_A.M. 2552. B.C. 1452._ Balak's fear of Israel, Numbers 22:1. His message to Balaam, who refuses to come, Numbers 22:5. On the second message he goes, Numbers 22:15. He is rebuked by an angel, Numbers 22:22. His interview with Balak, Numbers 22:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The plains of Moab_ Which still retained their ancient title, though they had been taken from the Moabites by Sihon, and from him by the Israelites. _By Jericho_ That is, over against Jericho.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moab was sore afraid_ As Moses had foretold of Moab in particular, (Exodus 15:15,) and as the Lord himself had promised concerning all nations in general, Deuteronomy 2:25. The Moabites were afraid lest the Israelites should destroy or expel them out of their country, as they had done the Amorites;... [ Continue Reading ]
_The elders_ Called the kings of Midian, Numbers 31:8; and princes of Midian, Joshua 13:21; who, though divided into their kingdoms, yet were now united upon the approach of the Israelites, their common enemy, and being, as it seems, a potent and crafty people, and neighbours to the Moabites, these... [ Continue Reading ]
_He sent messengers_ Ancient history informs us that it was a general custom among most of the heathen nations, before they took up arms, to consult their gods by oracles and other methods of divination, about the event of the war. Thus the king of Moab is desirous, before he engaged in this war, to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Curse me this people_ Agreeably to a superstitious opinion which prevailed in ancient times, that some men were so much in favour with the gods, that by prayers or imprecations they were able to prosper or blast the designs, not only of particular persons, but of whole armies. Among the worshippers... [ Continue Reading ]
_With the rewards of divination_ It was customary for those who came to consult the prophets, to bring them gifts or gratuities to reward them for their trouble, 1 Samuel 9:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
_This night_ The night was the time when God used to reveal his mind by dreams. _As the Lord shall speak unto me_ Hebrew, _Jehovah_, the true God. Though he was mercenary and addicted to superstitious rites, he might still have some revelations from the true God, even as Laban had, though he used _t... [ Continue Reading ]
_What men are these?_ He asks this that Balaam, by repeating the thing in God's presence, might be convinced and ashamed of his sin and folly, in offering his service in such a business, and for a foundation to the following answer.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are blessed_ They are conducted under the banner of heaven, and no imprecations can hinder their progress. Though Balaam's cursing Israel signified nothing of itself, yet God would not permit it, because the Moabites would have paid so great a regard to it, that they would thereupon have attac... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you_ He ought to have informed them that the Lord had strictly forbidden him to curse this people, and assured him that they were blessed. Such a declaration would probably have prevented any further message from Balak, and have preserved Balaam from ru... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tarry ye also this night_ “Here,” says Bishop Butler, p. 123 of his _Sermons at the Rolls_, “the iniquity of his heart begins to disclose itself. An honest man would, without hesitation, have repeated his former answer, that he could not be guilty of so infamous a prostitution of the sacred charact... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them_ He had no leave to go at all unless the messengers came again in the morning to him. And, perhaps, if he had not gone to them, after having promised them an answer, they might have thought their master's great offers neglected, and have gone a... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 them. The apostle describes Balaam's sin here to be, that he ran _greedily into an error for reward,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Opened the mouth_ Conferred upon her the power of speech and reasoning for that time. _Balaam said_ Balaam was not much terrified with the ass's speaking, because perhaps he was accustomed to converse with evil spirits, who appeared to him and discoursed with him in the shape of different creatures... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord opened the eyes of Balaam_ He presented the angel to his view, who had hitherto been invisible to him. _He fell flat on his face_ In token of reverence and submission. _Thy way is perverse_ Springing from covetousness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I had slain thee_ Thee alone, and not the ass; therefore her turning aside and falling down was wholly for thy benefit, not for her own, and thy anger against her was unjust and unreasonable.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have sinned_ He confesses his passion and thoughtlessness in his ill treatment of the ass, and excuses himself for so wilfully persisting in his journey, from his ignorance of the angel's standing in the way to oppose him; but he makes no confession of his covetousness, which was the dishonest pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go with the men_ I allow thee to go upon the following terms. It must have tended to convince the Moabites how much Israel was under the divine protection, to see that Balaam, covetous as he was, and even after such great rewards were set before him, durst not imprecate evil against that people. _O... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the utmost coast_ Not far from the camp of the Israelites, whom he desired him to curse. _Have I now any power at all_, &c. He here lets Balak know he was under the overruling power of God, whose commands he could not gainsay.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sent to Balaam, and to the princes_, &c. Either to invite them to partake of the feast upon the sacrifice, or, having sacrificed, he sent portions of the sacred banquet to him, and the princes whom he had left to attend him. Balaam, who professed to be a worshipper of the true God, was very blame-w... [ Continue Reading ]
_The high places of Baal_ Consecrated to the worship of Baal, that is, of _Baal-peor_, who was their _Baal_, or _lord_, as the word signifies, a name given to several gods, both male and female. Their god, like those of other nations, it appears, was worshipped on _high places_, which were generally... [ Continue Reading ]