Numbers 24:10-13

24:10 Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. ¹  Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless ²  them these three times! 24:11 So now, go back where you came from! ³  I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the Lord has stood in the way of your honor.”

24:12 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, 24:13 ‘If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond ⁴  the commandment ⁵  of the Lord to do either good or evil of my own will, ⁶  but whatever the Lord tells me I must speak’?

[24:10]  ¹ sn This is apparently a sign of contempt or derision (see Job 27:23; and Lam 2:15).

[24:10]  ² tn The construction is emphatic, using the infinitive absolute with the perfect tense for “bless.”

[24:11]  ³ tn Heb “flee to your place.”

[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.”