But "the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him." The animal saw the divine messenger, who was unperceived by the man, and turned aside from the highway into a field. With cruel blows Balaam brought the beast back into the path; but again, in a narrow place shut in by walls, the angel appeared, and the animal, trying to avoid the menacing figure, crushed her master's foot against the wall. Balaam was blinded to the heavenly interposition, and knew not that God was 442 obstructing his path. The man became exasperated, and beating the ass unmercifully, forced it to proceed.

Men "Herrens engel stillede sig på vejen for at stå ham imod". Dyret så det guddommelige sendebud og gik ind på marken. Bileam havde derimod ikke set engelen. Bileam drev dyret tilbage til stien med grusomme stokkeslag. Herrens engel stillede sig nu, hvor vejen var smal og indhegnet af mure. For at undgå den truende skikkelse trykkede dyret sin herres fod ind mod muren. Bileam var blind for, at det var Himmelen, der lagde ham hindringer i vejen. Han vidste ikke, at det var Gud, der standsede ham. Han blev rasende og tvang dyret til at gå videre ved skånselsløst at slå det.