And Balaam took up his discourse, and said: See verse 7a.

Balaam’s second prophecy in verses 18b-24 consists of eleven parallel couplets. Like the first oracle, this second one seems to divide into two parts (after the introduction in verse 18b, verses 19-20 and 21-24), with constituent segments that are also roughly in parallel: verses 19 and 21b-22 focus on God, the LORD; verses 20 and 23 focus on not cursing Israel; and verses 21a and 24 focus on blessing in Israel. See the comments on verse 7b concerning the need to translate Balaam’s oracles in a distinctive manner, that is, in a style (or genre) that highlights their prophetic function.

Rise, Balak, and hear: NCV renders Rise as “Stand up.” With this command Balaam tells Balak to pay attention since he is already standing, so NBV says “Pay close attention,” and Good News Bible has “Come.”

Hearken to me, O son of Zippor is literally “give ear to me….” The Hebrew verb for hearken comes from the same root as the word for “ear.” Bible en français courant and PV render hearken to me as “listen carefully to me,” but NBV is more poetic with “lend me your ear.” Son of Zippor is parallel with Balak (see 22.2).

With these two parallel lines Balaam prepares Balak to receive the next prophecy of the LORD.

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 .