Numbers 23:1-9

1 Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven male sheep for me."

2 Balak did what Balaam asked, and they offered a bull and a male sheep on each of the altars.

3 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your burnt offering and I will go. If the Lord comes to me, I will tell you whatever he shows me." Then Balaam went to a higher place.

4 God came to Balaam there, and Balaam said to him, "I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a male sheep on each altar.

5 The Lord told Balaam what he should say. Then the Lord said, "Go back to Balak and give him this message."

6 So Balaam went back to Balak. Balak and all the leaders of Moab were still standing beside his burnt offering

7 when Balaam gave them this message: "Balak brought me here from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern mountains. Balak said, 'Come, put a curse on the people of Jacob for me. Come, call down evil on the people of Israel.'

8 But God has not cursed them, so I cannot curse them. The Lord has not called down evil on them, so I cannot call down evil on them.

9 I see them from the top of the mountains; I see them from the hills. I see a people who live alone, who think they are different from other nations.

Numbers 23:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 23

This chapter gives an account of the sacrifices offered by Balak and Balaam, and how God met Balsam, and put a word into his mouth, which he delivered in the presence of the king of Moab and his princes, Nu 23:1-7, the substance of which are, the separate state and condition of Israel from other nations, their number, and the happiness of the righteous at death, Nu 23:8-10, which made Balak uneasy, since instead of cursing he blessed Israel, and therefore he had him to another place to take a view of the people, Nu 23:11-13 where having offered sacrifices, another word was put into the mouth of Balaam, and which he also delivered before the king and his nobles, Nu 23:14-18, in which were expressed the unchangeableness of God, the irreversibleness of the blessing of Israel, the strength, safety, happiness, and glory of that people, Nu 23:19-24 which made Balak more uneasy still; but willing to try him a third time, he carried him to another place, and there built altars, and offered sacrifices, the consequence of which is related in the next chapter, Nu 23:25-30.