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Numbers 22:5-15

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5 So he sent messengers to 1Balaam the son of Beor, at 2Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite * me.
6 "3Now, therefore, please come, 4curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for 5divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him.
8 He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me." And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 Then 6God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"
10 Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me,
11 'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.' "
12 God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; 7you shall not curse the people, for they 8are blessed."
13 So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."
14 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
15 Then Balak again * sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.
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Numbers 22:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 22

The children of Israel being come into the plains of Moab, put the king of Moab into a panic, who expressed his fears to the elders of Midian, Nu 22:1-4 and sent for Balaam the soothsayer to curse the people of Israel, but he, upon consulting the Lord refused to come, Nu 22:5-14, on which the king of Moab sent to him a second time, making large promises of preferment to him, and who at this time got leave from the Lord to go with the messengers, Nu 22:15-21, but was met with in the way by an angel of the Lord, who would have slain him had it not been for his ass, of which a very wonderful revelation is given, Nu 22:22-35, and the chapter is closed with the interview between Balak king of Moab and Balaam, and an account of what passed between them, and what was done by them, Nu 22:36-41.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 8

  • 1. Joshua 24:9; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11
  • 2. Deuteronomy 23:4
  • 3. Numbers 22:17; Numbers 23:7, 8
  • 4. Numbers 22:12; Numbers 24:9
  • 5. Numbers 23:23; Numbers 24:1; Joshua 13:22
  • 6. Genesis 20:3
  • 7. Numbers 23:8; Numbers 24:9
  • 8. Genesis 12:2; Genesis 22:17

Footnotes 5

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.