Numbers 22:14

14 The princes of Moab got up and went to Balak, and they said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

Numbers 22:14 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:14

And the princes of Moab rose up
And the princes of Midian also, immediately, without entering into a parley with him, to persuade him to go with them; perceiving by his answer that it would be to no purpose, and that he was determined to do as the Lord directed him:

and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us;
as Balaam told them less than what God had said to him, so they related less to Balak than what Balaam had said to them; saying nothing of the Lord's refusing to let him go with them, but represent it as a piece of pride and obstinacy in Balaam, and which Balak was left to understand; and it seems as if he did understand it as a piece of policy in Balaam, to get a larger offer of money or honour, or both, from him, and which the following account seems to confirm.

Numbers 22:14 In-Context

12 God said to Balaam, "You will not go with them; you will not curse the people, because they [are] blessed."
13 Balaam got up in the morning, and he said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your land, because Yahweh refused to allow me to go with you."
14 The princes of Moab got up and went to Balak, and they said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
15 Balak again sent many princes, [who were more] honored {than the former}.
16 They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak son of Zippor, 'Please, let nothing keep you from coming to me
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.