Albert Barnes Commentary Numbers 22:32

"And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:" — Numbers 22:32 (ASV)

Is perverse - Rather, is headlong. Compare Peter’s words (2 Peter 2:16), the madness of the prophet.