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George Haydock's Catholic Commentary

Numbers 23:24

Lioness. Septuagint, "lion's whelp." Some explain the Hebrew, "a lion" of full growth and strength. But the antithesis of the Vulgate is more natural and beautiful. (Calmet) --- The lioness, being solicitous for its young ones, becomes more furious. --- A lion, ready to fall upon its prey. So Israel will not lay down the sword till he has conquered the nations of Chanaan, (Menochius) and those who dare to molest him. The allusion to the prediction of Jacob in favour of Juda seems very plain, Genesis xlix. 9. (Haydock)

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See also Numbers 23:24 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Numbers 23:24. _BEHOLD, THE PEOPLE SHALL RISE UP AS A GREAT LION_] לביא _labi_, the _great, mighty_, or _old lion_, the king of the forest, who is feared and respected by all the other beasts o...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    THE PARABLES OF BALAAM Chapter S 23-24 _ 1. The first parable (Numbers 23:1)_ 2. Balak's surprise and Balaam's answer (Numbers 23:11) 3. At Zophim (Numbers 23:13) 4. The second parable

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM'S SECOND ORACLE. This goes beyond the preceding in frustrating the hopes of Balak, for it declares that God has not only not cursed Israel, but has positively blessed it, and describes Israel's...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Balaam's second prophetic message_. This consists of eleven, or (see on Numbers 23:23) more probably ten, couplets. Balaam declares that God will never change His mind (as Balak had thought, Numbers...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Cf. Micah 5:8....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    E. BALAAM'S SECOND BLESSING vv. 13-24 TEXT Numbers 23:13. And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me to another place, from whence thou mayest see them, and shalt not see them all: and curse...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND HE TOOK UP HIS PARABLE, AND SAID, RISE UP, BALAK, AND HEAR; HEARKEN UNTO ME, THOU SON OF ZIPPOR:_ _ `Rise up, Balak, and hear! Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippori! God is not a man, that he sho...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM (CONTINUED) 1-10. First Utterance of Balaam....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A GREAT LION] Heb. 'a lioness.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF NUMBERS IN THE DESERT NUMBERS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 23 BALAAM’S FIRST *PROPHECY – NUMBERS 23:1-12 V1 Balaam said to Balak, ‘Build 7 *altars here. Then bring to

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AS A GREAT LION. — Better, _as a lioness._ (Comp. Genesis 49:9.) Balaam transfers to the whole nation that which Jacob had prophesied of Judah....

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הֶן ־עָם֙ כְּ לָבִ֣יא יָק֔וּם וְ כַ

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    NO ENCHANTMENT AGAINST ISRAEL Numbers 23:13 Balak was surprised and disappointed. He therefore bethought himself of limiting the seer's vision, so that he might see an attenuated Israel from a height...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The first of Balaam's prophecies was uttered in the midst of strange surroundings. Sacrifices were offered to heathen gods, while Balaam turned aside to inquire of Jehovah. The result was that we hav...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    These are very precious truths; and doubly so when read with an eye to the evidence they bring with them, as they are in JESUS. In the covenant relationship of GOD in CHRIST, the word, the oath, the p...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The successes given to the children of Israel alarmed some of their neighbours, more particularly Moab; and this gives occasion for a striking episode in the history which brought to issue as solemn a...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    24._Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion. _This comparison is not in every respect accurate; for it does not signify that the Israelites should be cruel or rapacious, but merely bold and s...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 22, 23, 24, AND 25. Moab also opposes in vain. Now they are in the plains of Moab, having only Jordan between them and the land of their rest. But had they a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BEHOLD, THE PEOPLE SHALL RISE UP AS A GREAT LION,.... Or rather, "as the lioness" n, which, as Aelianus says o, is the strongest and most warlike beast, the most fierce and furious, as is believed bot...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat [of] the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. Ver. 24. _Behold the people....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _As a great lion_ As a lion rouseth up himself to fight, or to go out to the prey, so shall Israel stir up themselves to warlike attempts against their enemies. _He shall not lie down until he eat of...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1.13.28 Balaks sacrifice. 7.18 Balaams parable. 1 AND Balaam saide vnto Balak, Build me here seuen Altars, and prepare mee here seuen oxen, and seuen rammes. 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken, an...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Second Sacrifice and Prophetic Utterance....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, like a lioness setting out to seek food, AND LIFT UP HIMSELF AS A YOUNG LION; HE SHALL NOT LIE DOWN UNTIL HE EAT OF THE PREY AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF TH...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM'S FIRST PROPHECY (vs.1-12) THE SANCTIFICATION OF ISRAEL Chapter 22:41 tells us that Balak brought Balaam to the high places of Baal in order to prophecy against Israel. Here he observed onl...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    11-30 Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessin...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    As a lion rouseth up himself to fight, or to go out to the prey; so shall Israel stir up themselves to warlike attempts against all their enemies, as occasion shall offer itself. HE SHALL NOT LIE DOWN...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Numbers 23:24 people H5971 rises H6965 (H8799) lioness H3833 lifts H5375 (H8691) lion H738 down H7901 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    Numbers 23:18 (18a-24) ‘And he took up his incantation (parable),' Once again Balaam gave out his incantation. Note even here the chiastic construction. Numbers 23:18 (18b-24) “Rise up, Balak, and...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Balaam blesses instead of curses Israel. CHARACTERS: God, Balaam, Balak. CONCLUSION: Those who have the good will of heaven may expect the ill will of hell but God will not suffer real inj...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Numbers 23:1. _Seven altars._ The Lord commanded Job's friends to take seven bullocks and seven rams, offered no doubt on seven altars: Job 42:8. This was the highest sacrifice a nation could present....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel._ THE PROPHECIES OF BALAAM Prophecy is not Fatalism, but in many cases, at least, a forecasting of the certain conse...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 23:13 Balaam observes that GOD does not CHANGE HIS MIND, so the blessing already pronounced cannot be turned into a curse (vv....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 23:24 LIONESS. This is a frightening image of Israel’s military might. It is an indirect warning to Balak not to attack them. ⇐

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES Numbers 23:1. _Build me here seven altars_. “As _seven_ was a number of perfection, Balaam chose it on this occasion, because he intended to offer a grand sacrifice, and...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    NUMBERS 23:1 BUILD ME HERE SEVEN ALTARS. According to the common opinion of the heathen, it was necessary to propitiate with sacrifices the God with whom they had to do, and if possible to secure his...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Numbers 23:1-30 And God met Balaam: and Balaam said to him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Amos 3:8; Daniel 2:44; Deuteronomy 33:20; Genesis 49:27; Genesis 49:9;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    As a great Lion — As a lion rouseth up himself to fight, or to go out to the prey, so shall Israel stir up themselves to warlike attempts against their enemies. He shall not lie down — Not rest or cea...

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