Numbers 22:13

Listen to Numbers 22:13
13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, ā€œGo to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you. ā€

Numbers 22:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:13

And Balaam rose up in the morning
With the impression of the dream upon his mind, and of what had passed between God and him in it:

and said unto the princes of Balak;
which shows what the elders were that were sent, of what honour and dignity, and may include both those of Moab and of Midian:

get you into your land;
as soon as you can; set forward on your journey, it is to no purpose to stay here:

for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you;
he only relates one part of the answer he had from the Lord, respecting his going with them, but says not a word of his being forbid to curse Israel, and of the reason given why he should not; had he reported this, in all probability it would have prevented any further application to him, and so any attempt to get this done, which Balaam seemed aware of; and therefore, by concealing this, hoped for fresh solicitations and entreaties, and that in time the Lord might be prevailed on to let him go and curse them; he having a covetous desire of riches, honour, and preferment, in Balak's court.

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Numbers 22:13 In-Context

11 ā€˜Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out. ā€™ā€
12 God said to Balaam, ā€œYou shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. ā€
13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, ā€œGo to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you. ā€
14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, ā€œBalaam refuses to come with us. ā€
15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
The Holy Bible, English Standard VersionĀ® (ESVĀ®) Ā© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025