22:18 Balaam replied 1 to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment 2 of the Lord my God 3 to do less or more.
22:22 Then God’s anger was kindled 4 because he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose 5 him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.
1 tn Heb “answered and said.”
2 tn Heb “mouth.”
3 sn In the light of subsequent events one should not take too seriously that Balaam referred to Yahweh as his God. He is referring properly to the deity for which he is acting as the agent.
4 sn God’s anger now seems to contradict the permission he gave Balaam just before this. Some commentators argue that God’s anger is a response to Balaam’s character in setting out – which the Bible does not explain. God saw in him greed and pleasure for the riches, which is why he was so willing to go.
5 tn The word is שָׂטָן (satan, “to be an adversary, to oppose”).
6 tn Heb “eyes.”
7 tn The verb is the Hiphil jussive from עָבַר (’avar, “to cross over”). The idea of “cause to cross” or “make us cross” might be too harsh, but “take across” with the rest of the nation is what they are trying to avoid.
8 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.