Numbers 22:24

24 And the angel of the Lord stood in the avenues of the vines, a fence on this side and a fence on that.

Numbers 22:24 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:24

But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyard,
&c.]. Which were in the field into which the ass went, and before Balaam could turn her back she got into a narrow path, between the vineyards, as the Targum of Jonathan; a footpath which lay between them, or a footpath where foxes ran and had their holes, who used to lie near vineyards and among them, see ( Song of Solomon 1:14 ) however, it was a very narrow path, and here the angel placed himself, so that there was no passage for Balaam and his ass, at least not without great difficulty and danger; a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side;
and therefore there was no going out into the field, as before, to avoid the difficulty and danger; this being, as Jarchi observes, a stone wall that was on each side.

Numbers 22:24 In-Context

22 And God was very angry because he went; and the angel of the Lord rose up to withstand him. Now he had mounted his ass, and his two servants were with him.

23 And when the ass saw the angel of God standing opposite in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, then the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and smote the ass with his staff to direct her in the way.

24 And the angel of the Lord stood in the avenues of the vines, a fence on this side and a fence on that.

25 And when the ass saw the angel of God, she thrust herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and he smote her again.

26 And the angel of the Lord went farther, and came and stood in a narrow place where it was impossible to turn to the right or the left.