1 And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and provide for me here seven bulls and seven rams."
2 Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.
3 And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps YHVH will come to meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a bare height.
The number seven indicates a completed spiritual cycle. The oxen and the ram represent the transition from the age of Taurus (the ox) to the age of Aries, (the ram). Spiritually, they represent the sacrifice of the lusts or carnal passions which these beasts also symbolize. Naturally, Balaam must seek a high place to speak to YHVH, for YHVH can only be reached from a high Spiritual Consciousness. Notice that Balak, the lower level of consciousness does not even attempt to contact YHVH.
4 And Gods met Balaam; and Balaam said to him, "I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered upon each altar a bull and a ram."
5 And YHVH put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak."
6 And he returned to him, and lo, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering.
7 And Balaam took up his discourse, and said, "From Aram, Balak has brought me, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: 'Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, denounce Israel!'
8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom YHVH has not denounced?
9 For from the top of the mountains I see him, from the hills I behold him; lo, a people dwelling alone, and not reckoning itself among the nations!
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his!"
Though Balak, the lower level of consciousness wants to curse the Israelites, who represent the developing, higher spiritual level of consciousness. Balaam, who is in contact with YHVH, his indwelling spirit, blesses the Israelites instead.
11 And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them."
12 And he answered, "Must I not take heed to speak what YHVH puts in my mouth?"
13 And Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place, from which you may see them; you shall see only the nearest of them, and shall not see them all; then curse them for me from there."
14 And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
15 Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet YHVH yonder."
16 And YHVH met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak."
17 And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has YHVH spoken?"
18 And Balaam took up his discourse, and said, "Rise, Balak, and hear; hearken to me, O son of Zippor:
19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
20 Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.