⁵ He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, near the Euphrates River in ·his native land [or the land of Amaw]. Balak said, “A nation has come out of Egypt that covers the land. They have ·camped [^Lsettled] next to me, ⁶ and they are too powerful for me. So come and put a curse on them. Maybe then I can defeat them and ·make them leave [drive them from] the area. I know that if you bless someone, the blessings happen, and if you put a curse on someone, it happens.”

⁷ The elders of Moab and Midian went with ·payment [^Lfee for divination] in their hands. When they found Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.