Numbers 22:36

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city^[a] on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory.

Numbers 22:36 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:36

And when Balak heard that Balaam was come
Messengers being sent to acquaint him with it, either by Balaam, or by the princes:

he went out to meet him;
overjoyed at the news that his princes had succeeded, and to show him respect, and do him honour, and all to encourage him to do his utmost for him:

unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the
utmost coast;
by the situation of it, being on the border of the river Arnon, which river was in the extreme parts of Moab, and divided between the Moabites and Amorites, it is generally thought to be the city Ar, called "Ar of Moab", see ( Numbers 21:13 Numbers 21:28 ) , and the king coming to meet Balaam so far as the uttermost border of his dominions showed the greater respect to him.

Numbers 22:36 In-Context

34 Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in Your sight, I will go back."

35 Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you." So Balaam went with Balak's officials.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory.

37 Balak asked Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?"

38 Balaam said to him, "Look, I have come to you, but can I say anything I want? I must speak only the message God puts in my mouth."

Footnotes

• [a]. Or at Ir-moab, or at Ar of Moab