Why did Balaam say he couldn't curse Israel?
Jehovah was blessing Israel, so Balaam could not curse them. King Balak had offered him almost anything from his kingdom, and God had told Balaam not to do it, yet Balaam acknowledged that he could not curse those whom Jehovah was blessing.
Les explains that Balak, the king, offered Balaam almost anything he could take from the kingdom, but God immediately told Balaam, “don’t you do it.” Balaam conversed with Jehovah and finally said he could not curse Israel because Jehovah was blessing them. Balak became upset. Instead of simply telling Balak’s messengers there was nothing he could do, Balaam went with them, because he could not get the wealth of Moab out of his craw. He would do everything he could to bring the curse about. The New Testament later gives a perfect description of the man in three separate categories.