Numbers 23:25

Balaam Relocates Yet Again

23:25 Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all ¹  nor bless them at all!” ² 

Numbers 31:10-11

31:10 They burned ³  all their towns ⁴  where they lived and all their encampments. 31:11 They took all the plunder and all the spoils, both people and animals.

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¹ tn The verb is preceded by the infinitive absolute: “you shall by no means curse” or “do not curse them at all.” He brought him to curse, and when he tried to curse there was a blessing. Balak can only say it would be better not to bother.

² tn The same construction now works with “nor bless them at all.” The two together form a merism – “don’t say anything.” He does not want them blessed, so Balaam is not to do that, but the curse isn’t working either.

³ tn Heb “burned with fire.”

⁴ tn The ban applied to the encampments and forts of this group of Midianite tribes living in the region of Moab.