But Moses replied to the Lord, “If the Israelites did not listen to me, then how will Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with difficulty?”

When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.”

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I lifted you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

If you afflict them in any way and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry,

So Aaron said to them, “Break off the gold earrings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”

So Moses stood at the entrance of the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” All the Levites gathered around him,

He replied to them, “Stay here tonight, and I will bring back to you whatever word the Lord may speak to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming to me.

For I will honor you greatly, and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”

Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send again and again to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”

Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me,

But the Lord told me: “Tell them this: ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you and you will be defeated by your enemies.’”

Then we turned and set out toward the desert land on the way to the Red Sea just as the Lord told me to do, detouring around Mount Seir for a long time.

The Lord said to me, “Look! I have already begun to give over Sihon and his land to you. Start right now to take his land as your possession.”

Then, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness while the mountain was ablaze, all your tribal leaders and elders approached me.

Now at the end of the forty days and nights the Lord presented me with the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.

Moreover, he said to me, “I have taken note of these people; they are a stubborn lot!

For I was terrified at the Lord’s intense anger that threatened to destroy you. But he listened to me this time as well.

Then he said to me, “Get up, set out leading the people so they may go and possess the land I promised to give to their ancestors.”

Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.