Why Balaam Hid God's Refusal from the Princes of Balak

"For the LORD refused to give me leave to go with you" (Numbers 22:13). He did not wish to tell them the words of the Omnipresent; rather, this is what he said to them: the Omnipresent desires my honor and commanded me not to go with them, for it is not to my honor that I go with them, because you are small men. Therefore those princes said to Balak, "Balaam refused to go with us" (Numbers 22:14). Once Balak heard this — that on account of this he did not go, because they were not great princes — Balak added still further to send princes more numerous and more honored than these, as it is said, "And Balak sent yet again princes" (Numbers 22:15). And Balaam thought that Balak would not add to send more princes, and [he reasoned] that thereby they would know that the Omnipresent had restrained him. And once Balak saw [this], he sent many and honored princes, and sent word to him that he would honor him greatly; [Balaam] began to say to them that it was not in his power, as it is said, "If Balak would give me [his house full of silver and gold]" (Numbers 22:18).