Numbers 23:19-29

19 God is not a man, to say what is false; or the son of man, that his purpose may be changed: what he has said, will he not do? and will he not give effect to the words of his mouth

20 See, I have had orders to give blessing: and he has given a blessing which I have no power to take away.

21 He has seen no evil in Jacob or wrongdoing in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the glad cry of a king is among them

22 It is God who has taken them out of Egypt; his horns are like those of the mountain ox.

23 No evil power has effect against Jacob, no secret arts against Israel; at the right time it will be said of Jacob and of Israel, See what God has done!

24 See, Israel comes up like a she-lion, lifting himself up like a lion: he will take no rest till he has made a meal of those he has overcome, drinking the blood of those he has put to death.

25 Then Balak said to Balaam, If you will not put a curse on them, at all events do not give them a blessing.

26 But Balaam in answer said to Balak, Did I not say to you, I may only do what the Lord says?

27 Then Balak said to Balaam, Come now, I will take you to another place; it may be that God will let you put a curse on them from there.

28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, looking down over the waste land.

29 And Balaam said to Balak, Make me seven altars here and get seven oxen and seven male sheep ready for me.

Numbers 23:19-29 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.