Numbers 23:21-30

21 He has not saw iniquity in Ya`akov; Neither has he seen perverseness in Yisra'el: The LORD his God is with him, The shout of a king is among them
22 God brings them forth out of Mitzrayim; He has as it were the strength of the wild-ox.
23 Surely there is no enchantment with Ya`akov; Neither is there any divination with Yisra'el: Now shall it be said of Ya`akov and of Yisra'el, What has God done!
24 Behold, the people rises up as a lioness, As a lion does he lift himself up: He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, Drink the blood of the slain.
25 Balak said to Bil`am, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
26 But Bil`am answered Balak, Didn't I tell you, saying, All that the LORD speaks, that I must do?
27 Balak said to Bil`am, Come now, I will take you to another place; peradventure it will please God that you may curse me them from there.
28 Balak took Bil`am to the top of Pe`or, that looks down on the desert.
29 Bil`am said to Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bulls and seven rams.
30 Balak did as Bil`am had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

Numbers 23:21-30 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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.