And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
So the leaders of Moab and the leaders of Midian left, carrying money to pay for fortune-telling. They went to Balaam and told him everything that Balak had said.
The writer is showing how the leaders carried payment for magical services to a prophet, delivering King Balak's message requesting help against Israel.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Israel's wilderness journey when they camped near Moab. King Balak of Moab feared Israel's military success and sought to hire Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse Israel. In ancient times, rulers commonly hired professional diviners or prophets to pronounce curses on their enemies, believing these spiritual pronouncements could influence battle outcomes.
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