- Numbers 22:39
וַיֵּלֶךְ בִּלְעָם עִם־בָּלָק וַיָּבֹאוּ קִרְיַת חֻצוֹת׃
Balaam went with Balak and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲזַל בִּלְעָם עִם בָּלָק וְאַעֲלֵיהּ לְקִרְיַת מָחוֹזוֹהִי׃
Bil’am went with Balak and they came to Kiryas Chutzos [the city of his territory].
- Numbers 22:40
וַיִּזְבַּח בָּלָק בָּקָר וָצֹאן וַיְשַׁלַּח לְבִלְעָם וְלַשָּׂרִים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ׃
Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and had them served to Balaam and the dignitaries with him.
Targum Onkelos
וּנְכַס בָּלָק תּוֹרִין וְעָאן וְשַׁלַּח לְבִלְעָם וּלְרַבְרְבַיָּא דְּעִמֵּיהּ׃
Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and he sent some to Bil’am and to the dignitaries that were with him.
- Numbers 22:41
וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר וַיִּקַּח בָּלָק אֶת־בִּלְעָם וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ בָּמוֹת בָּעַל וַיַּרְא מִשָּׁם קְצֵה הָעָם׃
In the morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see a portion of the people.
Targum Onkelos
וַהֲוָה בְּצַפְרָא וּדְבַר בָּלָק יָת בִּלְעָם וְאַסְּקֵיהּ לְרָמַת דַּחְלְתֵיהּ וַחֲזָא מִתַּמָּן קְצָת מִן עַמָּא׃
In the morning, Balak took Bil’am and he led him up to Bamos Ba’al [the high place of his idol]; from there he saw part of the people.
- Numbers 23:1
וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל־בָּלָק בְּנֵה־לִי בָזֶה שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת וְהָכֵן לִי בָּזֶה שִׁבְעָה פָרִים וְשִׁבְעָה אֵילִים׃
Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here and have seven bulls and seven rams ready here for me.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר בִּלְעָם לְבָלָק בְּנֵי לִי הָכָא שִׁבְעָא מַדְבְּחִין וְאַתְקֵין לִי הָכָא שִׁבְעָא תוֹרִין וְשִׁבְעָא דִּכְרִין׃
Bil’am said to Balak: “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”
- Numbers 23:2
וַיַּעַשׂ בָּלָק כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בִּלְעָם וַיַּעַל בָּלָק וּבִלְעָם פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ׃
Balak did as Balaam directed; and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
Targum Onkelos
וַעֲבַד בָּלָק כְּמָא דְּמַלֵּיל בִּלְעָם וְאַסֵּיק בָּלָק וּבִלְעָם תּוֹר וּדְכַר עַל כָּל מַדְבַּח׃
Balak did as Bil’am requested. Balak and Bil’am then sacrificed as burnt-offerings an ox and a ram on each altar.
- Numbers 23:3
וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לְבָלָק הִתְיַצֵּב עַל־עֹלָתֶךָ וְאֵלְכָה אוּלַי יִקָּרֵה יְהֹוָה לִקְרָאתִי וּדְבַר מַה־יַּרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָךְ וַיֵּלֶךְ שֶׁפִי׃
Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offerings while I am gone. Perhaps GOD will grant me a manifestation, and whatever is revealed to me I will tell you.” And he went off alone.
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר בִּלְעָם לְבָלָק אִתְעַתַּד עַל עֲלָתָךְ וַאֲהָךְ מָאִם יְעָרַע מֵימַר מִן קֳדָם יְיָ לְקַדָּמוּתִי וּפִתְגָמָא דְּיַחְזֵינַנִי וַאֲחַוֵּי לָךְ וַאֲזַל יְחִידָי׃
Bil’am said to Balak: “Stand beside your burnt-offering and I will go away. Perhaps, [a word from before] Adonoy will appear to me, and whatever He will show me I will tell you.” And he went away alone.
- Numbers 23:4
וַיִּקָּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל־בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֶת־שִׁבְעַת הַמִּזְבְּחֹת עָרַכְתִּי וָאַעַל פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ׃
God became manifest to Balaam, who stated, “I have set up the seven altars and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.”
