1 Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
2 Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites.
3 And when the people of Moab saw how many Israelites there were, they were terrified.
4 The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!”So Balak, king of Moab,
5 sent messengers to call Balaam son of Beor, who was living in his native land of Pethor near the Euphrates River. His message said:“Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and are threatening me.
6 Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive them from the land. I know that blessings fall on any people you bless, and curses fall on people you curse.”