“Balak, the king of Moab, brought me 3 from Aram,
out of the mountains of the east, saying,
‘Come, pronounce a curse on Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel.’ 4
23:18 Balaam 5 uttered 6 his oracle, and said,
“Rise up, 7 Balak, and hear;
Listen to me, son of Zippor:
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Balaam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “took up.”
3 tn The passage calls for a past tense translation; since the verb form is a prefixed conjugation, this tense should be classified as a preterite without the vav (ו). Such forms do occur, especially in the ancient poetic passages.
4 sn The opening lines seem to be a formula for the seer to identify himself and the occasion for the oracle. The tension is laid out early; Balaam knows that God has intended to bless Israel, but he has been paid to curse them.
5 tn Heb “he.” The antecedent has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
6 tn Heb “took up.”
7 tn The verb probably means “pay attention” in this verse.