Números 22:40

40 Y Balac hizo matar bueyes y ovejas, y envió a Balaam, y a los príncipes que estaban con él

Números 22:40 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:40

And Balak offered oxen and sheep
Or "slew" ^F23 them, either for sacrifice; and if so Balak was the sacrificer, as it was common for kings to be priests; and then Balaam, who was sent for, was the prophet, that was to observe and explain any omen at the time of sacrificing, as Calchas did, when the chiefs of Greece sacrificed ^F24: or rather for a feast, as the following words seem to show; though it might be for both, it being usual, when sacrifices were offered to idols, to eat part of them in a festival way, in imitation of the peace offerings of the Jews, see ( Numbers 25:2 ) :

and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him;
either part of it to them, or he sent for them to come, and partake of the feast, he and the princes of Moab and Midian, that had been to fetch him, and still attended him; and this the king did in a way of rejoicing, being glad that Balaam was come, and as expressing his well pleasedness with the conduct of the princes, and their success, as well as to keep Balaam in high spirits, hoping to have his end answered by him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (xbzyw) "cuinque occidisset", V. L.
F24 Homer. Iliad. 1.

Números 22:40 In-Context

38 Y Balaam respondió a Balac: He aquí yo he venido a ti; mas ¿podré ahora hablar alguna cosa? La palabra que Dios pusiere en mi boca, esa hablaré

39 Y fue Balaam con Balac, y vinieron a Quiriat-huzot

40 Y Balac hizo matar bueyes y ovejas, y envió a Balaam, y a los príncipes que estaban con él

41 Y el día siguiente Balac tomó a Balaam, y lo hizo subir a los altos de Baal, y desde allí vio la extremidad del pueblo