A second delegation of officials arrives with an urgent and complex message, revealing a shift in political and personal strategy. The Moabite king now demands that the prophet not hold himself back from making the journey [רש״ר הירש, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. During the first mission, the goal was to travel directly to the Israelite camp to issue a curse. Recognizing that God forbade that specific journey alongside the first messengers, the king changes his approach. He now asks the prophet to simply travel to him, using any route he prefers. The hope is that once the prophet arrives, he can be persuaded to perform the curse [העמק דבר].
This new approach effectively splits the king's appeal into two distinct requests: physical presence and the actual curse. At this time, the king's political standing is unstable, and the initial public refusal severely damaged his honor. He therefore begs for the prophet to appear merely as a sign of respect, even if no curse is ultimately placed upon the Israelites. This separation explains why God later permits the journey to take place—satisfying the request for an honorable visit—while still strictly forbidding the curse. In the first instance, the journey was entirely forbidden because its sole purpose was to curse [רש״ר הירש, קונטרס חיבה יתירה].
As negotiations continue, a deep miscommunication unfolds between the two parties. The messengers assume the initial refusal was driven by pride and a desire for greater prestige, so they urge the prophet to accept the honor currently offered without further resistance. Unaware that the messengers suspect he invented God's prohibition, the prophet believes they are asking him to intentionally defy God. Consequently, he feels forced to clarify that despite his own wicked inclination to rebel against God, he lacks the free will to violate His word [אור החיים].
Beneath the appeals to honor lies a veiled threat and a subtle claim to magical supremacy. By invoking the king's full name, the messengers signal that the prophet must comply not only out of respect for the crown but because the king possesses superior knowledge of magical secrets. Furthermore, the officials deliver a hidden warning: if the prophet refuses to make the journey, the king will personally come to him, bringing the power to cause severe harm [שפתי כהן].