Numbers 22:16

16 They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak son of Zippor: "Do not let anything hinder you from coming to me;

Numbers 22:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 22:16

And they came to Balaam
Though men of such rank and dignity, they did not decline the embassy, being sent by their king; nor did they think it below them to wait upon this soothsayer:

and said unto him, thus saith Balak the son of Zippor;
representing their master, and addressing the diviner in his name, as his ambassadors; at the same time doing honour to Balak that sent them, of whom they speak respectfully, and to Balaam, to whom they were sent:

let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me;
no business, though ever so important, that might be upon his hands; nor any want of respect to him he might imagine; nor if the rewards offered were not thought sufficient; nor any persuasions of men to the contrary; and if it could be thought he knew anything of the prohibition of God, that may be included; so urgent was he upon his coming to him.

Numbers 22:16 In-Context

14 So the officials of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."
15 Once again Balak sent officials, more numerous and more distinguished than these.
16 They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak son of Zippor: "Do not let anything hinder you from coming to me;
17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do; come, curse this people for me.' "
18 But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Although Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.