Numbers 23:1-12

Balaam’s First Message

1 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”

2 Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.

4 God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

5 The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”

6 So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.

7 Then Balaam spoke his message: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’

8 How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?

9 From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!”

11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”

12 He answered, “Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

Numbers 23:1-12 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

• 1. S Numbers 22:40
• 2. ver 14,30
• 3. ver 15
• 4. ver 16
• 5. S Exodus 4:12; Isaiah 59:21; Deuteronomy 18:18; Jeremiah 1:9
• 6. S Exodus 4:15
• 7. S Numbers 22:20
• 8. ver 17
• 9. Numbers 22:5; Joshua 24:9
• 10. ver 18; Numbers 24:3,21; 2 Samuel 23:1
• 11. 2 Kings 5:1
• 12. S Genesis 24:10
• 13. S Numbers 22:6; Nehemiah 13:2; Deuteronomy 23:4
• 14. Numbers 22:12
• 15. ver 20; Isaiah 43:13
• 16. Numbers 22:41
• 17. S Exodus 33:16; S Deuteronomy 32:8; Deuteronomy 33:28
• 18. S Genesis 13:16
• 19. Psalms 16:3; Psalms 116:15; Isaiah 57:1
• 20. Psalms 37:37
• 21. S Numbers 22:6
• 22. Numbers 24:10; Joshua 24:10; Nehemiah 13:2
• 23. S Numbers 22:18,20; Numbers 22:20,38