XXII. (1) IN THE PLAINS OF MOAB. — The _Arboth Moab_ extended from _Beth Jeshimoth_ (the house of wastes) to _Abel Shittim_ (the meadow of acacias) (Numbers 33:49), in the upper Arabah, the present _Ghor._ These plains had belonged to Moab, and, since the victory over the Amorites, were possessed b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOAB WAS SORE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE. — There was no ground for this apprehension, inasmuch as the Divine command given to Moses was “Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle” (Deuteronomy 2:9). It does not appear, however, that Balak was aware of the prohibition; and the rec... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOAB SAID UNTO THE ELDERS OF MIDIAN. — It has been thought that Balak was a Midianite. who had been imposed upon the Moabites as their king by their Amoritish conquerors. (Comp. Numbers 21:26.) The concluding words of the verse may be understood as denoting a recent change in the dynasty. AS TH... [ Continue Reading ]
BALAAM THE SON OF BEOR. — The name of Balaam is probably derived from _bala_ (to devour), with the terminal syllable _am,_ or from the two words _bala_ (_he_ devoured), and _am_ (people). His father’s name (_Beor_)_,_ from _baar_ (to consume), has been thought to denote that Balaam belonged to a fam... [ Continue Reading ]
CURSE ME THIS PEOPLE. — Balak undoubtedly believed in the efficacy of Balaam’s magical incantations. It is deserving of observation, moreover, that, as has been remarked by Keil (_in loc._)_, “_it is frequently celebrated as a great favour displayed towards Israel that the Lord did not hearken to Ba... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ELDERS OF MOAB AND THE ELDERS OF MIDIAN. — The close alliance which existed between the two nations appears throughout the whole of the narrative. THE REWARDS OF DIVINATION. — Literally, _the divinations._ Some think the meaning to be _instruments of divination;_ but as _besorah_ means not... [ Continue Reading ]
LODGE HERE THIS NIGHT. — These words indicate the true character of Balaam. As a prophet of the Lord, he must have known that in seeking to curse the Israelites he was sinning against the Lord, who had chosen them for His own people. AS THE LORD SHALL SPEAK UNTO ME. — It appears from this verse, as... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT MEN ARE THESE WITH THEE? — This inquiry, like that addressed to Elijah, “What doest thou here?” (1 Kings 19:9), or that to Hezekiah, “What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee?” and “What have they seen in thine house?” (Isaiah 39:3) was calculated to arouse the slumbering consci... [ Continue Reading ]
A PEOPLE COME OUT OF EGYPT... — Better, _the people which came out from Egypt, it covereth_...... [ Continue Reading ]
BALAAM REFUSETH TO COME WITH US. — It does not appear that Balaam had told the messengers of Balak the ground of the Divine prohibition; viz., “for they are blessed.” Balak accordingly entertained the hope that stronger inducements would prevail with Balaam.... [ Continue Reading ]
I CANNOT GO BEYOND THE WORD OF THE LORD... — These words may have been nothing more than an ostentatious semblance of disinterestedness and superiority to worldly considerations; or it is possible that Balaam may have been conscious that “he spake not of himself,” and that, as regards his prophetic... [ Continue Reading ]
TARRY YE ALSO HERE THIS NIGHT. — Balaam knew that God was “not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent” (Numbers 23:19); and yet he indulged the vain expectation that he might be allowed to curse those whom God had declared to be blessed.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE MEN COME TO CALL THEE. — The words may be rendered _Since_ (or, _forasmuch as_)_ the men have come to call thee._ The messengers had already come for that purpose, as it is stated in Numbers 22:16, where the same verb is used. The phrase which is here rendered to “call” occurs also in Numbers... [ Continue Reading ]
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 the warnings which he had received. STOOD IN THE WAY. — Better, _placed_ (or, _stationed_)_ himself i... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A PATH OF THE VINEYARDS. — Better, _in the hollow pass of the vineyards._ A WALL. — Or, _a fence. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS. — Many critics, who admit the miraculous character of the events recorded in this and the following verses, maintain the subjective character of some of the incidents, and they adduce arguments to show that, whilst the same results might have been brought ab... [ Continue Reading ]
EVER SINCE I WAS THINE. — Literally, _ever since thou livedst,_ — _i.e., all thy life long._ The Targums of Jonathan and of Jerusalem paraphrase thus — “upon which thou hast ridden from thy youth unto this day.” “An Arabic writer,” says Dr. Gill, in his _Commentary,_ in loc., “makes mention of an as... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THY WAY IS PERVERSE BEFORE ME. — Or, _because the way leads to destruction in my sight. _... [ Continue Reading ]
UNLESS SHE HAD TURNED FROM ME. — There may be an aposiopesis in this verse. _Perhaps she turned aside from_ (or, _before_)_ me_... _for_ (otherwise) _now I had killed thee, &c._ According to this view the angel does not assign a reason why the ass turned aside, but leaves this to be inferred by Bala... [ Continue Reading ]
GO WITH THE MEN: BUT ONLY THE WORD THAT I SHALL SPEAK UNTO THEE... — The command contained in Numbers 22:20 is here repeated, and the unrighteous prophet is punished by being constrained to reap the fruit of his own perversity. It should be observed that here, as elsewhere, the angel who speaks to B... [ Continue Reading ]
A CITY OF MOAB. — Better, _the city of Moab._ (Comp. Numbers 21:15.) WHICH IS IN THE UTMOST COAST. — Or, _which flows at the extremity of the border._ Sihon, the Amorite, had taken possession of the Moabitish territory as far as the Arnon.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAK OFFERED... — Better, _and Balak slew_ (or, _slaughtered in sacrifice_)_, &c._ The word rendered _offered_ does not necessarily denote anything more than to _slay._ It is very commonly used, however, to denote slaying in sacrifice; and it is most probable that Balak made a sacrificial feast... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE HIGH PLACES OF BAAL. — Or, _to Bamoth-Baal._ Bamoth-Baal was probably the first height on the way to the steppes of Moab from which the Israelitish camp could be seen. Hengstenberg observes that “Balak started with the supposition that Balaam must necessarily have the Israelites in view if... [ Continue Reading ]