en_tn_lite_do_not_use/num/22/02.md

# Balak son of Zippor

Balak was king of Moab. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

# Zippor

Zippor is the father of Balak. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

# Moab was very afraid of the people ... Moab was in terror of the people of Israel

These two phrases mean the same thing, and emphasize how afraid Moab was. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])

# Moab was very afraid

Here "Moab" refers to the people of Moab. AT: "All of the Moabites were very afraid" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# because they were many

"because there were many of them"

# The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian

The Moabites and the Midianites were two different groups of people, but the Midianites were living in the land of Moab at that time.

# This multitude will eat up all that is around us as an ox eats up the grass in a field

The way the Israelites will destroy their enemies is spoken of as if they were an ox eating up the grass in a field. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])

# Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time

This changes from the main story to background information about Balak. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])