And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam: For the figurative Hebrew expression rendered anger was kindled (literally “nose/anger burned”), see the comments on 11.1.

And he struck his hands together is literally “and he clapped his palms” (Alter). This is not an expression of despair, and even less an appreciatory applause, which a literal translation might suggest. In line with the interpretation of Noth (pages 191-192), Good News Translation and Bijbel in Gewone Taal take it to be an expression of anger and make this clear by combining this clause with the previous one, saying “Balak clenched his fists in anger.” These translations change the bodily gesture in the Hebrew text to a gesture that expresses anger in Western culture. Such a translation strategy may be helpful in other languages. Balak was angry and had lost all his patience. Alternatively, the expression may be one of contempt or derision; that is how the expression is used in Job 27.23 and Lam 2.15 (so NET Bible footnote).

And Balak said to Balaam: In this context the generic verb said may be rendered “shouted” (New Living Translation).

I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times: As in 23.11 (see the comments there), Balak’s words to Balaam emphatically express his anger, frustration, and great disappointment. I called you to curse my enemies is literally “To curse my enemies I called you.” The Hebrew word for behold (hinneh) highlights the following statement. You have blessed them these three times is literally “to bless you have blessed [them] these three times.” The Hebrew verb for bless is repeated for emphasis, first as a finite verb and then as an infinitive absolute. A possible model for this whole sentence is “I called you here to curse my enemies. Instead, you have actually blessed them three times!”

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .