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Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

Numbers 22:22

The angel - i. e., the Angel that led the Israelites through the wilderness (compare Numbers 20:16 and references), and subsequently appeared as the Captain of the Lord’s host to Joshua Joshua 6:13. In desiring to curse Israel, Balaam was fighting against Israel’s Leader. The presence of the Angel in his path was designed to open his eyes, blinded by sin, to the real character of his course of conduct.

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See also Numbers 22:22 in other biblical comments:

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. EVENTS IN THE PLAIN OF MOAB FACING THE LAND 1. Balak and Balaam and Balaam's Parables CHAPTER 22 _ 1. Balak's message to Balaam (Numbers 22:1)_ 2. The journey of Balaam (Numbers 22:21) 3. Ba...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM'S JOURNEY TO BALAK WITHOUT GOD'S CONSENT. This section is clearly not the sequel of the preceding, but the continuation of Numbers 22:5, and (as far as Numbers 22:34) is derived from J. Balaam...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    After God has expressly given permission for Balaam to go, His anger would be surprising, and would seem to imply a capricious change of mind, were it not for the consideration that the narrative is d...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Jehovah was angry with Balaam for going, and His -Angel" hindered him on the way....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    GOD'S ANGER WAS KINDLED BECAUSE HE WENT— It may seem strange that God should first strictly forbid Balaam to go; should then, secondly, suffer him, and afterwards be angry with him for going. 1. With...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    C. BALAAM YIELDS TO BALAK vv. 15-41 TEXT Numbers 22:15. And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16. And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ God's anger...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    22:22 him. (d-21) Lit. 'as an adversary against him.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD'S ANGER WAS KINDLED BECAUSE HE WENT] This seems to contradict what is said in Numbers 22:20, that God gave him permission to go. But that permission was conditional. He might go, but he must speak...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAAM The Israelites now enter upon the last stage of their journey to Canaan. They are within sight of the land of promise, being encamped at the northern end of the Dead Sea, near the mouth of the...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF NUMBERS IN THE DESERT NUMBERS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 22 THE KING OF THE COUNTRY CALLED MOAB REQUESTS BALAAM’S HELP – NUMBERS 22:1-14 V1 The *Israelites travelle

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BECAUSE HE WENT. — Literally, _because he was going._ The participle denotes the continuous act. He deliberately and resolutely proceeded on his journey with the messengers of Balak, in defiance of th...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּֽחַר ־אַ֣ף אֱלֹהִים֮ כִּֽי ־הֹולֵ֣ךְ הו

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    BALAAM ON THE WAY Numbers 22:20 THE history is moving towards a great vindication of Israel and prediction of its coming power, all the more impressive that they are to be wrung from an unwilling wit...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BALAAM WARNED WHAT TO SPEAK Numbers 22:21 If only Balaam had abided by his first answer to Balak's request, he would have been saved from the disgrace and suffering which ensued. But he seemed to thi...

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

    We now come to the story of BaIaarn. It is evident that he was a remarkable personality. He appears in the story as a man of integrity, who attempted a literal obedience to the will of God. We are arr...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And God's anger was kindled because he (k) 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. (k) Mov...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Angry. Either because he had not granted him permission to go, or he saw that Balaam was disposed to curse the Israelites, ver. 32. Septuagint, "the angel (Michael) rose up on the road to oppose him,...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    GOD'S displeasure, it should seem, was not for the journey of Balaam; for the LORD had determined that he should be the unwilling instrument of good to his people, and confusion to his enemies. But it...

  • 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...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _SELF-DECEPTION_ ‘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,’ etc...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    22._And God’s anger was kindled because he went. _How is it consistent that God should be angry when Balaam had attempted nothing, thus far, contrary to His command? But we must bear in mind, what I h...

  • 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

    AND GOD'S ANGER WAS KINDLED BECAUSE HE WENT,.... Though he had given him leave to go; but then it was upon condition that the princes called him to go with them, whereas he went without their call, an...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. An...

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

    _Because he went_ Namely, of his own accord, and did not wait till the princes of Moab came to call him, which was the sign and condition of God's permission, but rather himself rose and went to call...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Balaks first message for Balaam is refused. 15 His second message obtaineth him. 22 An Angel would haue slaine him, if his asse had not saued him. 36 Balak intertaineth him. 1 AND the children o...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Balaam's Ass Speaks...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And God's anger was kindled because he (Balaam) WENT, because he was going with a blind and dogged determination to carry out his own plan and to obtain the promised reward. AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD,...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    BALAK HIRING BALAAM (vs.1-21) Still within Moab, Israel moved again to the plains and camped near Jordan, across from Jericho. Moab had no power to withstand them, however, though Balak, king of Moa...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    22-35 We must not think, that because God does not always by his providence restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is not hateful to him. The holy angels oppose sin, and perha...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    GOD'S ANGER WAS KINDLED; either, 1. Because he went of his own accord with the princes of Moab, and did not wait till _they came to call him_, i.e. urged him to go, which was the sign and condition of...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    NUMBERS 24:1-25. These three Chapter s form a distinct section of our book a truly marvellous section, abounding in rich and varied instruction. In it we have presented to us, first, the covetous prop...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Numbers 22:22 Gods H430 anger H639 aroused H2734 (H8799) went H1980 (H8802) Angel H4397 LORD H3068 stand...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ANGEL OF YAHWEH BARS THE WAY THREE TIMES (NUMBERS 22:22). Numbers 22:22 ‘And God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    ANGER (_ See Scofield) - (Genesis 46:3). _ In (Numbers 22:12) the directive will of Jehovah is made known to Balaam, in (Numbers 22:20) Jehovah's permissive will. The prophet is now free to go, but...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Numbers 22:20 In the story of Balaam we have a seeming contradiction. God said, "If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them," and yet "God's anger was kindled because he went." How can t...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Balaam's visit to Balak and the strange warning on the way. CHARACTERS: God, Balak, Balaam, Angel of Jehovah. CONCLUSION: The enemies of God's people are restless and unwearied in their at...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Numbers 22:5. _To Pethor, which is by the river._ A Pethor was in Mesopotamia; the river is thought to be the Euphrates, or one of its branches, distant at least 500 miles from Moab. Deuteronomy 23:4....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them._ NO CONTRADICTION BETWEEN GOD’S TWO ANSWERS TO BALAAM The first time God tells him not to go; the second time He bids him go, but is angry wi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 22:22 The episode with the donkey exposes Balaam’s prophetic pretensions in a comical way: Balaam, the international expert on magic, cannot see the angel, but his donkey can!...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES We now enter upon the last division of this Book, which comprises fifteen Chapter s (22–36). “In the steppes of Moab the Israelites encamped upon the border of the Promi...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE COMING OF BALAAM (Numbers 22:2). NUMBERS 22:2 BALAK THE SON OF ZIPPOR. The name Balak is connected with a word "to make waste," and "Zippor" is a small bird. Balak was, as is

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    AND so the children of Israel sat forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab (Numbers 22:1) Moving now south from this position. on this side of the Jordan River [on the eastern side of the Jordan Ri...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Kings 10:20; Exodus 3:2; Exodus 4:24; Genesis 48:15; Genesis 48:16;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE WOES OF THE WICKED BALAAM _Selections from Numbers 22:1_ INTRODUCTORY WORDS One of the things which sadden the soul is the way that not only professing Christians, but real believing Christians...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Because he went — Because he went of his own accord, with the princes of Moab, and did not wait till they came to call him, which was the sign and condition of God's permission, but rather himself ros...

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