And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam: Since the angel’s response here is unexpected, the conjunction And may be rendered “But” (Good News Translation).

Go with the men: The angel allows Balaam to continue his journey to Moab with the officials sent by Balak. Good News Translation says “Go with these men” for clarity.

But only the word which I bid you, that shall you speak is literally “And only the word which I speak to you, it you shall speak” (compare 1 Kgs 22.14). The Hebrew word for “it” emphatically refers back to “the word which I speak to you.” This instruction echoes the one used by God in verse 20 (see the comments there), except that it ends with the verb speak instead of “do.” New Revised Standard Version renders this sentence as “but speak only what I tell you to speak.” This command may imply that Balaam was inwardly harboring other intentions; perhaps he had become greedy after all (so Alter, page 799). The parallelism here between verses 20 and 35 also supports the interpretation of those who view this angel as having a divine character. Moreover, the story now moves on from Balaam and his donkey to Balak and Balaam, a prophet who, contrary to Balak’s will, can do only what the LORD tells him.

So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak: Good News Translation says simply “So Balaam went on with them.” However, this clause is a bridge to the next episode dealing with the interaction between Balak and Balaam, so it may be helpful to mention Balak again, the person who started the action in this story (see verses 2, 4-5, 15). For the Hebrew word rendered princes (sar), see verse 8 and 21.18.

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 .