21 So Balaam rose in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 But their anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of YHVH took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the ass saw the angel of YHVH standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the ass, to turn her into the road.
24 Then the angel of YHVH stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
25 And when the ass saw the angel of YHVH, she pushed against the wall, and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck her again.
26 Then the angel of YHVH went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
27 When the ass saw the angel of YHVH, she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the ass with his staff.
This is a description of the conflict that arises within us at one or more times as we journey on the spiritual path. His conscience is again resisting the choice that he has made. The Hebrew commentators suggest that it is because God knows that he has changed his mind and does not intend to follow his guidance.
28 Then YHVH opened the mouth of the ass, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"
29 And Balaam said to the ass, "Because you have made sport of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you."
30 And the ass said to Balaam, "Am I not your ass, upon which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No."
31 Then YHVH opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of YHVH standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
32 And the angel of YHVH said to him, "Why have you struck your ass these three times? Behold, I have come forth to withstand you, because your way is perverse before me;
33 and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have slain you and let her live."
34 Then Balaam said to the angel of YHVH, "I have sinned, for I did not know that thou didst stand in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in thy sight, I will go back again."
35 And the angel of YHVH said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only the word which I bid you, that shall you speak." So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
The angel represents Balaam's conscience. Three times it barred his way. Three times he insisted on continuing his journey in the wrong direction. Finally, after the third time, he is at last able to see the angel and repents of his mistake. This is the threefold test of body, mind and soul which must be passed by every neophyte on his journey to Spiritual Initiation.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the boundary formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the boundary.
37 And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?"
38 Balaam said to Balak, "Lo, I have come to you! Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that Gods put in my mouth, that must I speak."
39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kir'iath-hu'zoth.
Again, Balak means spoiler or destroyer. Ballam means lord or gift of prophecy. Kiriath-huzoth means City of Divisions. When a negative level of consciousness, Balak, travels together with a gift of prophecy which is trying to follow the directions of his consciousness or Balaam, it indicates a struggle between two differing levels of consciousness. This is emphasized by their journey ending at a city or place of divisions.
40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam and to the princes who were with him.
41 And on the morrow Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-ba'al; and from there he saw the nearest of the people.
The high places of Baal, which means lord or master was also the generic name for God in many eastern parts of the world at that time. It was used to refer to God worshiped through the material or world of forms rather than the spiritual or formless. It is a limited concept of God. This is the highest concept of God that the Balak level of consciousness can conceive.