- Numbers 22:13
וַיָּקׇם בִּלְעָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־שָׂרֵי בָלָק לְכוּ אֶל־אַרְצְכֶם כִּי מֵאֵן יְהֹוָה לְתִתִּי לַהֲלֹךְ עִמָּכֶם׃
Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s dignitaries, “Go back to your own country, for GOD will not let me go with you.”
Targum Onkelos
וְקָם בִּלְעָם בְּצַפְרָא וַאֲמַר לְרַבְרְבֵי בָלָק אִיזִילוּ לְאַרְעֲכוֹן אֲרֵי רַעֲוָא קֳדָם יְיָ דְּלָא לְמִשְׁבְּקִי לְמֵיזַל עִמְּכוֹן׃
Bil’am arose in the morning and said to Balak's dignitaries: “Go back to your land, for Adonoy refuses [it is not the will of Hashem] to allow me to go with you.”
- Numbers 22:14
וַיָּקוּמוּ שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־בָּלָק וַיֹּאמְרוּ מֵאֵן בִּלְעָם הֲלֹךְ עִמָּנוּ׃
The Moabite dignitaries left, and they came to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Targum Onkelos
וְקָמוּ רַבְרְבֵי מוֹאָב וַאֲתוֹ לְוָת בָּלָק וַאֲמַרוּ סָרֵיב בִּלְעָם לְמֵיתֵי עִמַּנָא׃
Moav's dignitaries got up, and came to Balak and said: “Bil’am refuses to go with us.”
- Numbers 22:15
וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד בָּלָק שְׁלֹחַ שָׂרִים רַבִּים וְנִכְבָּדִים מֵאֵלֶּה׃
Then Balak sent other dignitaries, more numerous and distinguished than the first.
Targum Onkelos
וְאוֹסֵיף עוֹד בָּלָק שְׁלַח רַבְרְבִין סַגִּיאִין וְיַקִּירִין מֵאִלֵּין׃
Balak persisted and sent dignitaries in greater number and of higher rank than these.
- Numbers 22:16
וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ כֹּה אָמַר בָּלָק בֶּן־צִפּוֹר אַל־נָא תִמָּנַע מֵהֲלֹךְ אֵלָי׃
They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: Please do not refuse to come to me.
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲתוֹ לְוָת בִּלְעָם וַאֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ כִּדְנָן אֲמַר בָּלָק בַּר צִפּוֹר לָא כְעַן תִּתְמְנַע מִלְּמֵיתֵי לְוָתִי׃
They came to Bil’am and said to him: “The following is a message from Balak the son Tzipor: ‘Please do not refuse to come to me.
- Numbers 22:17
כִּי־כַבֵּד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ מְאֹד וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמַר אֵלַי אֶעֱשֶׂה וּלְכָה־נָּא קָבָה־לִּי אֵת הָעָם הַזֶּה׃
I will reward you richly and I will do anything you ask of me. Only come and damn this people for me.”
Targum Onkelos
אֲרֵי יַקָּרָא אֲיַקְּרִנָּךְ לַחְדָּא וְכֹל דְּתֵימַר לִי אַעֲבֵיד וְאֵיתַא כְעַן לוּט לִי יָת עַמָּא הָדֵין׃
For I will honor you greatly and whatever you tell me, I will do, if you would just please come and curse this people for me.’”
- Numbers 22:18
וַיַּעַן בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־עַבְדֵי בָלָק אִם־יִתֶּן־לִי בָלָק מְלֹא בֵיתוֹ כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב לֹא אוּכַל לַעֲבֹר אֶת־פִּי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָי לַעֲשׂוֹת קְטַנָּה אוֹ גְדוֹלָה׃
Balaam replied to Balak’s officials, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, big or little, contrary to the command of the ETERNAL my God.
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲתֵיב בִּלְעָם וַאֲמַר לְעַבְדֵי בָלָק אִם יִתֵּין לִי בָלָק מְלֵי בֵיתֵיהּ כְּסַף וּדְהַב לֵית לִי רְשׁוּ לְמִעְבַּר עַל גְּזֵירַת מֵימְרָא דַּייָ אֱלָהִי לְמֶעֱבַד זְעֵירְתָא אוֹ רַבְּתָא׃
Bil’am answered and said to Balak's servants: “Even if Balak would give me silver and gold enough to fill his house, I cannot [have no permission] transgress the word of Adonoy my God, by doing anything small or great.
