There was once a most cruel king [73] who persecuted God’s people. And
his power was passing great, and yet he could achieve nothing against
that people, for God loved them.
This king spoke with Balaam the prophet, and said: tell me, Balaam, how
comes this matter with my foes? Am I indeed more powerful than they,
and yet can do them no harm?
And Balaam answered: Sire, because they are God’s people. But I will do
in this way, that I will go unto them and will curse them, and you
shall attack them and shall win the victory.
So this Balaam mounted his ass, and went up on to a mountain.
The people were almost all down in the valley; and he went up to curse
them from the mountain [74].
Then the angel of God went before him, and did not let him pass. And he
pricked his ass, thinking it was frightened, and it spoke and said: do
not beat me, for I see here the angel of the Lord with a sword of fire
in his hand, and he will not let me pass.
Then the prophet Balaam looked and beheld the angel. And the angel
spoke and said: why are you going to curse God’s people. You shall
bless them straightaway, just as you desired to curse them, unless you
wish to die.
The prophet went and blessed God’s people, and the king said: what do
you do? This is not cursing.
And he replied: it cannot be otherwise, for the angel of the Lord so
bade me. Therefore, do in this way [75]. You have beautiful women: they
have a lack of them. Take a number of them and dress them richly and
set on their breasts a buckle [76] of gold or silver for an ornament,
on which let there be carved the idol which you adore (for he adored
the statue of Mars) and you will speak to them as follows: that they do
not yield unless the men promise to adore that image and figure of
Mars. And then when they have sinned, I shall be free to curse them.
And so the king did.
He took some fair women in that manner, and sent them into the camp.
The men were desirous of them, and they consented and adored the idols
and then sinned with them.
Then the prophet went and cursed God’s people, and God did not succour
them.
And that king gave battle, and defeated them all.
Wherefore the just suffered the penalty of those who sinned. They
repented and atoned and drove away the women, and became reconciled to
God and returned to their former freedom.