Numbers 22:31

31 And God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he sees the angel of the Lord withstanding in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and he stooped down and worshipped on his face.

Numbers 22:31 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:31

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam
Who either was struck with blindness, as the men of Sodom were, so some think, or rather his eyes were held, that he could not see the angel; he could see other objects, as his ass, but he could not see that; as Elisha's servant could see the host that compassed the city, but not the chariots and horses of fire about Elisha, till his eyes were opened, ( 2 Kings 6:15 2 Kings 6:17 ) and so it was with Balaam until the Lord uncovered his eyes, or rolled away the vail over them, or took that off which by his power and providence hindered his sight:

and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword
drawn in his hand;
in the same position as in ( Numbers 22:23 )

and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face;
from off his ass upon the ground, in reverence of the illustrious object before him, and through fear of being slain by his sword in his hand.

Numbers 22:31 In-Context

29 And Balaam said to the ass, Because thou hast mocked me; and if I had a sword in my hand, I would now have killed thee.

30 And the ass says to Balaam, not I thine ass on which thou hast ridden since thy youth till this day? did I ever do thus to thee, utterly disregarding ? and he said, No.

31 And God opened the eyes of Balaam, and he sees the angel of the Lord withstanding in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, and he stooped down and worshipped on his face.

32 And the angel of God said to him, Why hast thou smitten thine ass this third time? and, behold, I came out to withstand thee, for thy way was not seemly before me; and when the ass saw me, she turned away from me this third time.

33 And if she had not turned out of the way, surely now, I should have slain thee, and should have saved her alive.