Numbers 23

There's more to cagey chance in this encounter than I remembered. It seems a bit presumptuous to add Yahweh (verse 15) to the text when the word is not there.

Note that the bull and ram 'on the altar' perhaps imply one each per altar, but the text doesn't read that way. All sorts of interpretive moves are made by a translator. Far more than can be comfortably documented. We readers must become aware that this is the case so that we understand that we also are reading and doing interpretation. There's no avoiding the responsibility.

V 18, one would expect child of Zippor, but again it is not the pattern. V 19, sigh, נחם comfort used of Yahweh traditionally for God repenting. Since I never use that word anyway and since God has no need of repentance in the traditional sense, I use sigh.

נחם comfort (76) sigh (30) regret (7) consolation (4) show pity (2) Naxam (1) console (1) re-create (1) showed pity (1)

The One = God אל. I am not consistent with this. Sometimes the phrasing is too awkward for the One. Perhaps El might have been a good choice for the short form of Elohim, but I only use El in names like Bethel. (At present).

This chapter being a cliff-hanger, chapter 24 will follow shortly.

Numbers 23		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־לִ֥י בָזֶ֖ה שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים	1		And Balaam said to Balak, Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven young bulls and seven rams.	3e	4C	18 15
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֨עַל בָּלָ֧ק וּבִלְעָ֛ם פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ	2		And Balak did as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered up a young bull and a ram on the altar.	3c	4B	12 16
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר בִּלְעָ֜ם לְבָלָ֗ק הִתְיַצֵּב֮ עַל־עֹלָתֶךָ֒ וְאֵֽלְכָ֗ה אוּלַ֞י יִקָּרֵ֤ה יְהוָה֙ לִקְרָאתִ֔י וּדְבַ֥ר מַה־יַּרְאֵ֖נִי וְהִגַּ֣דְתִּי לָ֑ךְ וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ שֶֽׁפִי	3		And Balaam said to Balak, Station yourself by your offering, and I will go. Perhaps Yahweh will chance to encounter me, and whatever word he will show me, I will tell you. And he went to a protruding place.	3e	4C	40 5
וַיִּקָּ֥ר אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו אֶת־שִׁבְעַ֤ת הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת֙ עָרַ֔כְתִּי וָאַ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ	4		And God eventually met Balaam, and he said to him, The seven altars I have arranged, and a burnt offering of a young bull and a ram on the altar.	3d	4C	9 26
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם יְהוָ֛ה דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֣י בִלְעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר	5		And Yahweh put a word in the mouth of Balaam, and he said, Return to Balak and thus you will speak.	3c	4B	11 12
וַיָּ֣שָׁב אֵלָ֔יו וְהִנֵּ֥ה נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֹלָת֑וֹ ה֖וּא וְכָל־שָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב	6		And he returned to him, and behold, he stood firm by his burnt offering, he and all the nobles of Moab.	3e	4B	14 7
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר מִן־אֲ֠רָם יַנְחֵ֨נִי בָלָ֤ק מֶֽלֶךְ־מוֹאָב֙ מֵֽהַרְרֵי־קֶ֔דֶם לְכָה֙ אָֽרָה־לִּ֣י יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּלְכָ֖ה זֹעֲמָ֥ה יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	7		And he lifted up his parable and said, From Aram he guides me, Balak, the king of Moab, from the mountains of the east, Come, curse for me Jacob, and come, denounce Israel.	3e	4C	9 32
