^5 (A)sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor near the Euphrates River in the land of Amaw. They brought him this message from Balak: “I want you to know that a whole nation has come from Egypt; its people are spreading out everywhere and threatening to take over our land.

⁷ So the Moabite and Midianite leaders took with them the payment for the curse, went to Balaam, and gave him Balak's message.

^4 (A)They refused to provide you with food and water when you were on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor, from the city of Pethor in Mesopotamia, to curse you.

^14 (A)But there are a few things I have against you: there are some among you who follow the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak how to lead the people of Israel into sin by persuading them to eat food that had been offered to idols and to practice sexual immorality.

The People of Israel at Peor

25 When the Israelites were camped at Acacia Valley, the men began to have sexual intercourse with the Moabite women who were there. ² These women invited them to sacrificial feasts, where the god of Moab was worshiped. The Israelites ate the food and worshiped the god ³ Baal of Peor. So the Lord was angry with them