INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 22 The children of Israel being come into the plains of Moab, put the king of Moab into a panic, who expressed his fears to the elders of Midian, Numbers 22:1 and sent for Balaam the soothsayer to curse the people of Israel, but he, upon consulting the Lord refused to come,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SET FORWARD,.... From the country of Bashan, where we read of them last, after they had conquered Og the king of it, and also Sihon king of the Amorites, and settled some of their tribes in both kingdoms; the particular place from whence they came hither, according to the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAK THE SON OF ZIPPOR SAW ALL THAT ISRAEL HAD DONE TO THE AMORITES. The word "Amorites" being particularly pointed, shows, as Aben Ezra observes, that Sihon and Og are both meant, and that there were not among the kings of the land of Canaan any so great as they; wherefore when Balak, who was... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOAB WAS SORE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE,.... Lest they should enter into their country and do to them as they had done to Sihon and Og, and their countries; on this account the king of Moab, his nobles, and the people of the land, were in an exceeding great panic, which was a fulfilling of the prophe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOAB SAID UNTO THE ELDERS OF MIDIAN,.... Whom the king of Moab sent for to consult with what to do in the present case, for the good and safety of both people; for, according to the Targum of Jonathan, they were one people and one kingdom unto this time, at least had been confederates, by what i... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SENT MESSENGERS THEREFORE UNTO BALAAM THE SON OF BEOR,.... In consequence of the consultation held by the king of Moab with the elders of Midian; and very probably through a motion of theirs, and by advice they gave, Balak dispatched messengers of both people to the person here described by his n... [ Continue Reading ]
COME NOW, THEREFORE, I PRAY THEE,.... To my country, city, and court: CURSE ME THIS PEOPLE; by imprecations on them; and which being attended with various rites and ceremonies, brought calamities on persons, which men of Balaam's character were supposed to have power to do: FOR THEY ARE TOO MIGHTY... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ELDERS OF MOAB, AND THE ELDERS OF MIDIAN, DEPARTED,.... By which it appears that they were princes and nobles; for such the elders were, that were sent on this errand to Balaam; and that they were some of both people, Midian and Moab, that went upon it, see Numbers 22:14 which shows, that i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, LODGE HERE THIS NIGHT,.... Which shows that he was at once inclined to do their business for them, and would readily engage in it if he could be permitted; and it looks as if it was in the night season that he got knowledge of things, either in dreams, or by familiar spirits,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GOD CAME UNTO BALAAM,.... In a dream very probably, as he did to Abimelech and Laban, Genesis 20:3: AND SAID, WHAT MEN ARE THESE WITH THEE? who lodged with him that night. This he said, not as ignorant who they were, or from whence they came, or what they came about; but in order to lead on to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAAM SAID UNTO GOD,.... In answer to the question he put to him: BALAK THE SON OF ZIPPOR, KING OF MOAB, HATH SENT UNTO ME; these men, and a message by them: SAYING; as follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THERE IS A PEOPLE COME OUT OF EGYPT,.... In this, and the following part of the verse, he faithfully and punctually relates the words of Balak to him by his messengers, as well knowing he could not deceive the omniscient God, or hide anything from him, though he could deceive men; and concea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GOD SAID UNTO BALAAM, THOU SHALT NOT GO WITH THEM,.... Which is a denial of the first thing Balak requested, "come now, therefore", c. Numbers 22:6 THOU SHALL NOT CURSE THE PEOPLE which was the principal thing desired, and in order to which he was solicited to go with the messengers; but this i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAAM ROSE UP IN THE MORNING,.... With the impression of the dream upon his mind, and of what had passed between God and him in it: AND SAID UNTO THE PRINCES OF BALAK; which shows what the elders were that were sent, of what honour and dignity, and may include both those of Moab and of Midian:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PRINCES OF MOAB ROSE UP,.... And the princes of Midian also, immediately, without entering into a parley with him, to persuade him to go with them; perceiving by his answer that it would be to no purpose, and that he was determined to do as the Lord directed him: AND THEY WENT UNTO BALAK, A... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAK SENT YET AGAIN PRINCES MORE, AND MORE HONOURABLE THAN THEY. More in number, and greater in quality, princes of the first rank in his court; supposing that Balaam thought he was not treated with respect enough, they being princes of the meaner sort, and but few, that were sent unto him befo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CAME TO BALAAM,.... Though men of such rank and dignity, they did not decline the embassy, being sent by their king; nor did they think it below them to wait upon this soothsayer: AND SAID UNTO HIM, THUS SAITH BALAK THE SON OF ZIPPOR; representing their master, and addressing the diviner i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL PROMOTE THEE UNTO VERY GREAT HONOUR,.... In his court, by making him some great officer there, perhaps his prime minister; so that as before he laid a bait for his covetousness, sending him large presents, and rewards of divination; here, for his pride and ambition, promising him court pr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAAM ANSWERED, AND SAID UNTO THE SERVANT'S OF BALAK,.... Who were not only princes of the land, but officers of state in the court 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; which is well spoken, had... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE, I PRAY YOU, TARRY YE ALSO HERE THIS NIGHT,.... As the former messengers had; this shows his strong inclination to go along with them, and do what was desired of him, could he be permitted; otherwise he might and ought to have told the messengers at once that Balak needed not to have g... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD CAME UNTO BALAAM AT NIGHT,.... As before, Numbers 22:9 it may be in a dream; the Targum of Jonathan is as there, "a word came from the Lord:'' AND SAID UNTO HIM, IF THE MEN COME AND CALL THEE, RISE UP, AND GO WITH THEM; this was said, as some think, not seriously, but sarcastically,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAAM ROSE UP IN THE MORNING,.... Early, not waiting for the call of the princes, which showed how eager he was to be gone, and how intent upon the journey: AND SADDLED HIS ASS; which, if he did himself, as Jarchi suggests, this is a further proof of the haste he was in; though, as he had two... [ Continue Reading ]
