Balak (בָּלָק)
Numbers 22:2 – 25:9
Third Aliyah
22:21
When Balaam got up in the morning, he saddled his female donkey, and went with the Moabite dignitaries.
When Balaam got up in the morning, he saddled his female donkey, and went with the Moabite dignitaries.
Vayakom Bil’am baboker vayachavosh et-atono vayelech im-sarey Moav.
וַיָּקָם בִּלְעָם בַּבֹּקֶר, וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ אֶת-אֲתֹנוֹ; וַיֵּלֶךְ, עִם-שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב.
22:22
God displayed anger because [Balaam was so anxious to] go, and an angel of God planted himself in the road to oppose him. [Balaam] was riding on his donkey, accompanied by his two boy servants.
God displayed anger because [Balaam was so anxious to] go, and an angel of God planted himself in the road to oppose him. [Balaam] was riding on his donkey, accompanied by his two boy servants.
Vayichar-af Elohim ki-holech hu vayityatsev mal’ach Adonay baderech le-Satan lo vehu rochev al-atono ushney ne’arav imo.
וַיִּחַר-אַף אֱלֹהִים, כִּי-הוֹלֵךְ הוּא, וַיִּתְיַצֵּב מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה בַּדֶּרֶךְ, לְשָׂטָן לוֹ; וְהוּא רֹכֵב עַל-אֲתֹנוֹ, וּשְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו עִמּוֹ.
22:23
When the donkey saw God’s angel standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, the donkey went aside from the road into the field. Balaam beat the donkey to get it back on the road.
When the donkey saw God’s angel standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, the donkey went aside from the road into the field. Balaam beat the donkey to get it back on the road.
Vatere ha’aton et-mal’ach Adonay nitsav baderech vecharbo shlufah beyado vatet ha’aton min-haderech vatelech basadeh vayach Bil’am et-ha’aton lehatotah hadarech.
וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה נִצָּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ, וַתֵּט הָאָתוֹן מִן-הַדֶּרֶךְ, וַתֵּלֶךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה; וַיַּךְ בִּלְעָם אֶת-הָאָתוֹן, לְהַטֹּתָהּ הַדָּרֶךְ.
22:24
God’s angel then stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, where there was a fence on either side.
God’s angel then stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, where there was a fence on either side.
Vaya’amod mal’ach Adonay bemish’ol hakramim gader mizeh vegader mizeh.
וַיַּעֲמֹד מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, בְּמִשְׁעוֹל הַכְּרָמִים–גָּדֵר מִזֶּה, וְגָדֵר מִזֶּה.
22:25
When the donkey saw God’s angel, it edged over to the side, crushing Balaam’s foot against the wall. [Balaam] beat it even more.
When the donkey saw God’s angel, it edged over to the side, crushing Balaam’s foot against the wall. [Balaam] beat it even more.
Vatere ha’aton et-mal’ach Adonay vatilachets el-hakir vatilchats et-regel Bil’am el-hakir vayosef lehakotah.
וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, וַתִּלָּחֵץ אֶל-הַקִּיר, וַתִּלְחַץ אֶת-רֶגֶל בִּלְעָם, אֶל-הַקִּיר; וַיֹּסֶף, לְהַכֹּתָהּ.
22:26
God’s angel continued ahead [of Balaam], and he stood in a narrow place, where there was no room to turn right or left.
God’s angel continued ahead [of Balaam], and he stood in a narrow place, where there was no room to turn right or left.
Vayosef mal’ach-Adonay avor vaya’amod bemakom tsar asher eyn-derech lintot yamin usmol.
וַיּוֹסֶף מַלְאַךְ-יְהוָה, עֲבוֹר; וַיַּעֲמֹד בְּמָקוֹם צָר, אֲשֶׁר אֵין-דֶּרֶךְ לִנְטוֹת יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול.
22:27
When the donkey saw God’s angel, it lay down [refusing to budge] for Balaam. Balaam lost his temper, and beat the donkey with a stick.
When the donkey saw God’s angel, it lay down [refusing to budge] for Balaam. Balaam lost his temper, and beat the donkey with a stick.
