Numbers 22:15-17

Balaam Accompanies the Moabite Princes

22:15 Balak again sent princes, ¹  more numerous and more distinguished than the first. ²  22:16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming ³  to me. 22:17 For I will honor you greatly, ⁴  and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”

[22:15]  ¹ tn The construction is a verbal hendiadys. It uses the Hiphil preterite of the verb “to add” followed by the Qal infinitive “to send.” The infinitive becomes the main verb, and the preterite an adverb: “he added to send” means “he sent again.”

[22:15]  ² tn Heb “than these.”

[22:16]  ³ tn The infinitive construct is the object of the preposition.

[22:17]  ⁵ 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.