Numbers 22:35

22:35 But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you may only speak ¹  the word that I will speak to you.” ²  So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Numbers 22:38

22:38 Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able ³  to speak ⁴  just anything? I must speak ⁵  only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

Numbers 24:13

24:13 ‘If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond ⁶  the commandment ⁷  of the Lord to do either good or evil of my own will, ⁸  but whatever the Lord tells me I must speak’?

[22:35]  ¹ tn The imperfect tense here can be given the nuance of permission.

[22:35]  ² tn The Hebrew word order is a little more emphatic than this: “but only the word which I speak to you, it you shall speak.”

[22:38]  ³ tn The verb is אוּכַל (’ukhal) in a question – “am I able?” But emphasizing this is the infinitive absolute before it. So Balaam is saying something like, “Can I really say anything?”

[22:38]  ⁴ tn The Piel infinitive construct (without the preposition) serves as the object of the verb “to be able.” The whole question is rhetorical – he is saying that he will not be able to say anything God does not allow him to say.

[22:38]  ⁵ tn The imperfect tense is here taken as an obligatory imperfect.

[24:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “I am not able to go beyond.”

[24:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “mouth.”

[24:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “from my heart.”