Targum Onkelos
וְעָרַע מֵימַר מִן קֳדָם יְיָ בְּבִלְעָם וַאֲמַר קֳדָמוֹהִי יָת שִׁבְעָא מַדְבְּחִין סַדַּרִית וְאַסֵּיקִית תּוֹר וּדְכַר עַל כָּל מַדְבַּח׃
[A word from before] God chanced to appear to Bil’am, and he said to Him: “I have set up the seven altars and I offered [as burnt-offerings] an ox and a ram on the altar.”
- Numbers 23:5
וַיָּשֶׂם יְהֹוָה דָּבָר בְּפִי בִלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוּב אֶל־בָּלָק וְכֹה תְדַבֵּר׃
And GOD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak and speak thus.”
Targum Onkelos
וְשַׁוִּי יְיָ פִּתְגָמָא בְּפוּמָּא דְּבִלְעָם וַאֲמַר תּוּב לְוָת בָּלָק וּכְדֵין תְּמַלֵּיל׃
Adonoy put a message in Bil’am's mouth and He said: “Return to Balak and tell him as follows.”
- Numbers 23:6
וַיָּשׇׁב אֵלָיו וְהִנֵּה נִצָּב עַל־עֹלָתוֹ הוּא וְכׇל־שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב׃
So he returned to him and found him standing beside his offerings, and all the Moabite dignitaries with him.
Targum Onkelos
וְתָב לְוָתֵיהּ וְהָא מְעַתַּד עַל עֲלָתֵיהּ הוּא וְכָל רַבְרְבֵי מוֹאָב׃
When he returned, Balak was still standing next to his burnt-offering together with all the dignitaries of Moav.
- Numbers 23:7
וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר מִן־אֲרָם יַנְחֵנִי בָלָק מֶלֶךְ־מוֹאָב מֵהַרְרֵי־קֶדֶם לְכָה אָרָה־לִּי יַעֲקֹב וּלְכָה זֹעֲמָה יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
He took up his theme, and said: From Aram has Balak brought me, Moab’s king from the hills of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, Come, tell Israel’s doom!
Targum Onkelos
וּנְטַל מַתְלֵיהּ וַאֲמַר מִן אֲרַם דַּבְּרַנִי בָּלָק מַלְכָּא דְּמוֹאָב מִטּוּרֵי מַדְנְחָא אֵיתַא לוּט לִי יַעֲקֹב וְאֵיתַא תָּרֵיךְ לִי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
Bil’am set forth his parable, and said: “From Aram has Balak, King of Moav, brought me, out of the mountains of the east [saying]: 'Come, curse Yaakov for me; go, invoke wrath against Yisroel.
- Numbers 23:8
מָה אֶקֹּב לֹא קַבֹּה אֵל וּמָה אֶזְעֹם לֹא זָעַם יְהֹוָה׃
How can I damn whom God has not damned, How doom when GOD has not doomed?
Targum Onkelos
מָא אֲלוּטֵיהּ דְּלָא לָטֵיהּ אֵל וּמָא אֲתָרְכֵיהּ דְּלָא תָּרְכֵיהּ יְיָ׃
How can I curse, when God has not cursed? What Divine wrath can I evoke if Adonoy has not been angry?
- Numbers 23:9
כִּי־מֵרֹאשׁ צֻרִים אֶרְאֶנּוּ וּמִגְּבָעוֹת אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ הֶן־עָם לְבָדָד יִשְׁכֹּן וּבַגּוֹיִם לֹא יִתְחַשָּׁב׃
As I see them from the mountain tops, Gaze on them from the heights, There is a people that dwells apart, Not reckoned among the nations,
Targum Onkelos
אֲרֵי מֵרֵישׁ טוּרַיָּא חֲזֵיתֵיהּ וּמֵרָמָתָא סְכֵיתֵיהּ הָא עַמָּא בִּלְחוֹדֵיהוֹן עֲתִידִין דְּיַחְסְנוּן עָלְמָא וּבְעַמְמַיָּא לָא יִתְּדָנוּן גְּמִירָא׃
For I view it, from the mountain peaks, I gaze upon it from the hills; behold! A people which shall dwell alone [and are destined to inhabit the world] and will not be reckoned among the nations [not be judged for annihilation].
