And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
The donkey saw me and turned away from me three times. If she hadn't turned away from me, I would have killed you by now and let her live.
The angel is telling Balaam that his donkey saved his life by refusing to continue forward when she saw the angel blocking their path.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Numbers, the Israelites were journeying through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, and King Balak of Moab feared their growing numbers, so he hired Balaam, a pagan prophet, to curse them. God directly intervened in Balaam's journey by sending an angel to block his path, which only his donkey could see, leading to the donkey's unusual behavior and preventing Balaam from proceeding into danger. This event highlights God's sovereignty in protecting His people and using ordinary means to reveal His will.
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