Numbers 23:6-16

6 And he returned unto him, and lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the princes of Moab.

7 And he took up his parable and said: "Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, `Come, curse for me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.'

8 How shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy whom the LORD hath not defied?

9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him; lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!"

11 And Balak said unto Balaam, "What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast blessed them altogether."

12 And he answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?"

13 And Balak said unto him, "Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place from whence thou mayest see them. Thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all; and curse them for me from thence."

14 And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar

15 And he said unto Balak, "Stand here by thy burnt offering while I meet the LORD yonder."

16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth and said, "Go again unto Balak, and say thus."

Numbers 23:6-16 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.