Vatere ha’aton et-mal’ach Adonay vatirbats tachat Bil’am vayichar-af Bil’am vayach et-ha’aton bamakel.
וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, וַתִּרְבַּץ תַּחַת בִּלְעָם; וַיִּחַר-אַף בִּלְעָם, וַיַּךְ אֶת-הָאָתוֹן בַּמַּקֵּל.
22:28
God then gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you that you beat me these three times?’
God then gave the donkey the power of speech, and it said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you that you beat me these three times?’
Vayiftach Adonay et-pi ha’aton vatomer le-Vil’am meh-asiti lecha ki hikitani zeh shalosh regalim.
וַיִּפְתַּח יְהוָה, אֶת-פִּי הָאָתוֹן; וַתֹּאמֶר לְבִלְעָם, מֶה-עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ, כִּי הִכִּיתַנִי, זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים.
22:29
‘You have been playing games with me!’ shouted Balaam at the donkey. ‘If I had had a sword in my hand just now, I would have killed you!’
‘You have been playing games with me!’ shouted Balaam at the donkey. ‘If I had had a sword in my hand just now, I would have killed you!’
Vayomer Bil’am la’aton ki hit’alalt bi lu yesh-cherev beyadi ki atah haragtich.
וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לָאָתוֹן, כִּי הִתְעַלַּלְתְּ בִּי; לוּ יֶשׁ-חֶרֶב בְּיָדִי, כִּי עַתָּה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ.
22:30
The donkey replied to Balaam, ‘Am I not your [old] donkey? You have been riding on me as far back as you remember. Have I ever been in the habit of doing this to you?’ ‘No,’ replied [Balaam].
The donkey replied to Balaam, ‘Am I not your [old] donkey? You have been riding on me as far back as you remember. Have I ever been in the habit of doing this to you?’ ‘No,’ replied [Balaam].
Vatomer ha’aton el-Bil’am halo anochi atonecha asher-rachavta alay me’odcha ad-hayom hazeh hahasken hiskanti la’asot lecha koh vayomer lo.
וַתֹּאמֶר הָאָתוֹן אֶל-בִּלְעָם, הֲלוֹא אָנֹכִי אֲתֹנְךָ אֲשֶׁר-רָכַבְתָּ עָלַי מֵעוֹדְךָ עַד-הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה–הַהַסְכֵּן הִסְכַּנְתִּי, לַעֲשׂוֹת לְךָ כֹּה; וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא.
22:31
God then gave Balaam the ability to see, and he perceived the angel standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. [Balaam] kneeled and prostrated himself on his face.
God then gave Balaam the ability to see, and he perceived the angel standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. [Balaam] kneeled and prostrated himself on his face.
Vayegal Adonay et-eyney Vil’am vayar et-mal’ach Adonay nitsav baderech vecharbo shlufah beyado vayikod vayishtachu le’apav.
וַיְגַל יְהוָה, אֶת-עֵינֵי בִלְעָם, וַיַּרְא אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה נִצָּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלֻפָה בְּיָדוֹ; וַיִּקֹּד וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ, לְאַפָּיו.
22:32
God’s angel said to him, ‘Why did you beat your donkey these three times? I have come out to oppose you, because your errand is obnoxious to me.
God’s angel said to him, ‘Why did you beat your donkey these three times? I have come out to oppose you, because your errand is obnoxious to me.
Vayomer elav mal’ach Adonay al-mah hikita et-atonecha zeh shalosh regalim hineh anochi yatsati lesatan ki-yarat haderech lenegdi.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, עַל-מָה הִכִּיתָ אֶת-אֲתֹנְךָ, זֶה שָׁלוֹשׁ רְגָלִים; הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי יָצָאתִי לְשָׂטָן, כִּי-יָרַט הַדֶּרֶךְ לְנֶגְדִּי.
22:33
When the donkey saw me, it turned aside these three times. If it had not turned aside before me, as it did now, I would have killed you and spared [the donkey].’
When the donkey saw me, it turned aside these three times. If it had not turned aside before me, as it did now, I would have killed you and spared [the donkey].’
