Numbers 24:12
“Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,”
What does Numbers 24:12 mean?
Balaam is reminding Balak of a conversation that happened earlier, when Balak first tried to hire him to curse Israel. Even though Balak is frustrated (Balaam has now blessed Israel instead of cursing them), Balaam is pointing back to what he made clear from the start: he had told Balak's messengers that he could only speak what God put in his mouth. This is Balaam's way of saying, "You were warned. I told you this might happen." It's a moment of accountability, where Balaam is essentially saying he did his part by being upfront about his limitations, even if the result wasn't what Balak wanted.