Numbers 22:18

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.

Numbers 24:13

24:13 ‘If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond 4  the commandment 5  of the Lord to do either good or evil of my own will, 6  but whatever the Lord tells me I must speak’?

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 tn Heb “I am not able to go beyond.”

5 tn Heb “mouth.”

6 tn Heb “from my heart.”