And now art thou anything better than Balak the son of
Zippor
king of Moab?
&c.] This argument seems to strengthen the conjecture, that
this king was king of Moab at this time, and so Balak was one of
his predecessors. Now he is asked, whether he thought he was a
wiser and more knowing prince than he, as to what was his right
and due; or whether he had a better claim, or any additional one
to the land in dispute the other had not; or whether he judged he
was more able to regain what belonged to him:
did he ever strive against Israel?
for the land they took away from Sihon formerly in the possession
of the Moabites? did he ever lay any claim to it, or enter into
any dispute, or litigate with Israel about it? not at all:
or did he ever fight against Israel?
that is, on that account; no, he sent for Balaam to curse Israel,
and sought to defend and secure his own country he was in
possession of, which he thought was in danger by the Israelites
being so near him; but he never made war with them under any such
pretence, that they had done him any injury by inheriting the
land they had taken from Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites.