Numbers 24:13

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own heart; but what the LORD saith that will I speak?

Numbers 24:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 24:13

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold
Which are the very words he said to the princes of Moab, ( Numbers 22:18 ) ,

I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or
bad;
for though here it is the "commandment", and there the "word" of the Lord, yet it is the same word in both places in the original text: indeed, here he omits the relation to the Lord he there claims, saying "my God"; and instead of "little or great", here it is "good or bad", but the sense is the same: and he adds, for explanation sake,

of mine own mind:
or out of my heart, which was disposed well enough to serve Balak, but was laid under a restraint by the Lord:

but what the Lord said, that will I speak;
and he had not only said this to the messengers, but to the king himself, and therefore he thought, that as he had openly and honestly told him this at first, he had no reason to be so angry with him; see ( Numbers 22:38 ) .

Numbers 24:13 In-Context

11 Therefore, now flee thou to thy place; I said that I would honour thee; but, behold, the LORD has deprived thee of honour.

12 And Balaam replied unto Balak, Did I not declare also unto thy messengers which thou didst send unto me, saying,

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own heart; but what the LORD saith that will I speak?

14 Therefore, behold, I go now unto my people; come and I will indicate unto thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15 And he took up his parable and said, Balaam, the son of Beor, has said, the man whose eyes are open has said,