The Bible Story Vol 2_w.pdf - Herbert W. Armstrong

" \ brought you here to curse Israel," Balak angrily reminded Balaam,
" Yo u sound ed as th oug h you were doing just th e opposite,"
your doing-espe cially when you consider the rich rewards that could be
yours?" (Verse 11.)
Balaam Speaks Dishonestly
"Don't I have to say what God told me to say?" Salaam asked.
"What else could 1 do?" (Verse 12.) Salaam intended these words to
soften the blow of God's prophecy and encourage S alak to keep trying to
bribe S alaam with bigger sum s of money.
Salak was discouraged by this answer, but, as Salaam hoped , he
didn't intend to give up . He reas oned that S alaam had been so awed by
the vast spread of Israe lites that he feared to ut ter a curse on them.
The Moabi te king quickly decided to take Salaam to another moun ­
tain from where only a part of Israel could be viewed. Salak was well
aware of how the camping Israelites appeared from all directions, what
with his spies having carefully watched them ever since they had come
out of the south.
Regardless of God's instructio ns that Salaam should speak only good
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