The leaders of the people living in the area of Gilead said, “Whoever leads us in the attack against the people of Ammon will become the head of all the people living in Gilead.”
Balak heard that Balaam was coming. So Balak went out to meet him at the Moabite town [287] near the Arnon River. This was at the northern border of his country.
“The Lord told me, ‘Get ready to go across Arnon Valley. I will let you defeat Sihon the Amorite, the king of Heshbon. I will let you take his country. So fight against him and take his land.
“The Lord said to me, ‘Don’t bother the people of Moab. Don’t start a war against them. I will not give you any of their land. They are the descendants of Lot, [11] and I gave them the city of Ar.’”