Numbers 22:14

14 The princes of Mo'av got up, returned to Balak and said, "Bil'am refuses to come with us."

Numbers 22:14 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:14

And the princes of Moab rose up
And the princes of Midian also, immediately, without entering into a parley with him, to persuade him to go with them; perceiving by his answer that it would be to no purpose, and that he was determined to do as the Lord directed him:

and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us;
as Balaam told them less than what God had said to him, so they related less to Balak than what Balaam had said to them; saying nothing of the Lord's refusing to let him go with them, but represent it as a piece of pride and obstinacy in Balaam, and which Balak was left to understand; and it seems as if he did understand it as a piece of policy in Balaam, to get a larger offer of money or honour, or both, from him, and which the following account seems to confirm.

Numbers 22:14 In-Context

12 God answered Bil'am, "You are not to go with them; you are not to curse the people, because they are blessed."
13 Bil'am got up in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Return to your own land, because ADONAI refuses to give me permission to go with you."
14 The princes of Mo'av got up, returned to Balak and said, "Bil'am refuses to come with us."
15 Balak again sent princes, more of them and of higher status than the first group.
16 They went to Bil'am and said to him, "Here is what Balak the son of Tzippor says: 'Please don't let anything keep you from coming to me.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.