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 ¹  you have only blessed them!” ² 

Numbers 24:10

24:10 Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. ³  Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless ⁴  them these three times!

[23:11]  ¹ tn The Hebrew text uses הִנֵּה (hinneh) here to stress the contrast.

[23:11]  ² 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.

[24:10]  ³ sn This is apparently a sign of contempt or derision (see Job 27:23; and Lam 2:15).

[24:10]  ⁴ tn The construction is emphatic, using the infinitive absolute with the perfect tense for “bless.”