1. The Israelites marched and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.
2. Balak, Zippor’s son, saw everything that the Israelites did to the Amorites.
3. The Moabites greatly feared the people, for they were so numerous. The Moabites were terrified of the Israelites.
4. The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "Now this assembly will devour everything around us, as an ox eats up the grass in the field."Balak, Zippor’s son, was king of Moab at that time.
5. He sent messengers to Balaam, Beor’s son, at Pethor, which is by the river in the land of his people, to summon him: "A people has come out of Egypt, and they have now covered the land. They have settled next to me.
6. Now please come and curse this people for me because they are stronger than I am. Perhaps I’ll be able to destroy them and drive them from the land, for I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed."
7. So the elders of Moab and Midian went with the payment for divination in their hands. They came to Balaam and told him Balak’s words.
8. He said to them, "Spend the night here and I’ll bring back to you a word exactly as the Lord speaks to me." So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9. God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"