Numbers 22:11

11 'Look! A people went out from Egypt. Look! They cover {the surface of the land}. Now, go, curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to attack them and drive them out."

Numbers 22:11 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:11

Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt
In this, and the following part of the verse, he faithfully and punctually relates the words of Balak to him by his messengers, as well knowing he could not deceive the omniscient God, or hide anything from him, though he could deceive men; and conceal the truth from them, to serve a purpose; (See Gill on Numbers 22:5) (See Gill on Numbers 22:6).

Numbers 22:11 In-Context

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

10 And Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent [word] to me,

11 'Look! A people went out from Egypt. Look! They cover {the surface of the land}. Now, go, curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to attack them and drive them out."

12 God said to Balaam, "You will not go with them; you will not curse the people, because they [are] blessed."

13 Balaam got up in the morning, and he said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your land, because Yahweh refused to allow me to go with you."

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "the eye of the land"
• [b]. Hebrew "him"
• [c]. Hebrew "him"
• [d]. Hebrew "him"