- Numbers 22:19
וְעַתָּה שְׁבוּ נָא בָזֶה גַּם־אַתֶּם הַלָּיְלָה וְאֵדְעָה מַה־יֹּסֵף יְהֹוָה דַּבֵּר עִמִּי׃
So you, too, stay here overnight, and let me find out what else GOD may say to me.”
Targum Onkelos
וּכְעַן אוֹרִיכוּ כְעַן הָכָא אַף אַתּוּן בְּלֵילְיָא וְאֶדַּע מָא יוֹסֵיף יְיָ לְמַלָּלָא עִמִּי׃
Now, you also, please remain here overnight, and I will get to know what more will Adonoy tell me.”
- Numbers 22:20
וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים ׀ אֶל־בִּלְעָם לַיְלָה וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אִם־לִקְרֹא לְךָ בָּאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים קוּם לֵךְ אִתָּם וְאַךְ אֶת־הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ אֹתוֹ תַעֲשֶׂה׃
That night God came to Balaam and said to him, “If the men have come to invite you, you may go with them. But whatever I command you, that you shall do.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲתָא מֵימַר מִן קֳדָם יְיָ בְּבִלְעָם לֵילְיָא וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ אִם לְמִקְרֵי לָךְ אֲתוֹ גּוּבְרַיָּא קוּם אִיזֵיל עִמְּהוֹן וּבְרַם יָת פִּתְגָמָא דַּאֲמַלֵּיל עִמָּךְ יָתֵיהּ תַּעֲבֵיד׃
God[’s word] appeared [before] to Bil’am that night and said to him: “If the men have come to call you, arise and go with them; however, whatever I will say to you, you will do.”
- Numbers 22:21
וַיָּקׇם בִּלְעָם בַּבֹּקֶר וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ אֶת־אֲתֹנוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ עִם־שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב׃
When he arose in the morning, Balaam saddled his jenny and departed with the Moabite dignitaries.
Targum Onkelos
וְקָם בִּלְעָם בְּצַפְרָא וְזָרֵיז יָת אֲתָנֵיהּ וַאֲזַל עִם רַבְרְבֵי מוֹאָב׃
Bil’am arose in the morning, saddled [readied] his donkey, and went with the Moavite dignitaries.
- Numbers 22:22
וַיִּחַר־אַף אֱלֹהִים כִּי־הוֹלֵךְ הוּא וַיִּתְיַצֵּב מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה בַּדֶּרֶךְ לְשָׂטָן לוֹ וְהוּא רֹכֵב עַל־אֲתֹנוֹ וּשְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו עִמּוֹ׃
But God was incensed at his going; so an angel of GOD took a position in his way as an adversary. He was riding on his jenny, with his two servants alongside,
Targum Onkelos
וּתְקֵיף רוּגְזָא דַּייָ אֲרֵי אָזֵיל הוּא וְאִתְעַתַּד מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ בְּאוֹרְחָא לְשָׂטָן לֵיהּ וְהוּא רָכֵיב עַל אֲתָנֵיהּ וּתְרֵין עוּלֵימוֹהִי עִמֵּיהּ׃
God showed anger because he went, and an angel of Adonoy placed himself in the way to thwart him, as he was riding on his donkey accompanied by his two attendants.
- Numbers 22:23
וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת־מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה נִצָּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ וַתֵּט הָאָתוֹן מִן־הַדֶּרֶךְ וַתֵּלֶךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיַּךְ בִּלְעָם אֶת־הָאָתוֹן לְהַטֹּתָהּ הַדָּרֶךְ׃
when the jenny caught sight of the angel of GOD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. The jenny swerved from the road and went into the fields; and Balaam beat the jenny to turn her back onto the road.
Targum Onkelos
וַחֲזָת אֲתָנָא יָת מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ מְעַתַּד בְּאוֹרְחָא וְחַרְבֵּיהּ שְׁלִיפָא בִּידֵיהּ וּסְטָת אֲתָנָא מִן אוֹרְחָא וַאֲזַלַת בְּחַקְלָא וּמְחָא בִלְעָם יָת אֲתָנָא לְאַסְטָיוּתַהּ לְאוֹרְחָא׃
The donkey saw the angel of Adonoy standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; the donkey turned aside from the way and went into the field; Bil’am struck the donkey to get it back on the way.
