Therefore now flee to your place: Therefore renders the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”). Here it introduces what Balaam should do after the reasons given in the previous verse. NET Bible renders it well with the connector “So.” The Hebrew verb for flee (barach) in this strong command plays on the verb for “bless” (barak) in the previous verse. New Century Version provides a good model for this clause, saying “Now go home!”

I said, ‘I will certainly honor you’: Balak is quoting himself (see the comments on 22.17). The Hebrew for I will certainly honor you (literally “To honor I will honor you”) is almost the same as what his messengers said in 22.17 (“I will surely do you great honor”). Revised Standard Version has translated this clause in the two passages with the right level of consistency. New Living Translation uses indirect speech for the embedded quote, saying “I promised to reward you richly” (similarly Good News Translation), which may be more natural in some languages.

But the LORD has held you back from honor: This contrast in outcomes is stressed in Hebrew since it begins literally with “and behold.” The Hebrew word for “behold” (hinneh) is not translated by either Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation. Perhaps it could be expressed by beginning this clause with “But see now….” Balak seems to blame the LORD for Balaam’s loss, with a considerable measure of irony. He is saying something similar to “Look, this god in whose name you claim to speak has cost you your fee!” (so Ashley, page 495).

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 .