- Numbers 23:10
מִי מָנָה עֲפַר יַעֲקֹב וּמִסְפָּר אֶת־רֹבַע יִשְׂרָאֵל תָּמֹת נַפְשִׁי מוֹת יְשָׁרִים וּתְהִי אַחֲרִיתִי כָּמֹהוּ׃
Who can count the dust of Jacob, Number the dust-cloud of Israel? May I die the death of the upright, May my fate be like theirs!
Targum Onkelos
מַן יִכּוֹל לְמִמְנֵי דַּעְדְּקַיָּא דְּבֵית יַעֲקֹב דַּאֲמִיר עֲלֵיהוֹן יִסְגּוֹן כְּעַפְרָא דְּאַרְעָא אוֹ חֲדָא מֵאַרְבַּע מַשְׁרְיָתָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל תְּמוּת נַפְשִׁי מוֹתָא דְּקַשִּׁיטוֹהִי וִיהֵי סוֹפִי כְּוָתְהוֹן׃
Who can count the dust of [the house of] Yaakov [of whom it is said: they will multiply as the dust of the earth] or count the seed of Yisroel [or one of the four camps of Yisrael]? May my soul die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his.”
- Numbers 23:11
וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל־בִּלְעָם מֶה עָשִׂיתָ לִי לָקֹב אֹיְבַי לְקַחְתִּיךָ וְהִנֵּה בֵּרַכְתָּ בָרֵךְ׃
Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? Here I brought you to damn my enemies, and instead you have blessed them!”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר בָּלָק לְבִלְעָם מָא עֲבַדְתְּ לִי לִמְלָט שָׂנְאַי דְּבַרְתָּךְ וְהָא בָּרָכָא מְבָרֵיכְתְּ לְהוֹן׃
Balak said to Bil’am: “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies but you have in fact blessed them!”
- Numbers 23:12
וַיַּעַן וַיֹּאמַר הֲלֹא אֵת אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים יְהֹוָה בְּפִי אֹתוֹ אֶשְׁמֹר לְדַבֵּר׃
He replied, “I can only repeat faithfully what GOD puts in my mouth.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲתֵיב וַאֲמַר הֲלָא יָת דִּישַׁוֵּי יְיָ בְּפוּמִּי יָתֵיהּ אֶטַּר לְמַלָּלָא׃
Bil’am replied and said: “Only what Adonoy tells me must I be careful to say.”
- Numbers 23:13
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו בָּלָק (לך) [לְכָה־]נָּא אִתִּי אֶל־מָקוֹם אַחֵר אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶנּוּ מִשָּׁם אֶפֶס קָצֵהוּ תִרְאֶה וְכֻלּוֹ לֹא תִרְאֶה וְקׇבְנוֹ־לִי מִשָּׁם׃
Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place from which you can see them—you will see only a portion of them; you will not see all of them—and damn them for me from there.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ בָּלָק אֵיתַא כְעַן עִמִּי לַאֲתַר אָחֳרָן דְּתִחְזֵינֵיהּ מִתַּמָּן לְחוֹד קְצָתֵיהּ תִּחְזֵי וְכוּלֵּיהּ לָא תִחְזֵי וּתְלוּטֵיהּ לִי מִתַּמָּן׃
Balak then said to him, “Come with me to another place from where you will see them. But you will see only a part of them, without seeing them all, and curse them for me from there.”
- Numbers 23:14
וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ שְׂדֵה צֹפִים אֶל־רֹאשׁ הַפִּסְגָּה וַיִּבֶן שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת וַיַּעַל פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ׃
With that, he took him to Sedeh-zophim, on the summit of Pisgah. He built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Targum Onkelos
וְדַבְרֵיהּ לַחֲקַל סָכוּתָא לְרֵישׁ רָמְתָא וּבְנָא שִׁבְעָא מַדְבְּחִין וְאַסֵּיק תּוֹר וּדְכַר עַל כָּל מַדְבַּח׃
He took him [Bil’am] to the field of Tzofim, to the peak of the mountain; he built seven altars and sacrificed as a burnt-offering a bull and a ram on each altar.
