Numbers 23:22-30

22 God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox.
23 There is no divination against[a] Jacob, no evil omens against[b] Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
24 The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims.”
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”
26 Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the LORD says?”

Balaam’s Third Message

27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.”
28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
29 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”
30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 23:22-30 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. Numbers 24:8; Joshua 2:10; Joshua 9:9
  • 2. Deuteronomy 33:17; Job 39:9; Psalms 22:21; Psalms 29:6; Psalms 92:10; Isaiah 34:7
  • 3. ver 3; S Genesis 30:27; Numbers 24:1; Joshua 13:22
  • 4. Numbers 24:9; Ezekiel 19:2; Nahum 2:11
  • 5. S Genesis 49:9
  • 6. Isaiah 49:26
  • 7. S Numbers 22:18,20
  • 8. ver 13
  • 9. Numbers 24:10
  • 10. Numbers 25:3,18; Numbers 31:16; Deuteronomy 3:29; Deuteronomy 4:3; Joshua 22:17; Psalms 106:28; Hosea 9:10
  • 11. S ver 2

Footnotes 2

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