Balak was disappointed and angry. He exclaims, “What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.” Balak thinks it is the grand appearance of the Israelites in their tents, which Balaam views from a high mount, that keeps him from cursing them. He thinks if he takes him to another place, where Israel will not appear to such advantage, he can obtain a curse from Balaam. Again, at Zophim, at the top of Pisgah, Balaam offered burnt-offerings, and then went by himself to commune with the angel of God. And the angel told Balaam what to say. When he returned, Balak inquired anxiously, “What hath the Lord spoken?” “And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath, as it were, the strength of a unicorn. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion. He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.” {1SP 323.2}

Balak blev skuffet og vred. Han udbrød: »Hvad har du gjort imod mig! Jeg lod dig hente, for at du skulle forbande mine fjender, og se, du har velsignet dem!« Balak tror at det er israelitternes storslåede syn i deres telte, som Bileam ser fra et højt bjerg, som holder ham fra at anklage dem. Han tror at hvis han tager ham til et andet sted, hvor Israel ikke vil unytte en sådan fordel, kan han få en forbandelse fra Bileam. Atter, i Zofim, på Pisgas top, ofrede Bileam brændofre, og så tog han selv ud for at tale med Guds engel. Og englen fortalte Bileam hvad han skulle sige. Da han kom tilbage, spurgte Balak ivrigt: "Hvad har Herren sagt?" "Da fremsatte han sit sprog: rejs dig, Balak, og hør, lyt til mig, Zippors søn! Gud er ikke et menneske, at han skulle lyve, et menneskebarn, at han skulle angre; mon han siger noget uden at gøre det, mon han taler uden at fuldbyrde det? se, at velsigne er mig givet, så velsigner jeg og tager intet tilbage! Man skuer ej nød i Jakob, ser ej trængsel i Israel; Herren dets Gud er med det, og kongejubel lyder hos det. Gud førte det ud af Ægypten, det har en vildokses horn. Thi mod Jakob hjælper ej galder, trolddom ikke mod Israel. Nu siger man om Jakob og om Israel: »Hvad har Gud gjort?« Se, et folk, der står op som en løvinde, rejser sig som en løve! det lægger sig først, når det har ædt rov og drukket de dræbtes blod."