- Numbers 23:15
וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־בָּלָק הִתְיַצֵּב כֹּה עַל־עֹלָתֶךָ וְאָנֹכִי אִקָּרֶה כֹּה׃
And [Balaam] said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offerings, while I seek a manifestation yonder.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר לְבָלָק אִתְעַתַּד הָכָא עַל עֲלָתָךְ וַאֲנָא אֶתְמְטֵי עַד כָּא׃
He then said to Balak: “Stand here next to your burnt-offering, and I will be called here by chance [will continue there].”
- Numbers 23:16
וַיִּקָּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־בִּלְעָם וַיָּשֶׂם דָּבָר בְּפִיו וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוּב אֶל־בָּלָק וְכֹה תְדַבֵּר׃
GOD became manifest to Balaam and put a word in his mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and speak thus.”
Targum Onkelos
וְעָרַע מֵימַר מִן קֳדָם יְיָ בְּבִלְעָם וְשַׁוֵּי פִּתְגָמָא בְּפוּמֵּיהּ וַאֲמַר תּוּב לְוָת בָּלָק וּכְדֵין תְּמַלֵּיל׃
[A word from before] Adonoy chanced to appear to Bil’am and placed the word in his mouth; He said: “Return to Balak and say as follows.”
- Numbers 23:17
וַיָּבֹא אֵלָיו וְהִנּוֹ נִצָּב עַל־עֹלָתוֹ וְשָׂרֵי מוֹאָב אִתּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ בָּלָק מַה־דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה׃
He went to him and found him standing beside his offerings, and the Moabite dignitaries with him. Balak asked him, “What did GOD say?”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲתָא לְוָתֵיהּ וְהָא מְעַתַּד עַל עֲלָתֵיהּ וְרַבְרְבֵי מוֹאָב עִמֵּיהּ וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ בָּלָק מָא מַלֵּיל יְיָ׃
When he returned, he (Balak) was still standing next to his burnt-offering accompanied by the Moavite dignitaries; Balak asked: “What did Adonoy say?”
- Numbers 23:18
וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר קוּם בָּלָק וּשְׁמָע הַאֲזִינָה עָדַי בְּנוֹ צִפֹּר׃
And he took up his theme, and said: Up, Balak, attend, Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!
Targum Onkelos
וּנְטַל מַתְלֵיהּ וַאֲמַר קוּם בָּלָק וּשְׁמַע אַצֵּית לְמֵימְרִי בַּר צִפּוֹר׃
Bil’am set forth his parable, and said: “Arise, Balak, and hear, listen closely to me [my word], son of Tzipor.
- Numbers 23:19
לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב וּבֶן־אָדָם וְיִתְנֶחָם הַהוּא אָמַר וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה וְדִבֶּר וְלֹא יְקִימֶנָּה׃
God is not human to be capricious, Or mortal to have a change of heart. Would [God] speak and not act, Promise and not fulfill?
Targum Onkelos
לָא כְמִלֵּי בְּנֵי אֲנָשָׁא מֵימַר אֱלָהָא בְּנֵי אֲנָשָׁא אָמְרִין וּמְכַדְּבִין וְאַף לָא כְעוּבָדֵי בְנֵי בִּשְׂרָא דְּאִנּוּן גָּזְרִין לְמֶעֱבַד וְתָיְבִין וּמִתְמַלְכִין הוּא אָמַר וְעָבֵיד וְכָל מֵימְרֵיהּ מִתְקַיַּים׃
God is not like man that He should act falsely, nor is He mortal that He should change His mind. [God’s word is not as that of man who speaks with deceit. Nor is it as that of mankind who decree and then change their mind] Would He say and not do it? Or speak and not fulfill it [He says and does, and His word endures]?
- Numbers 23:20
הִנֵּה בָרֵךְ לָקָחְתִּי וּבֵרֵךְ וְלֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנָּה׃
My message was to bless: When [God] blesses, I cannot reverse it.
Targum Onkelos
הָא בִרְכָאן קַבֵּילִית אֲבָרְכִנֵּיהּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְלָא אֲתִיב בִּרְכְתִי מִנֵּיהּ׃
Behold, I was commanded to bless, and [when] He has blessed, I cannot reverse it [turn my blessing from him].
- Numbers 23:21
לֹא־הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא־רָאָה עָמָל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ׃
No harm is in sight for Jacob, No woe in view for Israel. The ETERNAL their God is with them, And their Sovereign’s acclaim in their midst.
