Balaam and the talking donkey God was angry with Balaam Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. Numb. 22:22 The donkey could see the Angel of the Lord even though Balaam could not and Balaam hit the donkey Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. Numb. 22:23 The Angel of the Lord stood in Balaam's way Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. Numb. 22:24 The donkey saw the Angel and pushed herself against a wall and hurt Balaam's foot and he hit the donkey again And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck her again. Numb. 22:25 The Angel of the Lord blocked the path so that there was nowhere to turn to Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. Numb. 22:26 The donkey saw the Angel again and lay down. Balaam got very angry and hit the donkey with his staff And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam's anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Numb. 22:27 The Lord made the donkey speak to Balaam and the donkey asked him why he had hit him three times Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Numb. 22:28 Balaam did not seem surprised to hear a donkey talk but instead he answered the donkey and accused him of hurting him which would be reason to kill the donkey And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!" Numb.22:29 The donkey expresses his history of loyalty to Balaam So the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?" And he said, "No." Numb. 22:30 The Lord allowed Balaam to see the Angel with a drawn sword standing in his way and Balaam fell on his face in submission Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. Numb. 22:31 The Angel spoke to Balaam and asked him why he had harmed the donkey and explained that he stood against him because his ways were perverse And the Angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. Numb. 22:32
The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live." Numb. 22:33
And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back." Numb. 22:34
Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. Numb. 22:35