Numbers 23:11-21

11 Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you have done is bless them."

12 He answered, "I can say only what the Lord tells me to say."

13 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Come with me to another place from which you can see only some of the Israelites. Curse them for me from there."

14 He took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Mount Pisgah. There also he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each of them

15 Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, and I will meet God over there."

16 The Lord met Balaam, told him what to say, and sent him back to Balak to give him his message.

17 So he went back and found Balak still standing by his burnt offering, with the leaders of Moab. Balak asked what the Lord had said,

18 and Balaam uttered this prophecy: "Come, Balak son of Zippor, And listen to what I have to say.

19 God is not like people, who lie; He is not a human who changes his mind. Whatever he promises, he does; He speaks, and it is done

20 I have been instructed to bless, And when God blesses, I cannot call it back.

21 I foresee that Israel's future Will bring her no misfortune or trouble. The Lord their God is with them; They proclaim that he is their king

Numbers 23:11-21 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.