Targum Onkelos
אִסְתַּכַּלִית וְלֵית פָּלְחֵי גִּלּוּלִין בִּדְבֵית יַעֲקֹב וְאַף לָא עָבְדֵי לֵיאוּת שְׁקַר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מֵימְרָא דַּייָ אֱלָהֲהוֹן בְּסַעְדְּהוֹן וּשְׁכִינַת מַלְכְּהוֹן בֵּינֵיהוֹן׃
[Behold,] One does not see evildoers [there are no idol worshippers] in [the house of] Yaakov; and He has seen no transgression [nor is there the work of liars] in Yisroel; [the word of] Adonoy, his God, is with [aids them] him, and he has the King's friendship [and the Shechinah of their King is among them].
- Numbers 23:22
אֵל מוֹצִיאָם מִמִּצְרָיִם כְּתוֹעֲפֹת רְאֵם לוֹ׃
God who freed them from Egypt Is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
Targum Onkelos
אֵל דְּאַפֵּיקִנּוּן מִמִּצְרָיִם תּוּקְפָא וְרוּמָא דִּילֵיהּ׃
God Who has brought them out of Egypt, has shown His great strength to them [with His might and loftiness].
- Numbers 23:23
כִּי לֹא־נַחַשׁ בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא־קֶסֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כָּעֵת יֵאָמֵר לְיַעֲקֹב וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל מַה־פָּעַל אֵל׃
Lo, there is no augury in Jacob, No divining in Israel: Jacob is told at once, Yea Israel, what God has planned.
Targum Onkelos
אֲרֵי לָא נַחָשַׁיָּא צָבַן דְּיִיטַב לִדְבֵית יַעֲקֹב וְאַף לָא קַסָמַיָּא רָעַן בִּרְבוּת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּעִדָּן יִתְאֲמַר לְיַעֲקֹב וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל מָא עֲבַד אֱלָהָא׃
For, there is no sorcery in [sorcerers wish no good to come to the house of] Yaakov, nor occult powers against [nor greatness for the house of] Yisroel; in due time it will be said to Yaakov and Yisroel, 'What has God done?'
- Numbers 23:24
הֶן־עָם כְּלָבִיא יָקוּם וְכַאֲרִי יִתְנַשָּׂא לֹא יִשְׁכַּב עַד־יֹאכַל טֶרֶף וְדַם־חֲלָלִים יִשְׁתֶּה׃
Lo, a people that rises like a lioness, Leaps up like a lion, Rests not till it has feasted on prey And drunk the blood of the slain.
Targum Onkelos
הָא עַמָּא כְּלֵיתָא שְׁרֵי וּכְאַרְיָא יִתְנַטַּל לָא יִשְׁרֵי בְּאַרְעֵיהּ עַד דְּיִקְטוֹל קְטוֹל וְנִכְסֵי עַמְמַיָּא יֵירַת׃
Behold, a people that rises [dwells] like a young lion, and lifts itself up like a lion; he does not lie down [dwell in his land] until it devours its prey [slaughters the kill] and drinks the blood of its kill [inherits the wealth of nations].”
- Numbers 23:25
וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל־בִּלְעָם גַּם־קֹב לֹא תִקֳּבֶנּוּ גַּם־בָּרֵךְ לֹא תְבָרְכֶנּוּ׃
Thereupon Balak said to Balaam, “Don’t curse them and don’t bless them!”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר בָּלָק לְבִלְעָם אַף מְלָט לָא תְלוּטִנּוּן אַף בָּרָכָא לָא תְבָרֵיכִנּוּן׃
Balak said to Bil’am: “Also do not curse them, also do not bless them.”
- Numbers 23:26
וַיַּעַן בִּלְעָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־בָּלָק הֲלֹא דִּבַּרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֹתוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂה׃
In reply, Balaam said to Balak, “But I told you: Whatever GOD says, that I must do.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲתֵיב בִּלְעָם וַאֲמַר לְבָלָק הֲלָא מַלֵּילִית עִמָּךְ לְמֵימַר כֹּל דִּימַלֵּיל יְיָ יָתֵיהּ אַעֲבֵיד׃
Bil’am answered Balak and said: “Did I not tell you that all that Adonoy tells me will I do.”