Numbers 23:18

18 Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Balak, rise up and listen. Son of Zippor, hear me.

Numbers 23:18 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 23:18

And he took up his parable
Pronounced the word put into his mouth,

and said, rise up Balak, and hear;
not from his seat, as Eglon a successor of his did, ( Judges 3:20 ) for he was now standing by his burnt offering; but the sense is, that he would raise his attention, and stir up himself with all diligence to hear what he was about to say:

hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor;
or to his word, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, which follow.

Numbers 23:18 In-Context

16 The LORD met with Balaam. He put a message in Balaam's mouth. The LORD said, "Go back to Balak. Give him my message."

17 So he went to him. He found him standing beside his offering. The princes of Moab were with him. Balak asked him, "What did the LORD say?"

18 Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, "Balak, rise up and listen. Son of Zippor, hear me.

19 God isn't a mere man. He can't lie. He isn't a human being. He doesn't change his mind. He speaks, and then he acts. He makes a promise, and then he keeps it

20 He has commanded me to bless Israel. He has given them his blessing. And I can't change it.