- Numbers 22:24
וַיַּעֲמֹד מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה בְּמִשְׁעוֹל הַכְּרָמִים גָּדֵר מִזֶּה וְגָדֵר מִזֶּה׃
The angel of GOD then stationed himself in a lane between the vineyards, with a fence on either side.
Targum Onkelos
וְקָם מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ בְּשָׁבִיל כַּרְמַיָּא אַתְרָא דְּגָדֵירָא מִכָּא וְגָדֵירָא מִכָּא׃
But the angel of Adonoy stood in a narrow path of the vineyards [at a place] with a barrier at either side.
- Numbers 22:25
וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת־מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה וַתִּלָּחֵץ אֶל־הַקִּיר וַתִּלְחַץ אֶת־רֶגֶל בִּלְעָם אֶל־הַקִּיר וַיֹּסֶף לְהַכֹּתָהּ׃
The jenny, seeing the angel of GOD, pressed herself against the wall and squeezed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he beat her again.
Targum Onkelos
וַחֲזָת אֲתָנָא יָת מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ וְאִדְּחֵיקַת עִם כּוּתְלָא וּדְחַקַת יָת רִגְלָא דְּבִלְעָם לְכוּתְלָא וְאוֹסֵיף לְמִמְחַהּ׃
When the donkey saw the angel of Adonoy, she was pressed against the wall and pressed Bil’am's foot against the wall; and he struck her even more.
- Numbers 22:26
וַיּוֹסֶף מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָה עֲבוֹר וַיַּעֲמֹד בְּמָקוֹם צָר אֲשֶׁר אֵין־דֶּרֶךְ לִנְטוֹת יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול׃
Once more the angel of GOD moved forward and stationed himself on a spot so narrow that there was no room to swerve right or left.
Targum Onkelos
וְאוֹסֵיף מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ עֲבַר וְקָם בַּאֲתַר עָק דְּלֵית אוֹרַח לְמִסְטֵי לְיַמִּינָא וְלִשְׂמָאלָא׃
Adonoy’s angel passed further ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no room to turn [either] to the right or to the left.
- Numbers 22:27
וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת־מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה וַתִּרְבַּץ תַּחַת בִּלְעָם וַיִּחַר־אַף בִּלְעָם וַיַּךְ אֶת־הָאָתוֹן בַּמַּקֵּל׃
When the jenny now saw the angel of GOD, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam was furious and beat the jenny with his stick.
Targum Onkelos
וַחֲזָת אֲתָנָא יָת מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ וּרְבַעַת תְּחוֹת בִּלְעָם וּתְקֵיף רוּגְזָא דְּבִלְעָם וּמְחָא יָת אֲתָנָא בְּחוּטְרָא׃
When the donkey saw the angel of Adonoy, it crouched beneath Bil’am; Bil’am[’s anger was provoked] became angry and beat the donkey with the stick.
- Numbers 22:28
וַיִּפְתַּח יְהֹוָה אֶת־פִּי הָאָתוֹן וַתֹּאמֶר לְבִלְעָם מֶה־עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ כִּי הִכִּיתַנִי זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים׃
Then GOD opened the jenny’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”
Targum Onkelos
וּפְתַח יְיָ יָת פּוּמָּא דַּאֲתָנָא וַאֲמַרַת לְבִלְעָם מָא עֲבַדִית לָךְ אֲרֵי מְחֵיתַנִי דְּנָן תְּלָת זִמְנִין׃
Adonoy opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Bil’am: “What have I done to you, that you have hit me these three times?”
- Numbers 22:29
וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לָאָתוֹן כִּי הִתְעַלַּלְתְּ בִּי לוּ יֶשׁ־חֶרֶב בְּיָדִי כִּי עַתָּה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ׃
Balaam said to the jenny, “You have made a mockery of me! If I had a sword with me, I’d kill you.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר בִּלְעָם לַאֲתָנָא אֲרֵי חַיֵּיכְתְּ בִּי אִלּוּ פוֹן אִית חַרְבָּא בִידִי אֲרֵי כְעַן קְטַלְתִּיךְ׃
Bil’am said to the donkey: “Because you have ridiculed me; would that I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you now.”
