Numeri 23:1-6

1 Und Bileam sprach zu Balak: Baue mir hier sieben Altäre und schaffe mir her sieben Farren und sieben Widder.

2 Balak tat, wie ihm Bileam sagte; und beide, Balak und Bileam, opferten je auf einem Altar einen Farren und einen Widder.

3 Und Bileam sprach zu Balak: Tritt zu deinem Brandopfer; ich will hingehen, ob vielleicht mir der HERR begegne, daß ich dir ansage, was er mir zeigt. Und ging hin eilend.

4 Und Gott begegnete Bileam; er aber sprach zu ihm: Sieben Altäre habe ich zugerichtet und je auf einem Altar einen Farren und einen Widder geopfert

5 Der HERR aber gab das Wort dem Bileam in den Mund und sprach: Gehe wieder zu Balak und rede also.

6 Und da er wieder zu ihm kam, siehe, da stand er bei dem Brandopfer samt allen Fürsten der Moabiter.

Numeri 23:1-6 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.