Balaam and the Talking Donkey
A pagan prophet's donkey sees the angel of the Lord and speaks, saving Balaam's life and leading to blessings instead of curses on Israel.
Numbers 22:1-41, Numbers 23:1-30, Numbers 24:1-25
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The Story
As Israel camped on the plains of Moab, King Balak was terrified. He had seen what Israel did to the Amorites and knew he could not defeat them in battle. So he sent messengers to Balaam, a prophet known for his powerful curses, offering rich rewards if he would come and curse Israel.
God came to Balaam in the night and said, 'You must not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.' Balaam refused to go. But when Balak sent more distinguished princes with promises of great honor, Balaam asked God again. God permitted him to go, but only to speak what God would tell him.
Balaam set out on his donkey. But the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him, sword drawn and ready. The donkey saw the angel and turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. The angel stood again in a narrow path between vineyard walls. The donkey pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot. He beat her again. Finally, the angel stood where there was no room to turn. The donkey lay down under Balaam, and he beat her with his staff.
Then the Lord opened the donkey's mouth. 'What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?' she asked. Balaam answered angrily, 'You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword, I would kill you!'
The donkey said, 'Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?' 'No,' Balaam admitted.
Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel with drawn sword. He fell facedown. The angel said, 'Why have you beaten your donkey three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is reckless. The donkey saw me and turned away. If she had not, I would certainly have killed you by now.'
Balaam confessed his sin and offered to go back. But the angel said, 'Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.'
Three times Balak took Balaam to overlook the Israelite camps, hoping for a curse. Three times Balaam opened his mouth and blessed Israel instead. 'How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?' he declared. His final oracle spoke of a star rising from Jacob and a scepter from Israel—a prophecy pointing to the coming Messiah.
Balak was furious, but God had turned the intended curses into blessings, protecting His people through most unexpected means—a speaking donkey and a pagan prophet who could only speak God's words.
The Donkey That Talked
Kids Version
The Israelites were camped near the country of Moab. King Balak was scared of them! 'There are too many Israelites! They'll eat up everything like locusts!' He knew he couldn't beat them in a fight, so he had a sneaky idea. He would hire a man named Balaam to put a curse on Israel.
Balak sent important messengers to Balaam with lots of money. 'Come curse these people for me!' But God told Balaam, 'Don't go. Don't curse Israel. I have blessed them!' So Balaam said no. But Balak sent even MORE important people with promises of great rewards. This time, God let Balaam go, but said, 'Only say what I tell you to say.'
Balaam got on his donkey and started his journey. But God was angry because Balaam's heart wasn't right. God sent an angel to stand in the road with a big sword! The donkey saw the angel and ran off the road into a field. Balaam got mad and hit the donkey.
They went on. The angel stood in a narrow path between walls. The donkey squeezed against the wall, hurting Balaam's foot. Balaam hit her again!
Finally, the angel blocked the whole path. The donkey just lay down! Balaam was furious and beat her with his stick.
Then something AMAZING happened! God made the donkey TALK! 'What did I do wrong? Why did you hit me three times?' The donkey was actually talking!
Balaam yelled at his donkey, 'You made me look foolish! If I had a sword, I'd kill you!' The donkey answered, 'Haven't I always been a good donkey? Have I ever acted like this before?' Balaam had to admit, 'No.'
Then God opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel with the sword! He fell down on his face. The angel said, 'Your donkey saved your life! She saw me when you didn't. If she hadn't stopped, I would have killed you!'
Balaam was sorry. He went on to meet King Balak, but every time Balak asked him to curse Israel, Balaam blessed them instead! God turned the curses into blessings. No one can curse what God has blessed!
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Scripture — Numbers 22:1-41 (KJV)
1And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: face: Heb. eye
6Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. I shall: Heb. I shall prevail in fighting against him
12And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16And 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: Let: Heb. Be not thou hindered from, etc
17For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak 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.
19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
20And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. upon: Heb. who hast ridden upon me ever since: or, ever since thou wast, etc
31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. fell: or, bowed himself
32And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: to: Heb. to be an adversary unto thee
33And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee , I will get me back again. displease: Heb. be evil in thine eyes
35And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth . Kirjathhuzoth: or, a city of streets
40And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
Memory Verse
“And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.”
— Numbers 22:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Balaam and the Talking Donkey” in the Bible?
A pagan prophet's donkey sees the angel of the Lord and speaks, saving Balaam's life and leading to blessings instead of curses on Israel. This story is found in Numbers 22:1-41, Numbers 23:1-30, Numbers 24:1-25.
Where is “Balaam and the Talking Donkey” found in the Bible?
“Balaam and the Talking Donkey” is found in Numbers 22:1-41, Numbers 23:1-30, Numbers 24:1-25, in the book of Numbers.
What can children learn from “Balaam and the Talking Donkey”?
This story teaches children about God's Sovereignty, Obedience, Divine Protection, Blessings. A king wanted Balaam to curse Israel, but God sent an angel to stop him. Balaam's donkey could see the angel when Balaam couldn't! Then God made the donkey talk! Instead of cursing Israel, Balaam blessed them.