- Numbers 22:30
וַתֹּאמֶר הָאָתוֹן אֶל־בִּלְעָם הֲלוֹא אָנֹכִי אֲתֹנְךָ אֲשֶׁר־רָכַבְתָּ עָלַי מֵעוֹדְךָ עַד־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה הַהַסְכֵּן הִסְכַּנְתִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת לְךָ כֹּה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא׃
The jenny said to Balaam, “Look, I am the jenny that you have been riding all along until this day! Have I been in the habit of doing thus to you?” And he answered, “No.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַרַת אֲתָנָא לְבִלְעָם הֲלָא אֲנָא אֲתָנָךְ דִּרְכֵיבְתְּ עֲלַי מִדְּאִיתָךְ עַד יוֹמָא הָדֵין הֲמֵילָף אֲלֵיפְנָא לְמֶעֱבַד לָךְ כְּדֵין וַאֲמַר לָא׃
The donkey replied to Bil’am: “Am I not the very same donkey that you have been riding on all your life [from the time I became yours] until this very day? Was it ever my habit to do this to you?” And he said: “No.”
- Numbers 22:31
וַיְגַל יְהֹוָה אֶת־עֵינֵי בִלְעָם וַיַּרְא אֶת־מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה נִצָּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלֻפָה בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּקֹּד וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לְאַפָּיו׃
Then GOD uncovered Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of GOD standing in the way, his drawn sword in his hand; thereupon he bowed right down to the ground.
Targum Onkelos
וּגְלָא יְיָ יָת עֵינֵי בִלְעָם וַחֲזָא יָת מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ מְעַתַּד בְּאוֹרְחָא וְחַרְבֵּיהּ שְׁלִיפָא בִּידֵיהּ וּכְרַע וּסְגֵיד לְאַפּוֹהִי׃
Adonoy then enabled Bil’am to see, and he observed the angel of Adonoy standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand. He bowed his head and prostrated himself on his face.
- Numbers 22:32
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה עַל־מָה הִכִּיתָ אֶת־אֲתֹנְךָ זֶה שָׁלוֹשׁ רְגָלִים הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי יָצָאתִי לְשָׂטָן כִּי־יָרַט הַדֶּרֶךְ לְנֶגְדִּי׃
The angel of GOD said to him, “Why have you beaten your jenny these three times? It is I who came out as an adversary, for the errand is obnoxious to me.
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ עַל מָא מְחֵיתָא יָת אֲתָנָךְ דְּנָן תְּלָת זִמְנִין הָא אֲנָא נְפַקִית לְשָׂטָן אֲרֵי גְּלֵי קֳדָמַי דְּאַתְּ רָעֵי לְמֵיזַל בְּאוֹרְחָא לְקִבְלִי׃
The angel of Adonoy said to him: “Why did you hit your donkey these three times? Behold, I came out to obstruct you, because your way is [it is clear to me that you desire to proceed on a path] contrary to me.
- Numbers 22:33
וַתִּרְאַנִי הָאָתוֹן וַתֵּט לְפָנַי זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים אוּלַי נָטְתָה מִפָּנַי כִּי עַתָּה גַּם־אֹתְכָה הָרַגְתִּי וְאוֹתָהּ הֶחֱיֵיתִי׃
And when the jenny saw me, she shied away because of me those three times. If she had not shied away from me, you are the one I should have killed, while sparing her.”
Targum Onkelos
וַחֲזָתְנִי אֲתָנָא וּסְטָת מִן קֳדָמַי דְּנָן תְּלָת זִמְנִין אִלּוּ פוֹן לָא סְטָת מִן קֳדָמַי אֲרֵי כְעַן אַף יָתָךְ קְטַלִית וְיָתַהּ קַיֵּימִית׃
And when the donkey saw me, it turned aside these three times; had she not turned aside before me as [she did] now I would surely have killed you and she, I would let live.”
