Numbers
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Numbers 22
Numbers 22
1And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
1And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
Commentary · verse 1
2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
2And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
Commentary · verses 2-4
Balak was the King of the Moabites. The Moabites came from Lot and his eldest daughter. These three chapters were referenced in Jude 1:11 because Balak was an example of someone who was destroyed because he was without reason.
5And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.
5He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Commentary · verse 5
Balak sent messengers to Balaam. The events concerning Balaam would continue to be mentioned throughout the Old Testament and even in 2 Peter 2:15, the Book of Jude, and Revelation 2:14.
6Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
6Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
Commentary · verse 6
Balak asked Balaam to curse the Israelites so that the Moabites could drive the Israelites out of the land. This chapter is the first reference of "Balaam" and apparently he was a man of reputation.
7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
Commentary · verses 7-9
God spoke to Balaam.
10And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.
10And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
Commentary · verses 10-11
Balaam told God the request Balak had made of Balaam to curse the Israelites.
12And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.
12And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
Commentary · verse 12
God denied this request because the Israelites were blessed. God also told Balaam not to go with the princes of Balak.
13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
Commentary · verses 13-14
Balaam obeyed God.
15And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.
16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 17for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
15And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
Commentary · verses 15-17
Balak sent more honorable princes that promised Balaam great honor.
18And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.
19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more.
20And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.
18And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
20And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
Commentary · verses 18-20
Balaam told the princes he would not be bribed. However, Balaam talked to God to see if God changed His plan. God told Balaam to go with the men if they called on him. This was an example of a "fleece." In Judges 6:16-17, Gideon used the same process to determine his future actions.
21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
21And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Commentary · verse 21
Balaam went with the princes of Moab on his own accord. Balaam was the third example referred to in the Book of Jude of deception among believers. Cain (Genesis 4) was the first and focused on attention from God. Korah (Numbers 16) was the second and focused on leadership/authority over people. Balaam was focused on the deceitfulness of riches. Balaam wanted to speak WHAT God told him to speak, which was a right WHAT. However, Balaam had a wrong HOW and WHY: he followed them in order to get riches.
22And God’s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
22And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
Commentary · verse 22
God was upset about Balaam's HOW and WHY, not about WHAT Balaam did.
23And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
23And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
Commentary · verse 23
Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way. Balaam responded physically ("smote the ass") to not being able to accomplish his own HOW and WHY.
24Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.
28And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
24But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
Commentary · verses 24-28
God opened the mouth of the donkey and had it speak to Balaam. We can tell it was God because it asked a question. God can initiate His Will on anything that does not have a will: inanimate objects, the weather, animals. This was why God was able to speak through the donkey. Interesting though, earlier in this story Balaam had no difficulty hearing from God. Was this the only way God was able to reach Balaam now that Balaam was doing his own plan?
29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.
30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
31Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
31Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
Commentary · verses 29-31
Balaam talked to the animal. After the animal asked two more questions, God opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the angel of Jehovah.
32And 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:
32And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
Commentary · verse 32
The angel stated that Balaam's way, his method, his HOW was perverse/wrong.
33and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.
34And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
33And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Commentary · verses 33-34
The angel then asked Balaam a question. Balaam confessed.
35And the angel of Jehovah said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
35And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Commentary · verse 35
God allowed Balaam to go with the men and warned Balaam about speaking anything other than what God spoke to him.
36And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.
37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?
38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
36And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
38And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
Commentary · verses 36-38
Balaam said he would only speak what God put in his mouth.
39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth.
40And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.
39And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath–huzoth.
40And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
The Israelites rested in the plains of Moab, by Jericho. This began the third and final part of the Book of Numbers: the events that occurred in preparation for passing over the Jordan River.