Numbers 23:7

23:7 Then Balaam ¹  uttered ²  his oracle, saying,

“Balak, the king of Moab, brought me ³  from Aram,

out of the mountains of the east, saying,

‘Come, pronounce a curse on Jacob for me;

come, denounce Israel.’ ⁴ 

Numbers 23:18

Balaam Prophesies Again

23:18 Balaam ⁵  uttered ⁶  his oracle, and said,

“Rise up, ⁷  Balak, and hear;

Listen to me, son of Zippor:

[23:7]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Balaam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:7]  ² tn Heb “took up.”

[23:7]  ³ tn The passage calls for a past tense translation; since the verb form is a prefixed conjugation, this tense should be classified as a preterite without the vav (ו). Such forms do occur, especially in the ancient poetic passages.

[23:7]  ⁴ sn The opening lines seem to be a formula for the seer to identify himself and the occasion for the oracle. The tension is laid out early; Balaam knows that God has intended to bless Israel, but he has been paid to curse them.

[23:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “he.” The antecedent has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[23:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “took up.”

[23:18]  ⁷ tn The verb probably means “pay attention” in this verse.