Numbers 22:15

"And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more. Now therefore I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word that I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do."

At this point Balaam had already compromised himself; and God gave his permission, in exactly the same manner as he granted Israel's request for a king. It was permitted, but it was still contrary to the will of God. Long before this, "Balaam should have dropped the matter, but he was lured on by the love of money."[11]

"If the men have come to call you ..." (Numbers 22:20). This is an idiomatic expression with the meaning, "Since the men have come to call you."[12] Balaam had already (by his actions) requested a higher reward, and Balak had responded with greater promises.

"Balak ... sent princes ... more, and more honorable ..." (Numbers 22:15). This means that the delegation was larger in size and that the delegates were even higher rank than those sent at first.

"I will promote thee, etc ..." (Numbers 22:17). Orlinsky stated that this means, "I will reward thee richly."[13]