מָ֣ה אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖ה אֵ֑ל וּמָ֣ה אֶזְעֹ֔ם לֹ֥א זָעַ֖ם יְהוָֽה	8	B	How will I hex? The One has not hexed. Or how will I denounce? Yahweh has not denounced.	3e	4B	7 9
כִּֽי־מֵרֹ֤אשׁ צֻרִים֙ אֶרְאֶ֔נּוּ וּמִגְּבָע֖וֹת אֲשׁוּרֶ֑נּוּ הֶן־עָם֙ לְבָדָ֣ד יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן וּבַגּוֹיִ֖ם לֹ֥א יִתְחַשָּֽׁב	9		For from the top of rocks, I see him, and from the hillocks, I scrutinize him. Lo, a people dwelling alone, and among the nations, not reckoned.	3e	4C	15 15
מִ֤י מָנָה֙ עֲפַ֣ר יַעֲקֹ֔ב וּמִסְפָּ֖ר אֶת־רֹ֣בַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תָּמֹ֤ת נַפְשִׁי֙ מ֣וֹת יְשָׁרִ֔ים וּתְהִ֥י אַחֲרִיתִ֖י כָּמֹֽהוּ	10	C	Who will fathom the dust of Jacob, or the count of a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my last be like his.	3e	4C	17 17
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם מֶ֥ה עָשִׂ֖יתָ לִ֑י לָקֹ֤ב אֹיְבַי֙ לְקַחְתִּ֔יךָ וְהִנֵּ֖ה בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ בָרֵֽךְ	11		And Balak said to Balaam, What have you done to me? To hex my enemies I took you, and behold, the blessing of blessing.	3e	4C	13 16
וַיַּ֖עַן וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הֲלֹ֗א אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׂ֤ים יְהוָה֙ בְּפִ֔י אֹת֥וֹ אֶשְׁמֹ֖ר לְדַבֵּֽר	12		And he answered and he said, What Yahweh puts in my mouth, must I not keep it, to speak?	3e	4C	6 18
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו בָּלָ֗ק לְכָה־נָּ֨א אִתִּ֜י אֶל־מָק֤וֹם אַחֵר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּרְאֶ֣נּוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם אֶ֚פֶס קָצֵ֣הוּ תִרְאֶ֔ה וְכֻלּ֖וֹ לֹ֣א תִרְאֶ֑ה וְקָבְנוֹ־לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם	13		And Balak said to him, Come please with me, to another place where you may see him from there. The extreme of his limit you will see, but all of him you will not see. And hex him for me from there.	3e	4C	37 6
וַיִּקָּחֵ֙הוּ֙ שְׂדֵ֣ה צֹפִ֔ים אֶל־רֹ֖אשׁ הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה וַיִּ֙בֶן֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֔ת וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ	14		And he took him to the field of Tsophym, to the top of Pisgah. And he built seven altars, and offered up a young bull and a ram on the altar.	3d	4B	14 19
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק הִתְיַצֵּ֥ב כֹּ֖ה עַל־עֹלָתֶ֑ךָ וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִקָּ֥רֶה כֹּֽה	15		And he said to Balak, Station yourself thus by your offering, but myself, I will eventually be met thus.	3e	4A	15 8
וַיִּקָּ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דָּבָ֖ר בְּפִ֑יו וַיֹּ֛אמֶר שׁ֥וּב אֶל־בָּלָ֖ק וְכֹ֥ה תְדַבֵּֽר	16		And Yahweh eventually met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and he said, Return to Balak and thus you will speak.	3d	4C	15 12
וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵלָ֗יו וְהִנּ֤וֹ נִצָּב֙ עַל־עֹ֣לָת֔וֹ וְשָׂרֵ֥י מוֹאָ֖ב אִתּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ בָּלָ֔ק מַה־דִּבֶּ֖ר יְהוָֽה	17		And he came to him, and there he was standing firm by his burnt offering, and the chiefs of Moab with him. And to him Balak said, What does Yahweh speak?	3e	4C	21 11
וַיִּשָּׂ֥א מְשָׁל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר ק֤וּם בָּלָק֙ וּֽשֲׁמָ֔ע הַאֲזִ֥ינָה עָדַ֖י בְּנ֥וֹ צִפֹּֽר	18		And he lifted up his parable and said, Arise, Balak, and hear. Give ear to me, his son, Zippor.	3e	4C	9 16
