And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan [by] Jericho. Ver. 1. _In the plains of Moab._] Once of Moab, then of the Amorites, now of the Israelites. Lands and lordships often change masters; _Adeo nihil certi est in rebus humanis, &c._ In the grea... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they [were] many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. Ver. 3. _And Moab was distressed._] Or, Was irked, fretted, vexed. And yet Moab was allied to Israel, eased by them of a troublesome encroaching neighbour Sihon, and assured... [ Continue Reading ]
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all [that are] round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of the Moabites at that time. Ver. 4. _Unto the elders of Midian._] Their neighbours and confederates. These are... [ Continue Reading ]
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which [is] by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: Ver. 5. _Balaam, the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they [are] too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, [that] we may smite them, and [that] I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest [is] blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. Ver. 6. _Peradventure... [ Continue Reading ]
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. Ver. 7. _With the rewards of divination._] Which Jude calls the wages of wickedness. Judges 1:11 2Pe 2:15 The Athenians complained... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. Ver. 8. _As the Lord shall speak unto me._] Good words and wishes may be found in hell's mouth; as wholesome sugar may be found in a poisoned ca... [ Continue Reading ]
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men [are] these with thee? Ver. 9. _And God came to Balaam._] So he came to Abimelech, to Laban, &c. He never credited his word to these, as he did to the holy prophets, of whom it is said, "The word of the Lord came to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. Ver. 13. _For the Lord refuseth._] Like a mercenary, and one that had a month's mind to the money, he hides from them that part of the answer that mi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they._ Ver. 15. _And Balak sent yet again._] So unweariable are wicked men in pursuing and practising their evil designs. This is check to our dulness for the good of our souls. Oh, how soon said and sated are we! Felix trembles, and... [ Continue Reading ]
For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. Ver. 17. _For I will promote thee._] Thus Satan tempted our Saviour, Mat 4:8-9 and the Pope Luther, offering him a Cardinalship to hold his tongue, and pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more._ Ver. 18. _I cannot go beyond._] _Intus Nero, foris Cato; loquitur hic ut Piso, vivit ut Gallonius: Audi, nemo meli... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. Ver. 19. _Tarry also now this night, &c._] Very loath he was to forego so fat a morsel. His mouth even watered, his fingers itched to be dealing with Balak. He therefore detains the messen... [ Continue Reading ]
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. Ver. 20. _Rise up and go._] God answers him according to the idols of his heart; bids him go, since he was set upon it,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab._ Ver. 21. _And saddled his ass._] Which never runs fast enough after preferment, till horse and man and all to the devil.... [ Continue Reading ]
And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him. Ver. 22. And God's anger.] _Deus saepe dat iratus quod negat propitius._ And his two servants were with him.]... [ Continue Reading ]
And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. Ver. 23. _And the ass saw the angel._] Which Balaam saw not; his eyes were put out with t... [ Continue Reading ]
But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side. Ver. 24. _But the angel_] If an angel stand in the way of a sorcerer's sin, how much more ready are all those heavenly spirits to stop the miscarriages of God's dear children! Surely as... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. Ver. 27. _She fell down under Balaam._] And so "condemned" her master's "madness." 2Pe 2:16 Polybius in his history saith, Whereas man is held the wisest of all... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? Ver. 28. _And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass._] Fear not, therefore, thine own inability and rudeness to reply in a good cause. There is no mouth into w... [ Continue Reading ]
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. Ver. 29. _I would there were a sword._] Pity but a madman should have a sword! How much fitter for him were that rod that Solomon speaks of. Pro 26:3... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me: Ver. 32. _Because thy way is perverse._] Thou art resolved to curse howsoever, and not to lose so fair a preferment, which... [ Continue Reading ]
And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. Ver. 33. _I had slain thee._] As thou wouldst have slain thine ass, for a less fault.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? Ver. 37. _To promote thee to honour._] But what is such honour more than a _magnum nihil,_ nay a great mischief? Like the wings of a butter... [ Continue Reading ]