Numbers 23:5

23:5 Then the Lord put a message ¹  in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you.” ² 

Numbers 23:8

23:8 How ³  can I curse ⁴  one whom God has not cursed,

or how can I denounce one whom the Lord has not denounced?

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 ⁵  you have only blessed them!” ⁶ 

[23:5]  ¹ tn Heb “word.”

[23:5]  ² tn Heb “and thus you shall speak.”

[23:8]  ³ tn The figure is erotesis, a rhetorical question. He is actually saying he cannot curse them because God has not cursed them.

[23:8]  ⁴ tn The imperfect tense should here be classified as a potential imperfect.

[23:11]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew text uses הִנֵּה (hinneh) here to stress the contrast.

[23:11]  ⁶ 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.