Numbers 23:1-3 New English Translation

Balaam Blesses Israel

23 ^[a] Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” ²So Balak did just as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam then offered on each^[b] altar a bull and a ram. ³Balaam said to Balak, “Station yourself^[c] by your burnt offering, and I will go off; perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he reveals to me^[d] I will tell you.”^[e] Then he went to a deserted height.^[f]

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Footnotes

Numbers 23:1 sn The first part of Balaam’s activity ends in disaster for Balak—he blesses Israel. The chapter falls into four units: the first prophecy (vv. 1-10), the relocation (vv. 11-17), the second prophecy (vv. 18-24), and a further location (vv. 25-30).
Numbers 23:2 tn The Hebrew text has “on the altar,” but since there were seven of each animal and seven altars, the implication is that this means on each altar.
Numbers 23:3 tn The verb הִתְיַצֵּב (hityatsev) means “to take a stand, station oneself.” It is more intentional than simply standing by something. He was to position himself by the sacrifice as Balaam withdrew to seek the oracle.
Numbers 23:3 tn Heb “and the word of what he shows me.” The noun is in construct, and so the clause that follows functions as a noun clause in the genitive. The point is that the word will consist of divine revelation.
Numbers 23:3 tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive. This clause is dependent on the clause that precedes it.
Numbers 23:3 sn He went up to a bald spot, to a barren height. The statement underscores the general belief that such tops were the closest things to the gods. On such heights people built their shrines and temples.

New English Translation (NET)