לֹ֣א אִ֥ישׁ אֵל֙ וִֽיכַזֵּ֔ב וּבֶן־אָדָ֖ם וְיִתְנֶחָ֑ם הַה֤וּא אָמַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה וְדִבֶּ֖ר וְלֹ֥א יְקִימֶֽנָּה	19	B	Not a man is the One that he should lie, nor a child of humanity that he should sigh. He, has he said, and he does not act, or spoken, and he does not place it?	3e	4C	14 18
הִנֵּ֥ה בָרֵ֖ךְ לָקָ֑חְתִּי וּבֵרֵ֖ךְ וְלֹ֥א אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה	20		Behold blessing I have received, and he has blessed, and I will not reverse it.	3e	4A	7 9
לֹֽא־הִבִּ֥יט אָ֙וֶן֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹא־רָאָ֥ה עָמָ֖ל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וּתְרוּעַ֥ת מֶ֖לֶךְ בּֽוֹ	21		He has not taken note of mischief in Jacob, and he has not seen misery in Israel. Yahweh his God is with him, and the jubilation of a king is in him.	3e	4C	17 13
אֵ֖ל מוֹצִיאָ֣ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם לֽוֹ	22	g	The One brought them out from Egypt. As the great effort of a wild bull is his.	3e	4B	8 7
כִּ֤י לֹא־נַ֙חַשׁ֙ בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְלֹא־קֶ֖סֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כָּעֵ֗ת יֵאָמֵ֤ר לְיַעֲקֹב֙ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַה־פָּ֖עַל אֵֽל	23	C	For no augury against Jacob, and no soothsaying against Israel. At such a time, it will be said of Jacob and of Israel, How does God work?	3e	4C	14 17
הֶן־עָם֙ כְּלָבִ֣יא יָק֔וּם וְכַאֲרִ֖י יִתְנַשָּׂ֑א לֹ֤א יִשְׁכַּב֙ עַד־יֹ֣אכַל טֶ֔רֶף וְדַם־חֲלָלִ֖ים יִשְׁתֶּֽה	24		Lo, a people like a great cat will arise, and like a lion will lift itself up, It will not lie down until it has eaten of prey and the blood of the profaned imbibed.	3e	4C	14 15
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם גַּם־קֹ֖ב לֹ֣א תִקֳּבֶ֑נּוּ גַּם־בָּרֵ֖ךְ לֹ֥א תְבָרֲכֶֽנּוּ	25		And Balak said to Balaam, Even do not hex him. Even do not bless him.	3e	4C	15 9
וַיַּ֣עַן בִּלְעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֶל־בָּלָ֑ק הֲלֹ֗א דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֹת֥וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה	26		And Balaam answered and he said to Balak, Have I not spoken to you to say, All that Yahweh speaks, it, I will do.	3d	4C	11 23
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בָּלָק֙ אֶל־בִּלְעָ֔ם לְכָה־נָּא֙ אֶקָּ֣חֲךָ֔ אֶל־מָק֖וֹם אַחֵ֑ר אוּלַ֤י יִישַׁר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְקַבֹּ֥תוֹ לִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם	27		And Balak said to Balaam, Come, please. I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will be upright in the eyes of God that you may hex him for me from there.	3e	4C	20 18
וַיִּקַּ֥ח בָּלָ֖ק אֶת־בִּלְעָ֑ם רֹ֣אשׁ הַפְּע֔וֹר הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹֽן	28		And Balak took Balaam, to the top of Peor that looks down facing the wastelands.	3e	4B	8 12
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בִּלְעָם֙ אֶל־בָּלָ֔ק בְּנֵה־לִ֥י בָזֶ֖ה שִׁבְעָ֣ה מִזְבְּחֹ֑ת וְהָכֵ֥ן לִי֙ בָּזֶ֔ה שִׁבְעָ֥ה פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים	29		And Balaam said to Balak, Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven young bulls and seven rams.	3e	4C	18 15
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ בָּלָ֔ק כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֣ר בִּלְעָ֑ם וַיַּ֛עַל פָּ֥ר וָאַ֖יִל בַּמִּזְבֵּֽחַ	30		And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a young bull and a ram on the altar.	3d	4B	12 11