Numbers 23:22

22 "¹God brings them out of Egypt, He is for them like the ²horns of the wild ox.

Numbers 23:22 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 23:22

God brought them out of Egypt
With a mighty hand and stretched out arm, and he will conduct them through the wilderness, and bring them safe to Canaan's land; he that brought them from thence will not suffer them to perish by any means; it is in vain to attempt to curse a people that is in such hands, and for whom he has done such great things: Jarchi thinks this stands opposed to what Balak had said, ( Numbers 22:5 ) , thou sayest, "lo, a people is come out of Egypt";

``they did not come out of themselves, but God brought them:''

he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn;
that is, not God, but the people he brought out of Egypt, being a mighty people, able to push their enemies and subdue them, being numerous and strong, especially as strengthened by the mighty God of Jacob; and therefore their strength is expressed by the strength of this creature; for be it what it will, whether the rhinoceros or the wild ox, or one kind of goats, as Bochart ^F12 thinks; whatever is meant by the term here must be a strong creature, see ( Deuteronomy 33:17 ) ( Job 39:10 Job 39:11 ) and great is the strength of the spiritual Israel of God, which they have from him to exercise grace, perform duty, withstand and overcome all their spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, and the world.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 3. c. 27. col. 965.

Numbers 23:22 In-Context

20 "Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.

21 "He has not observed misfortune in Jacob; Nor has He seen trouble in Israel; The LORD his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them

22 "God brings them out of Egypt, He is for them like the horns of the wild ox.

23 "For there is no omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done!

24 "Behold, a people rises like a lioness, And as a lion it lifts itself; It will not lie down until it devours the prey, And drinks the blood of the slain."

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 24:8
• 2. Deuteronomy 33:17