The messengers returnt to Ba'lak with the news that Ba'laam would no come to him at this time. Their words were even more deceptive than those of Ba'laam, for they did not tell their master that the LORD had forbidden Ba'laam to come. This led the Mo'ab-it-ish king to believe that he would come later, and that he would curse Is'ra-el as requested. He suspected that Ba'laam was merely waiting until more money was offered him.
Then Ba'lak sent another group of messengers to Ba'laam. This delegation was larger, and its members were of higher rank than the first messengers. They came to Ba'laam and said, "Ba'lak urges that you come to him at once, and that you let nothing hinder you. He promises that he will give whatever you ask, if you will only curse the Is'ra-el-ites."
Ba'laam already knew that he must neither visit the king, nor curse Is'ra-el, but he let the messengers think that he would finally do both. He said to them "If Ba'lak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more."
He should have sent the messengers away at once, but he invited them to tarry with him, speaking as though he thought that the LORD would give him permission to curse Is'ra-el. The LORD knew that Ba'laam's heart had been turnt by his love of money, so He gave him permission to go with these messengers in order to teach him a much needed lesson.
As Ba'laam was riding an ass on the way to the place where Ba'lak lived, a miracle suddenly took place. The ass on which he was riding turnt aside into the fields, and Ba'laam angrily forced it back into the road. Again the ass turnt suddenly to one side, crushing Ba'laam's foot against a stone wall. Then it fell down, and was beaten severely by Ba'laam. All of these strange actions were caused by an Angel of the LORD, who was visible to the ass, but unseen by Ba'laam.
The ass then spoke in human language, saying, "What have I done unto thee that thou hast smitten me these three times?" Apparently not alarmed by the strange fact of having a dumb animal speak to him, Ba'laam answered, "Because thou hast mocked me, if I had a sword I would kill you." After the ass reminded him of its faithful years of service the LORD gave Ba'laam power to see the Angel standing in the highway with a sword in his hand. The Angel rebuked Ba'laam for his cruelty to the ass, and told him that if it had not turnt aside, death would have come to the prophet. The Angel also declared that God was trying to save him from the evil which lay in his heart. Ba'laam was permitted to continue his journey, but warned not to curse Is'ra-el.
