Numbers 23:23-30

23 Because [there is] no sorcery against Jacob, and [there is] no divination against Israel. Now it will be said to Jacob and Israel, what God has done!
24 Look! [the] people will rise like the lion; he raises himself and will not lie down until he eats [the] prey and drinks the blood of the slain."
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, nor bless them at all!"
26 But Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Did I not speak to you, saying, 'Whatever Yahweh speaks I will do'?"
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Please, come, I will take you to another place; perhaps {it will be acceptable to} God, and you will curse for me from there."
28 So Balak took Balaam [to] the top of Peor, which looks down on the face of the Jeshimon.
29 And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me these seven altars, and prepare for me these seven bulls and seven rams."
30 Balak did just as Balaam said, and he offered a bull and a ram on [each] altar.

Numbers 23:23-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 23

This chapter gives an account of the sacrifices offered by Balak and Balaam, and how God met Balsam, and put a word into his mouth, which he delivered in the presence of the king of Moab and his princes, Nu 23:1-7, the substance of which are, the separate state and condition of Israel from other nations, their number, and the happiness of the righteous at death, Nu 23:8-10, which made Balak uneasy, since instead of cursing he blessed Israel, and therefore he had him to another place to take a view of the people, Nu 23:11-13 where having offered sacrifices, another word was put into the mouth of Balaam, and which he also delivered before the king and his nobles, Nu 23:14-18, in which were expressed the unchangeableness of God, the irreversibleness of the blessing of Israel, the strength, safety, happiness, and glory of that people, Nu 23:19-24 which made Balak more uneasy still; but willing to try him a third time, he carried him to another place, and there built altars, and offered sacrifices, the consequence of which is related in the next chapter, Nu 23:25-30.

Footnotes 5

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.