Numbers 22:6

22:6 So ¹  now, please come and curse this nation ²  for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them ³  and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, ⁴  and whoever you curse is cursed.”

Numbers 22:11

22:11 “Look, a nation has come out ⁵  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 ⁶  and drive them out.” ⁷ 

Numbers 22:17

22:17 For I will honor you greatly, ⁸  and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”

Numbers 23:11

Balaam Relocates

23:11 Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contrary ⁹  you have only blessed them!” ¹⁰ 

Deuteronomy 23:4-5

23:4 for they did not meet you with food and water on the way as you came from Egypt, and furthermore, they hired ¹¹  Balaam son of Beor of Pethor in Aram Naharaim to curse you. 23:5 But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam and changed ¹²  the curse to a blessing, for the Lord your God loves ¹³  you.

Joshua 24:9-10

24:9 Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, launched an attack ¹⁴  against Israel. He summoned ¹⁵  Balaam son of Beor to call down judgment ¹⁶  on you. 24:10 I refused to respond to Balaam; he kept ¹⁷  prophesying good things about ¹⁸  you, and I rescued you from his power. ¹⁹ 

Nehemiah 13:2

13:2 for they had not met the Israelites with food ²⁰  and water, but instead had hired Balaam to curse them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into blessing.)

¹ 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.

² tn Heb “people.” So also in vv. 10, 17, 41.

³ 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.

⁴ 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.

⁵ 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.

⁶ 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).

⁷ 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.

⁸ tn The construction uses the Piel infinitive כַּבֵּד (kabbed) to intensify the verb, which is the Piel imperfect/cohortative אֲכַבֶּדְךָ (’akhabbedkha). The great honor could have been wealth, prestige, or position.

⁹ tn The Hebrew text uses הִנֵּה (hinneh) here to stress the contrast.

¹⁰ tn The construction is emphatic, using the perfect tense and the infinitive absolute to give it the emphasis. It would have the force of “you have done nothing but bless,” or “you have indeed blessed.” The construction is reminiscent of the call of Abram and the promise of the blessing in such elaborate terms.

¹¹ tn Heb “hired against you.”

¹² tn Heb “the Lord your God changed.” The phrase “the Lord your God” has not been included in the translation here for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy. Moreover, use of the pronoun “he” could create confusion regarding the referent (the Lord or Balaam).

¹³ tn The verb אָהַב (’ahav, “love”) here and commonly elsewhere in the Book of Deuteronomy speaks of God’s elective grace toward Israel. See note on the word “loved” in Deut 4:37.

¹⁴ tn Heb “arose and fought.”

¹⁵ tn Heb “sent and called.”

¹⁶ tn Or “to curse.”

¹⁷ tn The infinitive absolute follows the finite verb in the Hebrew text and indicates continuation or repetition of the action. Balaam pronounced several oracles of blessing over Israel (see Num 23-24).

¹⁸ tn Heb “blessing.” Balaam’s “blessings” were actually prophecies of how God would prosper Israel.

¹⁹ tn Heb “hand.”

²⁰ tn Heb “bread.” The Hebrew term is generic here, however, referring to more than bread alone.