As he listened to the prophet's words Balak was overwhelmed with disappointed hope, with fear and rage. He was indignant that Balaam could have given him the least encouragement of a favorable response, when everything was determined against him. He regarded with scorn the prophet's compromising, deceptive course. The king exclaimed fiercely, "Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor." The answer was 451 that the king had been forewarned that Balaam could speak only the message given him from God.

Da Balak lyttede til profetens ord, blev han grebet af skuffelse, frygt og raseri. Han var vred over, at Bileam ikke gav ham den mindste smule opmuntring, når alting skulle gå ham imod. Han foragtede profetens bedrageriske fremgangsmåde og så ned på ham, fordi han var gået på akkord. Kongen sagde vredt: "Skynd dig derhen, hvor du kom fra! Jeg lovede dig rigelig løn, men nu har Herren unddraget dig den!" Bileam svarede, at han havde fortalt kongen på forhånd, at han kun kunne bringe det budskab, som Gud gav ham.