Kwasekwedlule iminyaka engaba ngu-40 ama-Israyeli esenkangala. Ayesenqobe amadolobho amanengi. Ngaleso sikhathi ayesefake amatende awo emagcekeni aseMowabi ngaphetsheya koMfula uJodani. Kwasekuyisikhathi sokuthi angene elizweni ayelithenjisiwe. Inkosi yaseMowabi uBhalaki yayisesaba ukuthi ama-Israyeli azathatha ilizwe labo. Yikho wacela eyinye indoda okuthiwa nguBhalamu ukuthi ibuye eMowabi izoqalekisa ama-Israyeli.

Kodwa uJehova watshela uBhalamu wathi: ‘Ungawaqalekisi ama-Israyeli.’ Yikho uBhalamu wala ukuya eMowabi. Inkosi uBhalaki yaphinda yamcela ukuthi abuye njalo yamthembisa ukuthi izamnika konke akufunayo. Kodwa uBhalamu waphinda wala ukuhamba. UNkulunkulu wasesithi: ‘Hamba, kodwa utsho lokho engizakutshela khona kuphela.’

UBhalamu waya eMowabi egade ubabhemi wakhe. Wayefuna ukuwaqalekisa ama-Israyeli lanxa uJehova wayemtshele ukuthi angenzi njalo. Ingilosi kaJehova yabonakala kathathu endleleni. Ubabhemi wayeyibona ingilosi kodwa uBhalamu wayengayiboni. Ubabhemi waqala waqonda egangeni, uBhalamu wamtshaya. Ubabhemi wasesondela emdulini wahluzulela unyawo lukaBhalamu emdulini, uBhalamu wamtshaya. Ekucineni ubabhemi walala phansi, uBhalamu wamtshaya futhi.

UJehova wacina esenza ukuthi ubabhemi akhulume. Ubabhemi wabuza uBhalamu wathi: ‘Ungitshayelani na?’ UBhalamu wathi: ‘Ungenze isithutha. Ngabe bengilenkemba bengizakubulala.’ Ubabhemi wamphendula wathi: ‘Usungigade okweminyaka eminengi. Ngiyake ngikwenze yini lokhu?’

UJehova wasesenza ukuthi uBhalamu abone ingilosi. Ingilosi yathi: ‘UJehova ukuxwayisile ukuthi ungawaqalekisi ama-Israyeli.’  UBhalamu wathi: ‘Ngiphambanisile. Kangisahambi eMowabi.’ Ingilosi yasisithi: ‘Ungahamba eMowabi, kodwa kumele utsho lokho uJehova azakutshela khona kuphela.’

UBhalamu wasifunda yini isifundo? Hatshi. Wazama ukuqalekisa ama-Israyeli kathathu kodwa uJehova wenza ukuthi awabusise. Ekucineni, ama-Israyeli ayihlasela iMowabi futhi uBhalamu wabulawa. Kwakungeke kumhambele kuhle yini uBhalamu aluba walalela uJehova?