuses to give up so easily. So he insists they perform the ritual and try again. This time, however, Balaam will change his approach, and this will result in a dramatic outpouring of power on him.

¹³ tn The two lines before this verse begin with the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh), and so they lay the foundation for these imperatives. In view of those circumstances, this is what should happen.

¹⁴ tn Heb “people.” So also in vv. 10, 17, 41.

¹⁵ tn The construction uses the imperfect tense אוּכַל (’ukhal, “I will be able”) followed by the imperfect tense נַכֶּה (nakkeh, “we will smite/attack/defeat”). The second verb is clearly the purpose or the result of the first, even though there is no conjunction or particle.

¹⁶ tn The verb is the Piel imperfect of בָּרַךְ (barakh), with the nuance of possibility: “whomever you may bless.” The Pual participle מְבֹרָךְ (mÿvorakh) serves as the predicate.