- Numbers 22:34
וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל־מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה חָטָאתִי כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי כִּי אַתָּה נִצָּב לִקְרָאתִי בַּדָּרֶךְ וְעַתָּה אִם־רַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ אָשׁוּבָה לִּי׃
Balaam said to the angel of GOD, “I erred because I did not know that you were standing in my way. If you still disapprove, I will turn back.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר בִּלְעָם לְמַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ חַבִית אֲרֵי לָא יָדַעְנָא דְּאַתְּ מְעַתַּד לְקַדָּמוּתִי בְּאוֹרְחָא וּכְעַן אִם בִּישׁ בְּעֵינָךְ אֲתוּב לִי׃
Bil’am said to the angel of Adonoy: “I have sinned because I did not know that you were standing in the way before me; now therefore, if it is wicked in your eyes, I shall return.”
- Numbers 22:35
וַיֹּאמֶר מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה אֶל־בִּלְעָם לֵךְ עִם־הָאֲנָשִׁים וְאֶפֶס אֶת־הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ אֹתוֹ תְדַבֵּר וַיֵּלֶךְ בִּלְעָם עִם־שָׂרֵי בָלָק׃
But the angel of GOD said to Balaam, “Go with the men. But you must say nothing except what I tell you.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s dignitaries.
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר מַלְאֲכָא דַּייָ לְבִלְעָם אִיזֵיל עִם גּוּבְרַיָּא וּבְרַם יָת פִּתְגָמָא דַּאֲמַלֵּיל עִמָּךְ יָתֵיהּ תְּמַלֵּיל וַאֲזַל בִּלְעָם עִם רַבְרְבֵי בָלָק׃
The angel of Adonoy said to Bil’am: “Go with the men, but only the word that I will speak to you shall you speak” Bil’am then continued to go with Balak's dignitaries.
- Numbers 22:36
וַיִּשְׁמַע בָּלָק כִּי בָא בִלְעָם וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרָאתוֹ אֶל־עִיר מוֹאָב אֲשֶׁר עַל־גְּבוּל אַרְנֹן אֲשֶׁר בִּקְצֵה הַגְּבוּל׃
When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at Ir-moab, which is on the Arnon border, at its farthest point.
Targum Onkelos
וּשְׁמַע בָּלָק אֲרֵי אֲתָא בִלְעָם וּנְפַק לְקַדָּמוּתֵיהּ לְקַרְתָּא דְּמוֹאָב דְּעַל תְּחוּם אַרְנוֹן דְּבִסְטַר תְּחוּמָא׃
When Balak heard that Bil’am was coming, he went out to meet him, to the city of Moav, which is on the boundary of Arnon—at the very edge of the boundary.
- Numbers 22:37
וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל־בִּלְעָם הֲלֹא שָׁלֹחַ שָׁלַחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לִקְרֹא־לָךְ לָמָּה לֹא־הָלַכְתָּ אֵלָי הַאֻמְנָם לֹא אוּכַל כַּבְּדֶךָ׃
Balak said to Balaam, “When I first sent to invite you, why didn’t you come to me? Am I really unable to reward you?”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר בָּלָק לְבִלְעָם הֲלָא מִשְׁלָח שְׁלַחִית לְוָתָךְ לְמִקְרֵי לָךְ לְמָא לָא אֲתֵיתָא לְוָתִי הַבְּקוּשְׁטָא הֲוֵיתָא אָמַר לֵית אֲנָא יָכֵיל לְיַקָּרוּתָךְ׃
Balak said to Bil’am: “Did I not send so many [dignitaries] to invite you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really [can you truthfully say that I am] incapable of honoring you?”
- Numbers 22:38
וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל־בָּלָק הִנֵּה־בָאתִי אֵלֶיךָ עַתָּה הֲיָכֹל אוּכַל דַּבֵּר מְאוּמָה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים אֱלֹהִים בְּפִי אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּר׃
But Balaam said to Balak, “And now that I have come to you, have I the power to speak freely? I can utter only the word that God puts into my mouth.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר בִּלְעָם לְבָלָק הָא אֲתֵיתִי לְוָתָךְ כְּעַן הֲמֵיכָל יָכֵילְנָא לְמַלָּלָא מִדָּעַם פִּתְגָמָא דִּישַׁוֵּי יְיָ בְּפוּמִּי יָתֵיהּ אֲמַלֵּיל׃
Bil’am replied to Balak: “Now that I have come to you, have I any power to say anything? Only the word that God puts in my mouth will I speak.”