Numbers 23:20-30

20 "Behold, I have received a command to bless; 1When He has blessed, then 2I cannot revoke it.
21 "3He has not observed misfortune in Jacob; 4Nor has He seen trouble in Israel; 5The LORD his God is with him, 6And the shout of a king is among them
22 "7God brings them out of Egypt, He is for them like the 8horns of the wild ox.
23 "9For there is no omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done!
24 "10Behold, a people rises like a lioness, And as a lion it lifts itself; It will not lie down until it devours 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 replied to Balak, "Did I not tell you, '11Whatever * the LORD speaks, that I must do '?"
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Please come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will be agreeable with God that you curse them for me from there."
28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor which overlooks * * the wasteland.
29 Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here."
30 Balak did just as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 23:20-30 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.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Genesis 12:2; Genesis 22:17; Numbers 22:12
  • 2. Isaiah 43:13
  • 3. Num 14:18, 19, 34; Psalms 32:2, 5
  • 4. Deuteronomy 9:24; Deuteronomy 32:5; Jeremiah 50:20
  • 5. Exodus 3:12; Deuteronomy 31:23
  • 6. Deuteronomy 33:5; Psalms 89:15-18
  • 7. Numbers 24:8
  • 8. Deuteronomy 33:17
  • 9. Numbers 22:7; Numbers 24:1; Joshua 13:22
  • 10. Genesis 49:9; Nahum 2:11, 12
  • 11. Numbers 22:18

Footnotes 4

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