Vatir’ani ha’aton vatet lefanay zeh shalosh regalim ulay natetah mipanay ki atah gam-otchah haragti ve’otah hecheyeyti.
וַתִּרְאַנִי, הָאָתוֹן, וַתֵּט לְפָנַי, זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים; אוּלַי נָטְתָה מִפָּנַי, כִּי עַתָּה גַּם-אֹתְכָה הָרַגְתִּי וְאוֹתָהּ הֶחֱיֵיתִי.
22:34
Balaam said to God’s angel, ‘I have sinned! I did not know that you were standing on the road before me. If you consider it wrong [for me to go], I will go back home.’
Balaam said to God’s angel, ‘I have sinned! I did not know that you were standing on the road before me. If you consider it wrong [for me to go], I will go back home.’
Vayomer Bil’am el-mal’ach Adonay chatati ki lo yadati ki atah nitsav likrati badarech ve’atah im-ra be’eyneycha ashuvah li.
וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, חָטָאתִי–כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי, כִּי אַתָּה נִצָּב לִקְרָאתִי בַּדָּרֶךְ; וְעַתָּה אִם-רַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ, אָשׁוּבָה לִּי.
22:35
God’s angel said to Balaam, ‘Go with the men. But do not say anything other than the exact words that I declare to you.’ Balaam thus continued with Balak’s dignitaries.
God’s angel said to Balaam, ‘Go with the men. But do not say anything other than the exact words that I declare to you.’ Balaam thus continued with Balak’s dignitaries.
Vayomer mal’ach Adonay el-Bil’am lech im-ha’anashim ve’efes et-hadavar asher-adaber eleycha oto tedaber vayelech Bil’am im-sarey Valak.
וַיֹּאמֶר מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה אֶל-בִּלְעָם, לֵךְ עִם-הָאֲנָשִׁים, וְאֶפֶס אֶת-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ, אֹתוֹ תְדַבֵּר; וַיֵּלֶךְ בִּלְעָם, עִם-שָׂרֵי בָלָק.
22:36
When Balak heard that Balaam had arrived, he went out to meet him in the City of Moab, which was at the extreme end of his territory, on the edge of the Arnon.
When Balak heard that Balaam had arrived, he went out to meet him in the City of Moab, which was at the extreme end of his territory, on the edge of the Arnon.
Vayishma Balak ki va Vil’am vayetse likrato el-ir Moav asher al-gvul Arnon asher biktseh hagevul.
וַיִּשְׁמַע בָּלָק, כִּי בָא בִלְעָם; וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרָאתוֹ אֶל-עִיר מוֹאָב, אֲשֶׁר עַל-גְּבוּל אַרְנֹן, אֲשֶׁר, בִּקְצֵה הַגְּבוּל.
22:37
Balak said to Balaam, ‘I had to make so much effort to get you. Why did you not come to me [right away]? Did you think that I couldn’t honor you?’
Balak said to Balaam, ‘I had to make so much effort to get you. Why did you not come to me [right away]? Did you think that I couldn’t honor you?’
Vayomer Balak el-Bil’am halo shaloach shalachti eleycha likro-lach lamah lo-halachta elay ha’umnam lo uchal kabedecha.
וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל-בִּלְעָם, הֲלֹא שָׁלֹחַ שָׁלַחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לִקְרֹא-לָךְ–לָמָּה לֹא-הָלַכְתָּ, אֵלָי; הַאֻמְנָם, לֹא אוּכַל כַּבְּדֶךָ.
22:38
‘And now that I have come to you,’ replied Balaam to Balak, ‘do you think that I can say anything? I can only declare the words that God places in my mouth.’
‘And now that I have come to you,’ replied Balaam to Balak, ‘do you think that I can say anything? I can only declare the words that God places in my mouth.’
Vayomer Bil’am el-balak hineh-vati eleycha atah hayachol uchal daber me’umah hadavar asher yasim Elohim befi oto adaber.
וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-בָּלָק, הִנֵּה-בָאתִי אֵלֶיךָ–עַתָּה, הֲיָכֹל אוּכַל דַּבֵּר מְאוּמָה: הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים אֱלֹהִים בְּפִי–אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּר.