Numbers 22:17-19

22:17 For I will honor you greatly, ¹  and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”

22:18 Balaam replied ²  to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment ³  of the Lord my God ⁴  to do less or more. 22:19 Now therefore, please stay ⁵  the night here also, that I may know what more the Lord might say to me.” ⁶ 

[22:17]  ¹ 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.

[22:18]  ² tn Heb “answered and said.”

[22:18]  ³ tn Heb “mouth.”

[22:18]  ⁴ sn In the light of subsequent events one should not take too seriously that Balaam referred to Yahweh as his God. He is referring properly to the deity for which he is acting as the agent.

[22:19]  ⁵ tn In this case “lodge” is not used, but “remain, reside” (שְׁבוּ, shÿvu).

[22:19]  ⁶ tn This clause is also a verbal hendiadys: “what the Lord might add to speak,” meaning, “what more the Lord might say.”