Numbers 22:31-32

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw ¹the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.

32 The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why * have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was ²contrary to me.

Numbers 22:31-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 22

The children of Israel being come into the plains of Moab, put the king of Moab into a panic, who expressed his fears to the elders of Midian, Nu 22:1-4 and sent for Balaam the soothsayer to curse the people of Israel, but he, upon consulting the Lord refused to come, Nu 22:5-14, on which the king of Moab sent to him a second time, making large promises of preferment to him, and who at this time got leave from the Lord to go with the messengers, Nu 22:15-21, but was met with in the way by an angel of the Lord, who would have slain him had it not been for his ass, of which a very wonderful revelation is given, Nu 22:22-35, and the chapter is closed with the interview between Balak king of Moab and Balaam, and an account of what passed between them, and what was done by them, Nu 22:36-41.

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 5:13-15
• 2. 2 Peter 2:15

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "and prostrated himself to his face"
• [b]. Lit "reckless"