> Tony did assert:
> >
> > I also found another way to look at the situation. Before reading
> > the passage next time, notice that it did NOT state that the men who where
> > staying with Balaam asked him to come with them in the morning. God
> > explicitly stated in the verses before that he had to be asked before he
> > went.
>
> From the Jerusalem Bible:
>
> Num 22:15-21:
>
> "And again Balak sent chiefs, more numerous and more renowned than the first.
> They came to Balaam and said, 'A message from Balak son of Zippor, Do not refuse, I beg
> you, to come to me. I will load you with honors and do whatever you say. Come, I beg
> you, and curse this people for me.' Balaam answered the envoys of Balak, 'Even if Balak
> gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the order of Yahweh
> my God in anything, great or small. Now please stay the night here yourselves, and I
> will learn what else Yahweh has to tell me.' God came to Balaam during the night and
> said to him, "HAVE NOT THESE MEN COME TO SUMMON YOU? GET UP, GO WITH
THEM. [emphasis
> added-mf]
Thus you have shown that my first response was right. The mis-
understanding here was because I was reading KJV. I should have read
more than one translation, sorry(I was in a big hurry. I did not have
very much time to look at it).
Tony Woodcock.
But you must do nothing except what I tell you." IN THE
MORNING BALAAM ROSE
> AND SADDLED HIS SHE-DONKEY AND SET OUT WITH THE CHIEFS OF
MOAB.[emphasis added-mf]
>
> From the NAS:
>
> "Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the
> former. And they came to Balaam and said to him, 'Thus says Balak the son of Zippor,
> Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; for I will indeed honor you
> richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for
> me.' And Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, 'Though Balak were to give
> me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great,
> contrary to the command of the LORD my God. And now please, you also stay here tonight,
> and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me.' And God came to Balaam at
> night and said to him, 'If the men HAVE [which they had-mf] come to call you, rise up
> and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.' SO Balaam arose
> in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab."
>
> From the KJV:
>
> "And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. And they
> came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I
> pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: For I will promote thee unto very great
> honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse
> me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak. If Balak would
> give me his house full of sliver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my
> God, to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that
> I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and
> said unto him, IF THE MEN COME TO CALL THEE [again, quite obviously they had-mf] RISE
> UP AND GO WITH THEM [emphasis added for Tony-mf]but yet the word which I shall say unto
> thee, that thou shalt do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and
> went with the princes of Moab."
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Okay Tony, here's your chance.
>
> Show us how you manage to get that ->"it did NOT state that the men who where
> staying with Balaam asked him to come with them in the morning. God explicitly stated
> in the verses before that he had to be asked before he went.<-
>
> You have three translations to choose from, or you may use your own.
>
> Yoel, which of the above translations best conveys the sense of the Hebrew?
> Does Tony have a leg to stand on, or is he just demonstrating once more his reading
> comprehension problems with his OWN language?
>
> Ciao.
>
>
> --
> Michael Fisher, ET1/SS USN ret., law student
>
> http://home.aol.com/Mfish6994
>
> * * *
>
> He that would make his own liberty secure,
> must guard even his enemy from oppression;
> for if he violates this duty,
> he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
>
> Thomas Paine
>