Numbers 24:11

11 {Flee} to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you."

Numbers 24:11 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 24:11

Therefore now flee thou to thy place
His own country, from whence Balak had sent for him, and he came; begone directly, make all haste away; he speaks as one so provoked, that he could not bear him in his presence, and as threatening him if he did not at once get out of his sight:

I thought to promote thee unto great honour;
to bestow much wealth and riches upon him, and to prefer him in his court to high offices of honour and dignity; he had promised that he would, and he thought as he said, he was determined upon it, had he performed as he expected:

but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour;
the Lord thou hast so much talked of, and at whose beck and command thou hast been, and by whom thou hast been checked and controlled, he has hindered thee from riches and honour; see what thou hast got, or rather lost, by hearkening to him, and how he will pay thee for it.

Numbers 24:11 In-Context

9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion, and like a lioness, who will rouse him? [They who] bless you will be blessed, and [they who] curse you will be cursed."

10 Then {Balak became angry with} Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed [them] these three times.

11 {Flee} to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you."

12 Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,

13 'If Balak gave to me the fullness of his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond {the command of Yahweh} to do good or evil, from my heart; what Yahweh speaks, I will speak'?

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "Flee for yourself"