Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water: and they hired against them Balaam, to curse them; and our God turned the curse into blessing.
And Balac, being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: I called thee to curse my enemies: and thou on the contrary hast blessed them three times.
Saying: Behold a people that is come out of Egypt hath covered the face of the land. Come and curse them, if by any means I may fight with them and drive them away.