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, and did not wait for it; and besides, he did not acquaint them, as he did not the messengers before, o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ASS SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STANDING IN THE WAY,.... Which Balaam did not; his eyes being held from seeing him by the power and providence of God, that he might be reproved and rebuked by his ass, to whom God gave power to see, more than to him, as Jarchi notes, so that he had little reaso... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STOOD IN A PATH OF THE VINEYARD,..... Which were in the field into which the ass went, and before Balaam could turn her back she got into a narrow path, between the vineyards, as the Targum of Jonathan; a footpath which lay between them, or a footpath where foxes ran and ha... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE ASS SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD,.... In the same position as before, with a drown sword in his hand, and being frightened again, and in a narrow path, and no way to turn aside: SHE THRUST HERSELF UNTO THE WALL; to one of the walls, as close as she could, in order to get by the angel: AN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT FURTHER, AND STOOD IN A NARROW PLACE,.... More narrow than the other, at a further distance: WHERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN, EITHER TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFT; it was so strait and close a place that the angel filled the whole breadth of it, that there was no passing... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE ASS SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD,.... The third time; for it seems that he was not always in sight, but disappeared as he removed from place to place, and at every new place where he stood the ass saw him, though her master did not: SHE FELL DOWN UNDER BALAAM; upon her knees on the ground... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE ASS, AND SHE SAID UNTO BALAAM,.... This was a very extraordinary and miraculous affair, and effected by a supernatural power, that a dumb creature, which had not organs endued with speech, should speak so plainly and distinctly, as is after expressed; and yet it... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAAM SAID UNTO THE ASS, BECAUSE THOU HAST MOCKED ME,.... Or rather "defiled me", as the word is rendered in Job 16:15 by running with him against a wall, and by lying down with him in the dust and dirt, and so the Arabic version renders it, "because thou hast rolled me in the dirt;'' the sen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ASS SAID UNTO BALAAM,.... Made a reply to him, as if it understood what he said, and had the faculty of reasoning and discoursing, as well as of speaking, which is very amazing: AM NOT I THINE ASS, UPON WHICH THOU HAST RIDDEN EVER SINCE I WAS THINE UNTO THIS DAY? or rather, "ever since thou... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE LORD OPENED THE EYES OF BALAAM,.... Who either was struck with blindness, as the men of Sodom were, so some think, or rather his eyes were held, that he could not see the angel; he could see other objects, as his ass, but he could not see that; as Elisha's servant could see the host that co... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM,.... When risen up, and standing before him: WHEREFORE HAST THOU SMITTEN THINE ASS THESE THREE TIMES? the brute creatures are not to be beaten without cause, nor to be misused and abused by men, even their owners: BEHOLD, I WENT OUT TO WITHSTAND THEE; the as... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ASS SAW ME, AND TURNED FROM ME THESE THREE TIMES,.... The ass saw the angel when Balaam did not, and that was the reason of its turning aside; and it was well for him it did, and therefore he should not have smote it: UNLESS SHE HAD TURNED FROM ME; if she had pushed on, endeavouring to make... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAAM SAID UNTO THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, I HAVE SINNED,.... That is, in beating the ass; not that he was sensible of his sin of covetousness, and of the evil disposition of his mind, and of his wicked intention in going along with the princes to curse Israel, if possible, and get Balak's presents... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID UNTO BALAAM, GO WITH THE MEN,.... Which was not a command, but a concession, or rather a permission, leaving him to go if he would, suffering him to follow his own heart's lusts, and giving him up to them to his own destruction; and besides, it was not his going barely... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN BALAK HEARD THAT BALAAM WAS COME,.... Messengers being sent to acquaint him with it, either by Balaam, or by the princes: HE WENT OUT TO MEET HIM; overjoyed at the news that his princes had succeeded, and to show him respect, and do him honour, and all to encourage him to do his utmost for... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAK SAID UNTO BALAAM,.... Upon their meeting together: DID I NOT EARNESTLY SEND UNTO THEE TO CALL THEE? or "in sending send" u; the first messengers in a very pressing manner, with great importunity, to give thee an invitation to come to me, and those men of rank and quality, with rewards of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAAM SAID UNTO BALAK, LO, I AM COME UNTO THEE,.... And therefore let nothing more be said of what is past: and as for future things, HAVE I NOW ANY POWER AT ALL TO SAY ANYTHING? that would be agreeable to the king, and answer his purpose in sending for him, namely, to curse the people of Isra... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAAM WENT WITH BALAK,.... From Ar of Moab, or, however, from the place where they met, to the royal city where Balak had his palace, and seems to be the place following: AND THEY CAME TO KIRJATHHUZOTH; which Jarchi interprets a city full of streets, a populous place, having a multitude of men... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BALAK OFFERED OXEN AND SHEEP,.... Or "slew" w them, either for sacrifice; and if so Balak was the sacrificer, as it was common for kings to be priests; and then Balaam, who was sent for, was the prophet, that was to observe and explain any omen at the time of sacrificing, as Calchas did, when th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE MORROW,.... The day after the arrival of Balaam at Balak's royal seat, and after the entertainment given him, and the princes, "on the morning" y of that day, as the word signifies; and perhaps early in the morning, the king eager to be about business, and get the people o... [ Continue Reading ]