1Balaam now realized that Yahweh wanted to bless the Israeli people, not curse them. So he did not use magic/divination like a shaman would do to find out what Yahweh wanted, as he often did. Instead, he turned toward the desert.
2He saw the Israeli people camped there in their tents, with each tribe gathered in its own group. Then the Spirit of God took control of him,
3and enabled him to give this prophetic message to Balak:
4I hear this message from God;
5You descendants of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful;
6Your tents are spread out in front of me like groves of palm trees in valleys,
7Your water buckets will always be full;
8God brought the Israelis out of Egypt,
9The Israelis are like lions that crouch and lie down, ready to pounce on their prey [SIM].
10Then King Balak was extremely angry with Balaam. He showed with his hands that he was very angry, and he shouted at Balaam, “I summoned you here to curse my enemies! Instead, you have ◄blessed/asked God to bless► them three times!
11So now, get out of here! Go back home! I said that I would pay you a lot of money if you cursed them, but Yahweh has prevented you from getting any pay!”
12Balaam said to Balak, “Do you not remember what [RHQ] I told the messengers that you sent to me? I said,
13‘Even if Balak would give me a palace filled with silver and gold, I would not disobey Yahweh. I cannot do anything bad or anything that is good that he does not approve of.’ And I told you that I could say only what Yahweh says to me.
14So yes, I will return to my people, but first, allow me to tell you what will happen to you Moab people in the future.”
15So Balaam said this to Balak:
16I hear a message from God;
17The things that I see in the vision are not going to happen now;
18The Israelis will occupy Edom,
19A ruler who is a descendant of Jacob will come;
20Then Balaam looked out over where the Amalek people-group lived, and he prophesied this:
21Then he looked out over the area where the Ken people-group lived, and he prophesied this:
22but you will be wiped out
23Balaam ended his prophecies by saying,
24Ships will come from Cyprus Island,
25Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.