Numbers 22:5-10

5 ¹sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor ²at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw,^[a] to call him, saying, "Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.

6 ³Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

7 So the elders of Moab and ⁴the elders of Midian departed with ⁵the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message.

8 And he said to them, "Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 ⁶And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"

10 And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

Numbers 22:5-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 22

The children of Israel being come into the plains of Moab, put the king of Moab into a panic, who expressed his fears to the elders of Midian, Nu 22:1-4 and sent for Balaam the soothsayer to curse the people of Israel, but he, upon consulting the Lord refused to come, Nu 22:5-14, on which the king of Moab sent to him a second time, making large promises of preferment to him, and who at this time got leave from the Lord to go with the messengers, Nu 22:15-21, but was met with in the way by an angel of the Lord, who would have slain him had it not been for his ass, of which a very wonderful revelation is given, Nu 22:22-35, and the chapter is closed with the interview between Balak king of Moab and Balaam, and an account of what passed between them, and what was done by them, Nu 22:36-41.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 23:4; Joshua 24:9; Nehemiah 13:2; Micah 6:5; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14
• 2. Deuteronomy 23:4; [Numbers 23:7]
• 3. Numbers 23:7
• 4. [See ver. 4 above]
• 5. [1 Samuel 9:7, 8; Micah 3:11]
• 6. [Genesis 20:3; Job 33:15, 16]

Footnotes

• [a] Or his kindred