參考版本 AFV  A  Faithful Version 的希臘文 2009版本   

耶和華的事，不謀利沒有版權

15. And Balak sent leaders again, more numerous and more honorable than those.

16. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak, the son of Zippor, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

17. For I will raise you up to very great honor, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then and curse this people for me.’ ”

18. And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God to do less or more.

19. But please now stay here also this night so that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”

20. And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise up, go with them. But only the word which I shall say to you, that you shall do.”

21. And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey, and went with the rulers of Moab.

22. And God’s anger was kindled because he went. And the angel of the LORD stood in the way as an enemy against him. And as he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants with him,

23. Then the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her back into the way.

24. But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side, and a wall on that side.

25. And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed herself into the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. And he struck her again.

26. And 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.

27. And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with a staff.

 (A Faithful Version)

15. 巴勒為此再差一批，人數比前多，地位也比前更為尊貴的。

16. 他們到巴蘭那裡，說：西撥的兒子巴勒這樣吩咐：他是極期望你的到來！

17. 你來，必會以極大禮儀迎接，只管吩咐，都照辦。請來，助我咒詛那些人。

18. 巴蘭回應眾使者：就算把滿屋的金銀給我，也不可能違背耶和華對我的吩咐，只會有話直說。

19. 你們今晚留在此，讓我求問耶和華的意思。

20. 夜間，巴蘭相信那位對他說：若這些人來發出邀請，可以隨他們回去，到時會告知當說的話。

21. 巴蘭這日早起，備上驢，與摩押使者回去。

22. 巴蘭自作主張，惹得耶和華不快。耶和華差使者站在路上，巴蘭正騎著驢往前，有兩僕人跟隨。

23. 只有驢子看見耶和華的使者站在路中，拿著刀，就走偏，往田裡去。巴蘭揮鞭打驢，期望趕牠回路面。

24. 耶和華的使者當時就在葡萄園的窄路中，兩邊都有圍欄。

25. 驢子看見有人擋路，就緊貼著欄邊走，為此把巴蘭的腳夾在欄柵上。於是巴蘭又揮鞭打驢。

26. 耶和華的使者又往前走，站在一處狹窄的地方；那裡左右都沒有路可以繞過去。

27. 驢子被人擋路，只有伏下，巴蘭騎在牠身上，不明所以，於是左右開鞭。

這是一段很微妙的反應，它是可以讓人了解耶和華與人的運作方式，這是摩西的經歷，將事件如實陳述，人就可以從中了解。

這事件有趣的地方是：為何不直接對巴蘭指示？

耶和華在晚間曾透過某種方式，例如夢與巴蘭溝通，告知他，等使者提出要求才會應，會與他們一起回去見巴勒。誰曉得巴蘭以為耶和華讓他可以去見巴勒，當中就差了一個步驟：回應行動在要求之後。

就這一個反應，在前或在後，它有不同的顯示。反應在前，顯示巴蘭有貪念。事實巴蘭有此心還是沒有？也許有也許沒有。它卻反映出一個事實，魯莽行事。這是大事，不能以自己的想法去反應。等候成了必要的操守。只是，巴蘭在此時刻，會聽到耶和華的聲音？不會。耶和華想出一個方法：讓驢子看見。

如果這個是耶和華與人溝通的方式之一，另一是在夢中提示，這種外在的干擾，它不按常理，似乎是有耶和華參與的結果：違反常規。人有識辨能力，能清心，就會看見，那是有耶和華的參與。

當時的巴蘭沒有這份心清，是因為有自己的意思要參與其中。

這事件有什麼揭示，耶和華有解釋當中的理由，下回分解。