He Beat His Donkey Three Times. Then the Donkey Spoke.

A prophet-for-hire named Balaam was riding off to curse Israel for cash, even though God had told him not to. An angel with a drawn sword stood in the road, invisible to Balaam — but the donkey saw it.

The donkey veered into a field. Balaam beat it. Then it crushed his foot against a wall. He beat it again. Finally it just laid down. Balaam beat it a third time.

Then the donkey opened its mouth and said, 'What did I ever do to you?' Balaam, somehow not fazed, argued back with the donkey.

Then God let Balaam see the angel — sword still out — who said, 'Your donkey just saved your life three times.' Balaam apologized. To the angel. And, presumably, to the donkey.