Numbers 23:5-15

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?”

Balaam’s Second Message

13 Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.”

14 So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”

Numbers 23:5-15 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 Exodus 4:12; Isaiah 59:21; Deuteronomy 18:18; Jeremiah 1:9
• 2. S Exodus 4:15
• 3. S Numbers 22:20
• 4. ver 17
• 5. Numbers 22:5; Joshua 24:9
• 6. ver 18; Numbers 24:3,21; 2 Samuel 23:1
• 7. 2 Kings 5:1
• 8. S Genesis 24:10
• 9. S Numbers 22:6; Nehemiah 13:2; Deuteronomy 23:4
• 10. Numbers 22:12
• 11. ver 20; Isaiah 43:13
• 12. Numbers 22:41
• 13. S Exodus 33:16; S Deuteronomy 32:8; Deuteronomy 33:28
• 14. S Genesis 13:16
• 15. Psalms 16:3; Psalms 116:15; Isaiah 57:1
• 16. Psalms 37:37
• 17. S Numbers 22:6
• 18. Numbers 24:10; Joshua 24:10; Nehemiah 13:2
• 19. S Numbers 22:18,20; Numbers 22:20,38
• 20. ver 27
• 21. Numbers 22:41
• 22. S Numbers 22:6
• 23. S Numbers 21:20; Numbers 27:12
• 24. S ver 2