Bilangan 22:7

22:7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported ¹  to him the words of Balak.

Bilangan 23:23

23:23 For there is no spell against ²  Jacob,

nor is there any divination against Israel.

At this time ³  it must be said ⁴  of Jacob

and of Israel, ‘Look at ⁵  what God has done!’

[22:7]  ¹ tn Heb “spoke.”

[23:23]  ² tn Or “in Jacob.” But given the context the meaning “against” is preferable. The words describe two techniques of consulting God; the first has to do with observing omens in general (“enchantments”), and the second with casting lots or arrows of the like (“divinations” [Ezek 21:26]). See N. H. Snaith, Leviticus and Numbers (NCB), 295-96.

[23:23]  ³ tn The form is the preposition “like, as” and the word for “time” – according to the time, about this time, now.

[23:23]  ⁴ tn The Niphal imperfect here carries the nuance of obligation – one has to say in amazement that God has done something marvelous or “it must be said.”

[23:23]  ⁵ tn The words “look at” are not in the Hebrew text but have been added in the translation for clarity.